...once you get to know them

Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.
- A.A Milne

My first instinct when I see a person...

My first instinct when I see an animal is to say hello.
My first instinct when I see a person is to avoid eye contact and hope it goes away.

The most interesting part of other people...

The most interesting part of other people isn't their strength or intelligence,

but their weakness and vulnerability.

- Alain de Button

“I’m offended”

Announcing “I’m offended” is basically telling the world you can’t control your emotions,
so everyone else should do it for you.

When you find peace within yourself...

When you find peace within yourself,
you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.
- Anne Frank

...even if it hurts some people you love

You can’t live your life for other people.
You've got to do what’s right for you,
even if it hurts some people you love.
- Nicholas Sparks

Listen to many, speak to a few.

Listen to many, speak to a few.- William Shakespeare

Respect your elders – you’re going to be old, too.

Respect your elders.
Learn from the people who have walked the path before you… respect them.
Because someday – and sooner than you could ever imagine – you’re going to be old, too.

The five W’s of life

• Who you are is what makes you special. Do not change for anyone.
• What lies ahead will always be a mystery. Do not be afraid to explore.
• When life pushes you over, you push back harder.
• Where there are choices to make, make the one you won’t regret.
• Why things happen will never be certain. Take in stride and move forward.

The expectations you should live up to

The only expectations you should live up to are the ones you expect of yourself.

The price of being...

The price of being a sheep is boredom.
The price of being a wolf is loneliness.
Choose one or the other with great care.

- Hugh MacLeod

Why complicate life?

Missing somebody? Call.
Wanna meet up? Invite.
Wanna be understood? Explain.
Have questions? Ask.
Don’t like something? State it.
Want something? Ask for it.
Love someone? Tell it.
We just have one life. Keep it simple.

You are amazing!

And the more you recognize that,
The more wonderful, caring, compassionate, powerful,
beautiful, attractive, giving, genuine,
wise, open, receptive, loving, brilliant,
strong, joyous, courageous, inspired, inspiring
and...
...Amazing you become!

Take those broken wings and learn to fly

Slip through fingers, hold up a ship

I want to be like water. I want to slip through fingers, but hold up a ship.

They just stand there shining

Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save;
they just stand there shining.

Never sacrifice who you are...

Never sacrifice who you are just because someone else has a problem with it.

No matter how loud their opinions are...

No matter how loud their opinions are
They do NOT choose who you can be.
- Dodinsky

Pleasing others by being someone you are not...

Pleasing others by being someone you are not is a life of misery.
There can only be you to be really happy.
 - Dodinsky

Please don’t allow society to turn you into a person you are not.