Notes from the Universe

I started subscribing to Notes from the Universe after I read one on Penelope Dullaghan’s blog. What’s been particularly ironic is how tailored the notes have been to my life the past few weeks — acknowledging all the fear and anxiety I’ve felt in the job search. The uncertainty about how I want my career to progress. Worrying about money. Each morning I look forward to reading them, and each morning the past few weeks I have felt a sense of relief and encouragement at the end of each note. That what I’m going through now will make me stronger. That it is not for nothing. That things will be OK. That I do not need to worry so much.

“Would you ever take a journey, Jacky, if you knew ahead of time that you’d become hopelessly lost, have your heart broken into pieces, and sometimes wish you’d never been born? Now, how about if you knew ahead of time that on that very same journey you’d also find yourself, fall passionately in love, and live happily ever after? Yeah, I know, you made the same choice a long, long time ago.”

What’s also great about signing up for the daily quotes is that your name is always included right in the message, so you feel like it was meant just for you.

The periodic chart of life

Don’t be too timid or squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sometimes I think the experiments would be a lot easier if I just had a teacher in the corner making sure I didn’t blow off my arm or start a fire. Then again, my teachers weren’t always fans of chit chats or bathroom breaks during experiments, so maybe things are fine as is.

Devil’s in the details

“it is important to say the names of who we are, the names of places we have lived, and to write the details of our lives. we have lived; our moments are important. this is what it is to be a writer: to be the carrier of details that make up history. a writer must say yes to life, to all of life. our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our life as they exist — the real truth of who we are. we must become writers who accept things as they are, come to love the details, and step forward with a yes on our lips so there can be no more noes in the world, noes that invalidate life and stop these details from continuing.” —natalie goldberg

Writing Down the Bones

“i write because there are stories that people have forgotten to tell, because i am a woman trying to stand up in my life. i write because to form a word with your lips and tongue or think a thing and then dare to write it down so you can never take it back is the most powerful thing i know. i am trying to come alive, to find the distances in my own recesses and bring them forward and give them color and form. i write out of total incomprehension that even love isn’t enough and that finally writing might be all i have and that isn’t enough. i can never get it all down, and there are times when i have to step away from the notebook to turn to face my own life. then there are times when it’s only coming to the notebook that i truly do face my own life. and i write out of hurt and how to make the hurt ok; how to make myself strong and come home, and it may be the only real home i’ll ever have.” —natalie goldberg

Redemption

Despite having some serious doubts about whether “Grey’s Anatomy” was worth my time any more, I’ve continued to watch it. I have continued to eagerly await the Grey’s Writers blog post the following morning after a new episode, even if I haven’t particularly enjoyed the episode. A large part of my happiness with the show is how it’s written. Regardless of what happens, I fell for “Grey’s” because of the monologues and the urge to find the nearest writing utensil to jot down a good quote. And it’s been quite awhile since I’ve written anything down.

But at last, my waiting has paid off and the show is finally redeeming itself this season.

“There is always a way. To do the impossible. To survive the unsurvivable. We’re inspired. In the face of the impossible, we’re inspired. Today if you become frightened, instead become inspired.” —Give Peace a Chance

I keep going back to it… “Today if you become frightened, instead become inspired.” Can you imagine what the world would be like if we channeled our emotions that way?

Ritalin for the soul

Sometimes I need a gentle kick to get back on track and focus on what really matters. This post by SwirlyGirl and this anonymous quote did just that.

“We did not come here to fear the future, we came here to shape it.”

kdg peborhn

I’m back in New York and unsure what’s in store for me next… running through a bunch of options for the future (magazine publishing isn’t quite a promising industry these days…) I was going through a saved e-mail with a bunch of quotes and came across this one, which seems fitting at the moment.

“Who do we want to be…and how do we go about the process of becoming in a world of endless options, distractions and possibilities?” —Winifred Gallagher

Yes sir, a lot of contemplation going on over here.

(the subject line of this post is not a typo. it’s something my bff tasha would use in e-mails, and came to represent a mish-mash of inexpressible feelings.)

Fearless

“You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. We have seen the future, and the future is ours.” —Cesar Chavez

Onward we go, my friends. Tally ho.

If at first you don’t succeed…

Reminding myself of this often lately:

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

Taking attendance

“Instead of luck, take heart. Take courage. It all starts with showing up.” Chris Guillebeau

I’m working on being present and accounted for… showing up no matter how much I don’t want to, no matter how scary something may seem. If you don’t leave room for doubt, life becomes a lot more productive.