Here are some quotations that I've saved over the past few years that struck a cord with me. I hope you will find one or two that you can relate to as well. Let me know in the comments.
"Perhaps this is the plainest definition of anxiety: mourning what isn't gone yet. Anxiety is an ever-present stage of grief, a shadow attached to the heels of its more infamous siblings." (Grief Is For People by Sloane Crosley) As a person who suffers from bouts of anxiety, this is probably the best definition of it that I've ever encountered.
"Gary doesn't like kitchens. He has a thing about linoleum." (Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny) This book made me laugh out loud so many times. The characters were unique, but Gary was so eccentric that I grew to love him by the end of the book. Most people would probably want to kill him.
"You guys are so proprietary about us. Like, 'I made your body from scratch, the least you can do is put on some lip balm'" (Sandwich by Catherine Newman) I actually didn't like this book, due to the dysfunctional relationship the main character had with her husband and children. But the one thing I could relate to is that quote. I've always felt like I took so much care while I was pregnant and raising my children, that just the thought of them doing something to their bodies or not taking care of themselves annoys the absolute hell out of me.
"I learned how to act from a State Farm agent in New Hampshire when I was in high school." (Tom Lake by Ann Patchett) Taken out of context, this is probably not as funny. However, if you've ever been a part of a community theatre, you'll often be surprised at the acting skills of your average Joe.
"She wished she had understood during their school days that she would never experience friendship in such a concentrated form again, except in small doses." (Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan) I don't think I've ever read anything truer. How I miss those days of all-consuming friendship.
"The Elf on the Shelf is the perfect introduction to life in a surveillance state." (Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan) Kids, we have now entered the 21st century. Enjoy watching your remaining freedoms dwindle away.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:4 The Bible) Words to live by.
"Heavy is the enchantment of places you know you will never see again" (Grief Is For People by Sloane Crosley) She's one of my favorite authors, so I began and ended with her. Don't we all look back with fondness on people, places, and circumstances that we will never revisit?
These quotes are ALL brilliant! They each seem to touch on something I have experienced and felt at one time or another in my life.
ReplyDeleteI especially love the first one (by Sloane Crosley) and the last one - SO true they are!
And because I was a stage actor at one time, I also loved the one about learning how to act from the State Farm agent in New Hampshire when I was in high school. LOL!
Isn't it something how during our school days (and for me it was in my Senior year in high school) the all-consuming friendships we formed?
""The Elf on the Shelf is the perfect introduction to life in a surveillance state." (Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan) Kids, we have now entered the 21st century. Enjoy watching your remaining freedoms dwindle away."
OMG, you are spot on about that. Especially today!
Great post, my friend! Excellent food for thought! X
P.S. Have a great weekend!
Hi Ron! I was totally thinking of you with the theatre quote. Some people are just naturals, even without any training. I formed such all-consuming friendships from 7th grade through college. Even though I'm still in touch with most of them, it just isn't the same. But when I did that mini-college reunion a year ago, it felt like old times when my friend and I stayed up late in our hotel room and talked. I just miss being able to do that.
DeleteIsn't it crazy how much we live with surveillance? I'm always a bit freaked out by the cameras at self-checkout. I try to not look right at it because it's so disturbing.
YOU have a great weekend, too. We are supposed to have really nice weather!!!!
I just started Early Riser this week. I've met Gary, but was unaware of his dislike of kitchens. So funny. I'm enjoying the way the author describes awkward situations and character's reactions/quirks.
ReplyDeleteThat bible quote - if we all adopted that as a focus, imagine what the world would be like. This one really speaks to me.
Oh, that friendship quote. Yes! I feel like I might really like that book.
The take care of yourselves after I took such good care of you . . . so true.
I have some people who struggle with anxiety and that quote is truly powerful.
My childhood's best friend's dad is being buried today. He died suddenly Monday. He was 81 and just didn't wake up, which was such a peaceful way to pass. He was a gentle soul and I practically grew up in their house. I so preferred being at their house vs. my house. Anyway, I stood at the wake last night and looked at all the photos and I felt such a longing for that place in my childhood - a place that I can't ever return to. When they sold their house, I wanted to buy it. Our kids were tiny and we weren't in the position to move, but dang - I would've loved to buy it.
This was a great post. Lots of thoughtful and funny quotes.
I'm so excited that you're reading Early Riser! It had such quirky characters! I'm currently reading that author's short stories, but not enjoying it as much. Isn't that a great Bible verse?? Everybody's out for themselves these days.
DeleteI love all of J. Courtney Sullivan's books. She really speaks to me. And that mom quote - YES! I knew you'd relate to that!
I'm so sorry about your childhood BF's dad. It's hard to see all of our childhood memories disappear, whether it's people or places.
The Friends and Strangers quote reminds me of a similar quote in Stand By Me: “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”
ReplyDeleteSo true!
I think I actually remember that from the movie and liked it at the time!
DeleteMy favorite movie and one of my favorite quotes. I also miss the friendships that seemed like they would last forever in my 12 year old mind.
DeleteMiss those days!
DeleteThose are all good quotes.
ReplyDeleteVery relatable!
DeleteBeautiful and timely quotes.
ReplyDelete"Kids, we have now entered the 21st century. Enjoy watching your remaining freedoms dwindle away." I agree with you 200% on that one; the future scares me.
I loved Tom Lake, sadly I don't remember that quote, but it did make me giggle.
State Farm agents . . . why do they just sound so vanilla?? That's why the quote is so funny.
DeleteI am so freaked out by how so many freedoms we take for granted are disappearing. Now it seems like political leaders don't think we have the right to free speech. Guess they've never heard of a little thing called the First Amendment?? It seems to have started during Covid and it's only getting worse. And don't get me started with AI.
Most of them made me smile, but I really liked the one I made your body out of scratch etc. That cracked me up. Must remember now to wear Lip Balm, lol. Does Blistex count...I use that and Carmex. Actually think I might be addicted to Carmex. Gave up using chapstick because it would always break before I got the full use of it.
ReplyDeleteAll I can think of is the alcohol and the many foods I gave up while pregnant and breast-feeding. That added up to four + years of my life that I'll never get back. I don't remember getting any thank you's. LOL!
Delete"Heavy is the enchantment of places you know you will never see again" Yes indeed, I look back very fondly on places I've visited in the past but I probably won't visit again.
ReplyDeleteI like the Indoctrination quote as well. Academia is rife with crazy ideas!
Academia has ‘jumped the shark’ as they say in the entertainment business. Instead of encouraging critical thinking, they only encourage hive mentality.
DeleteVery good quotes. I remember hearing the quote from Stand By Me and thinking how very true it was!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jeanette. Hope you’re doing well!
DeleteThe one at the top is, alas, all too true. And related to one of my own all-time favorites - "It ain't what you don't know that makes you a fool; it's what you DO know that isn't so." - Josh Billings
ReplyDeleteAnd a couple of my favorite rock lyrics:
"You can't always get what you want" - Mick Jagger
"People are strange" - Jim Morrison
Oh, and thanks for the Philippians quote. If we can just do that, our lives will go well. Basically, the Golden Rule. . . Mother Theresa said, "Our primary task in this life is to learn what it really means to love."
DeleteRemember when college classes (for me, it was the required arts & sciences) where you were encouraged to have discussions and debates? Now students are too afraid to speak their minds. We’re slowly moving towards 1966 China. This is why I won’t talk politics on my blog.
DeleteWow so many interesting quotes. But the one about friendship really struck me. I think it has to do with being young when everything is so emotionally intense. I find the friends I made in my late teens and 2os are the most lasting.
ReplyDeleteAllie of
www.allienyc.com
Me too! I still keep in touch with my high school friends.
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ReplyDeleteNow I’m adding Early Morning Riser to my list! And you’re actually the second person to mention not enjoying Sandwich—but I might still give it a try.
I keep a quotes book on my soul homework table, where I add all my favorite quotes—it’s become one of my favorite journals since I started it in 2020. I loved all the quotes you shared here, especially the one about friendship—it really hit home for me.
I absolutely loved this post today, my friend. 😘❤️
I am reading another book by Katherine Heiny (Early Morning Riser) now called Standard Deviation and it’s hilarious. Full of dry humor. I’m snickering the whole time.
DeleteI’d like to talk about Sandwich with someone else. I found it to be ridiculous . . . The mother tried way too hard to be ‘friends’ with her kids. Hard no from me, but I’m sure there’s people out there who loved it.
Glad you enjoyed the post! XO
"How I miss those days of all-consuming friendship." Me too. I didn't realize how they were something to cherish, figured there'd be more friendships like them along the way. There have not been though.
ReplyDeleteNope, there’s no friend like a friend in youth!
DeleteI really like the last one! I've never read that author, but I'm going to check her out.
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle!
DeleteThat first one about anxiety really nails it, Bijoux. When my anxiety spikes, I am in already in all of the worst-case scenarios preparing for heartbreak and devastation.
DeleteI do the exact same thing. My spouse thinks I’m nuts. I call it preparation 🤓
DeleteThese quotes are fabulous, Bijoux. I thank you so much for posting. I got a chuckle out of the State Farm agent line after you explain the context.
ReplyDeleteBut the opening and closing quotes from Sloane Crosley really resonated with me. That's probably the best definition of anxiety I've ever read. And the line about the places you'll never see again was so touching.
Great post!
Glad you enjoyed them, Rob. The anxiety one really hits close to home, doesn’t it? Hope you’re having a great Fall week. Warm weather, yeah!
DeleteMaking my blog rounds and waving hi. I gave up alcohol while pregnant too, well except for an occasional wine cooler, remember when those were all the rage, lol. Didn't nurse, as I was heading right back to work; so didn't have to give up anything for that. lol
ReplyDeleteI just remember it all being exhausting.
DeleteI just added Early Morning Riser to my online library list to check out when I'm finished with my current audiobook. I don't like linoleum either LOL.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember any great book quotes off the top of my head, but I just finished listening to Sociopath by Patric Gagne and took a screen shot of the page and chapter one of her quotes was in to find and reread later. I think it was something about the difference between a narcissist and a sociopath that stood out to me and I wanted to explore that a little more because my oldest daughter tends to think I am a narcissist (I completely disagree with this. I don't think she even knows what one is) and my youngest tells me that I have sociopathic tendencies (I completely agree with this). I usually listen to nonfiction on audiobook and read fiction on my kindle, so a lot of good quotes don't really stick since I'm not reading them with my eyes.
I need to read with my eyes for everything. Audio books go in one ear and put the other for me, with no retention to even follow the story. What the what on your daughters’ opinions 🤣🤣🤣 Get back to us on this!
DeleteThe oldest is like one of those over the top left leaning liberals that just comes off as crazy, so if you disagree with her in the slightest, you're either racists, homophobic, against women's rights, or a narcissist. The younger one though, thinks it's weird that I only cry when I'm really angry. Not at funerals or when someone passes. Also, I'm apathetic when it comes to ending relationships. Like, "well, that was cool we were close for 25 years, but I'm done now. I'm going to go make a sandwich." So, I kind of understand her sociopath comment because that's probably not normal to not give af or give a second thought about people once you decide you're done with dealing with them.
DeleteI understand all this except for not crying at funerals. That is highly unusual! My son tends to think like your oldest. It’s interesting because his sister who’s five years older is not like that at all. It’s like there’s a generation gap in their beliefs, which I find so bizarre.
DeleteElf on a shelf, made me laugh. Also liked the one about friendship and high school. Just recently had my 55th high school reunion.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on that milestone!
DeleteI enjoyed the quote from Tom Lake, which I listed to as an audio book read by Meryl Streep. I have already checked the local library for Heiny's books and added a couple of my list. The quote about the Elf on the chelf was so appropriate and true.
ReplyDeleteI am becoming more bothered by the 'security' cameras that are popping up all over the place these days. I do wonder if we are being watched in dressing rooms and such. Zero privacy! I hope you like the Heiny books as much as I have.
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