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People Share The Quotes That Permanently Changed Their Outlook

People Share The Quotes That Permanently Changed Their Outlook
Image by ShonEjai from Pixabay

Sometimes, we all could use a little push--even if that comes from the notes of wise person who died years ago.


It's important for us to remember that we are not even close to the first generation of human beings. There are so many people who've come and gone before us.

And no matter how ancient or historic their lifestyle seems compared to our own, they still inhabited a body filled with worries, a sense of time passing, and the need to interact with others.

So it's no surprise that quotes from the near and distant past all still feel so appropriate to our own experience. And thanks to the internet, we can share so many of them with others who may need that clarity.

Apparently in the market for a little inspiration, Redditor internallyskating asked:

"What's a quote that permanently changed the way you look at things?"

Anxiety affects countless people all over the. Of course, many people shared the quotes that have helped them put their worries aside and live life with a bit more presence.

You Have a Choice

" 'Let go or be dragged' and old zen proverb I heard at a meditation class. Really changed the way I let myself worry about things"

-- Reagan99

Can't Please 'Em All

" 'You might be the sweetest peach on the tree, but some people just don't like peaches.' "

"This helped me get over my lifelong desire to be liked by everyone, and allowed me to focus on becoming someone I actually liked."

-- sansaspark

The Humor Inside Anxiety

" 'I've had a lot of worries in my life. Most of which never happened.' "- Mark Twain.

"Found it on a workbook for anxiety disorders."

-- Metoposaurus

Others have used quotes to help themselves persevere through both specific challenges as well as the long, winding experience of life as a whole.

Either way, some quotes to refresh perspective can provide the perfect push.

A New Kind of Courage

"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes it is a quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' '-Maryann Radmacher"

"I came across this a long time ago, at a point in life that I really needed this lesson. It's okay if I feel sad and resigned, if my depression beat me for today and I wasn't able to function. I didn't fail, I'm not weak, I will try again tomorrow."

-- IAmTheAsteroid

Just Go For It

"Dear Abby's response to a writer thinking of going back to school but worried that she will be 40 by the time she got her degree -"

" How old will you be in four years if you don't get your degree? You are going to be 40 anyway with or without your degree.'"

"It reminded me that letting age stop me from my plans was just silly. Also, working at a community college and seeing so many people going back to school in their 30s, 40s, 50s and thriving, the quote really spoke to me."

-- Coconut-bird

First Things First

" 'The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.' - Terry Pratchett"

"I'm not sure why this quote struck me so hard, but it completely changed the way I approach writing. Just get your ideas down in run-on sentences and asides to yourself and loads of [???] at parts you haven't figured out yet. It took me more than 30 years to realize that a first draft isn't just a rough version of the final draft. It's a map for yourself, and no one else."

-- lavendercapybara

Finally, so many people are out here walking around carrying extra weight. It's just too hard to live a long life without picking things up along the way and clinging to them, as toxic as they are.

But some folks offered advice on letting it all go.

Self-Destruction

"Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die" -- ocbbelife

" 'When seeking revenge dig two graves.' - Confucius" -- Cain_Soren

"All the negative emotions, regardless of whether or not they're meant for someone else, sit inside us. Let them go, not because the others deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace." -- TheLordOfFriendZone

You Don't Have to Hold It All

" 'That mountain you've been carrying, you were only suppose to climb' "

"Really helped me overcome a lot of traumatic experiences and difficult chapters in my life. I hope it helps someone else out there."

-- youssless

Prioritizing

" 'When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.' - C. S. Lewis" -- nolo_me

"Goddamn this resonates. Take being serious a little less seriously and you'll find life is a lot more interesting." -- Crackgnome

Paradoxical Barriers

" 'And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.' --John Steinbeck, East of Eden" -- Zuikis9

"The first time I read these words, I wept. Most of my life I'd enjoyed praise from my family, friends, and colleagues for being 'outstanding' even as many of them relished in reminding me what a perfectionist I was. Not only did Steinbeck give me permission to seek something other than perfection, he gave my a nobler aim to center my efforts around."

"Around the same time I encountered a Latin phrase that means 'To be rather than to seem to be.' Turns out it's a whole lot harder to pretend to be good (while not actually being the thing) than it is to pretend to be perfect. And, thankfully, it's a lot more difficult to convince yourself into believing an untruth about yourself when you can't even convince other people of it."

"I'm neither perfect nor good, but I know which one I'd rather be." -- Lex_Orandi

Here's hoping at least one--and ideally, more--of these quotes offered you some new perspective to get throughout whatever challenges you're facing these days.

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Things People Secretly Love But Would Never Admit To In Public

Reddit user sweet_chick283 asked: 'What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?;

Collection of VHS tapes
Bruno Guerrero/Unsplash

What makes us all unique is our passions and the things we love, whether it's singing in the shower, reading books, or listening to specific music artists.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where we are judged for our various tastes and interests thanks to social media, and it makes us consciously selective about sharing the things we love on the internet.

Curious to hear about people's personal desires under anonymity, Redditor sweet_chick283 asked:

"What do you secretly love that you would never admit to in public?"

These aren't really chores for the following Redditors.

Good Clean Fun

"Mopping, im a janitor and generally hate my work... but damn mopping is so good."

– MrDDog06

"When you have a great rhythm going it is something special. I get the same feeling while I vacuum, but won’t let my wife know I enjoy it."

– Bogus_34

Act Of Unwrinkling

"Ironing clothes. A dozen of them. Can’t explain how it relaxes me. I told one person and they looked at me like I’m crazy."

– eerie_white_glow

"My mum misses the days when dad would be out on a Friday night, my brother out with friends and me upstairs quietly playing PS1. She would pour herself a Bacardi & Coke and do the ironing while watching her TV shows."

"I'm sure she doesn't really miss it now that we've moved out and they've retired but it was her wind-down after a busy working week so I can see how people can find it relaxing."

– xdq

Our solo actions can spark joy.

Big Brother Is Watching

"pretending to be on the Truman show and whenever im in my house i act all inconspicuous so they dont know that i know that they’re watching me."

– Bec_121

"C’mon man, you’re not supposed to let him know. You signed a contract when signing up for live views. I’m reporting you."

– doeswaspsmakehoney

The Multi-Tasker

"Playing video games naked at home while eating cheese."

– thickening_agent

Releasing The Kraken

"I love the feeling when you've eaten good fibre and let out a solid long train log in the toilet. That feeling is heavenly."

– therapoootic

"Even better when it’s a clean wipe and not a poo crayon."

– TheWarmestHugz

Ultimate Comfort

"My (male 41) weekend routine is coming home from work, make hot chocolate, start a fire, dress in a ugly pink nightgown made for old ladies and watch forensic files."

– crazyloomis

Some people are obsessed with collecting things.

So Kawai

"Sanrio stationery stores. All those different multicolor pens, a thousand kinds of erasers, spiral bound notebooks galore... my kids sadly have absolutely no appreciation for this wonderland..."

– HavingNotAttained

It's A Staple

"Office supplies have a weird, special place in my heart ever since I was a kid. They don't even have to be 'cute' necessarily."

"Japan's legendary stationery stores is unironically a reason I want to go."

– _CozyLavender_

Not Caring Anymore

"The older I get the shorter that list gets. Not because I love less things, but because I don't care about hiding it."

– Bi-Beast

"YES!! I'm 53 now. I'm working my first job in public since 2006. Today is Halloween and we're allowed to dress up so I am sitting here waiting to go to work dressed as a VERY bad Wednesday Addams. My bf said I'd 'look stupid' because no one else will probably dress up and I'm like, 'WHO CARES!' My makeup looks horrible and not like I practiced, but I DO NOT CARE! I'm having fun with it anyhow and I don't care if my coworkers dress up or not. I'm bein' ME! :)"

– deanie1970

Honorable mentions start here.

The Savior

"Picking up worms from the street and sidewalks when it rains and moving them into the dirt so they don’t burn in the sun, every time it rains I do this."

– sky_kitten89

Hero Of The Moment

"Yoooo I scoot SO many snails and worms. I work as a tech/mechanic at an automotive shop, I had a peoject car towed to my house the other day and it was covered in snails. I saw them when the tow guy/coworker was unloading and I was like, 'oh! It comes with free snails!' and began moving them. He laughed then realized and said, '... Oh, you're serious. Uh... Okay.'"

"I don't care who knows it. These little things barely can look out for themselves, why shouldn't we if we can take a moment to help? I don't care what happens next, it probably doesn't matter overall but I can help this moment."

– chris14020

Why should some of the hidden desires mentioned above have to be secret?

Redditors opening up about some of these would make them a hit at parties–no shaming.

As a matter of fact, I'll totally be down for a Forensic Files viewing party where we all make hot chocolate, light the fireplace, and cozy up together in our respective pink ugly nightgowns for old ladies.

historical reenactors
Sigmund on Unsplash

We've probably all heard some variation of the saying "Truth is stranger than fiction."

Real life isn't just strange, it can also be downright ridiculous.

History is riddled with moments of absurdity.

So ridiculous that people have a hard time believing real life is, well, really real.

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