Fear of Inadequacies "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's 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's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Marianne Williamson

Story Matters "It occurred to me that everyone’s story matters to themselves, so the more I listened, the more she wanted to talk.” ― Miranda July, It Chooses You

Who Cares, Really? A funny bittersweet moment from the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Uber-competitive Marcy experiences a vision of a seemingly doped up Christ while wishing for a more challenging word to spell at the Bee. MARCY Jesus, I was wondering what would happen if I didn't win today. JESUS What do you think would happen? MARCY I don't know. What I mean is, would you be disappointed in me if I lost? JESUS Of course not! But, Marcy, I also won't be disappointed if you win. MARCY So you're saying it's up to me then? JESUS Yes! And also, this isn't the kind of thing I care very much about. hehehehe ... [from the musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee]

Sentimental Education JOEY So what is the best ending in all of literature? Don't say Ulysses. Everyone says Ulysses. PROF WILDER That's easy. Sentimental Education by Flaubert. JOEY And what happens? PROF WILDER Nothing really. Just two friends sitting around, remembering the best thing that never happened to them. JOEY How do you remember something that never happened? PROF WILDER Fondly. You see, Flaubert believed that anticipation was the purest form of pleasure. And the most relaible. And that while the things that actually happen to you would invariably disappoint, the things that never happened to you would never dim ... never fade. They would always be engraved in your heart with a sort of sweet sadness ... [from an episode of Dawson's Creek]

Running Away LAROCHE You know why I like plants? SUSAN Nuh uh. LAROCHE Becuase they're so mutable. Adaptation is a profound process. Means you figure out how to thrive in the world. SUSAN Yeah, but it's easier for plants. I mean, they have no memory. They just move on to whatever's next. With a person though, adapting's almost shameful. It's like running away. [from the movie Adaptation]