encouragement from me

some quotes God has used along the way to keep me writing. i hope one of them helps you, in whatever endeavor you happen to pursue.

"This task has been appointed to you, and if you don't find a way to do it, no one will." (Loosely quoted from Lord of the Rings movie #1)

“You have a story—a very important story, a story that rests at the core of your being—to tell. It is a story that has torn your heart into pieces, and it is a story of beauty because your heart couldn’t have been torn without your having first loved and somehow lost something that you loved.” ~ Susan Zimmermann, Writing to Heal the Soul

“Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer, you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act–truth is always subversive.” — Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

“Search for the reason that bids you to write; find out whether it is spreading out its roots in the deepest places of your heart, acknowledge to yourself whether you would have to die if it were denied you to write.” — Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

“Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing. They are the ones who discover what is most important and strangest and most pleasurable in themselves, and keep believing in the value of their work, despite the difficulties.” - Bonnie Friedman

“Should we feel at times disheartened and discouraged, a simple movement of heart toward God will renew our powers. Whatever he may demand of us, he will give us at the moment the strength and courage that we need.” — François Fénelon

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Those who want to sing will always find a song. ~Norwegian Proverb

And now, my favorite quote from Marianne Williamson ----

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. ***Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.*** We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.