Quotes are awesome. They're simply just a combination of words strung together that make up something meaningful to you or to others. It sounds kind of silly, but it's amazing how much power words can have on people.As children, we learn so much from common sayings from our parents, like "brush after you eat!" or "have a good day at school, I love you." Through repetition, they become drilled into our minds...and then when the parent/guardian role becomes a thing in our lives, we preach what we've been told to our offspring.Common phrases are just like quotes. They are merely a set of words we remember that, in some way, have influenced our actions or thoughts. Quotes have a tendency to be tagged as broader, wiser statements that can apply to most people. The best part about them is that they can come from anyone. There are no set rules that something wise has to come from someone famous or well-known. They can come from a lyric from one of your favorite songs, something you might have read in a novel, or even from some acquaintance you might have met ten minutes ago! It's surprising where you might find them. For instance, many of the quotes I'm about to list came from shows, comic books, and even video games. Yes, all of the things you thought were time-sucks in life are actually memorable (to me, at least).People abide by certain sayings, and it's really interesting to me how we can embed these ideas into our lives. For instance, the title of this blog is a quote that my grandfather told me last year, on what would be the last time I would talk with him. Before we departed, I was in tears because I knew the inevitable would happen in the near future, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing someone in my life. He came up to me, put his hand on my shoulder and said,
"It'll always be better tomorrow."
What a simple sentence. Having a bad day? It'll be fine, there's always tomorrow. Such simple words that have such a powerful thought. Since then, those words have resonated with me permanently. If a day goes horribly wrong, it's going to be okay. "Time heals all wounds," as they say, and tomorrow will always bring about a new chance for a better day.With that in mind, I'd like to share some of my favorite quotes based on certain themes.
Happiness
"The greatest happiness is seeing someone you like stay happy." - Tomoyo Daidouji, Cardcaptor Sakura
"Happiness comes in different forms. If you believe that you're happy, you'll be happy." - Haruhi Suzumiya, The Wavering of Haruhi Suzumiya
For the people that we love in our lives, one of the greater pieces of happiness is seeing that they're happy. Our happiness is constructed not only by how we feel, but how the people we cherish in our lives feel. Likewise, we can't just make ourselves be happy; we have to believe in the happiness that we desire. You can't feign it. If you believe that you are truly happy with the situation, you'll be happy.
Life
"Each reunion is a twist of the knife. The joy is ephemeral; it leaves fear in its wake. A fear that all too soon the time will come when you must bid farewell again. Yet you cannot help but long for the next encounter. Humanity's great frailty...We prefer past happiness to future uncertainty." - Lightning, Final Fantasy XIII-2
"Everything has a beginning and an end. Life is just a cycle of starts and stops. There are ends we don’t desire, but they’re inevitable; we have to face them. It’s what being human is all about." - Jet Black, Cowboy Bebop
"...and because our time is limited, you have to give everything you have, and live for those things you believe in." - Syaoran, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles
"The point of life isn't to be perfect. It's to do what you want to do. To be who you want to be." - Iori Nagase, Kokoro Connect
Life is short, whether we like to believe it or not. I mean, hell, I didn't think I'd be 24 already. We are always constantly struggling with the balance of joyous and depressing moments in our lives, and we have to sometimes just face the reality of it all. Life isn't always going to be sugar and rainbows, and sometimes, said reality is harsh. That being said, we should always try and make the most of the situation and just deal with it. Do as much as you can with your life, and make as many memories as you can. Enjoy the world with the people around you, because you never know when they may escape your life.
Opportunities and Decisions
"If you ever think about giving up, remember why you held on for so long." - Hayley Williams, Paramore
"The only thing we're allowed to do is to believe that we won't regret the choice we made." - Levi, Attack on Titan
"Once you miss the opportunity to say something, the words become increasingly toxic. The best thing to do is to just say everything." - Hayashida Nana, Golden Time
"It might still fail sometimes, but if you don't talk, you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Wouldn't you rather try and fail? You can't become true friends until you've experienced enough conflicts. If you always play it safe, you'll end up losing the things that truly matter." - Ryuzen Goto, Kokoro Connect
We are often faced with opportunities that change the direction our lives take us. When faced with decisions, I've always found that it's best to go with your gut feeling than to play it safe. The last quote strikes me particularly well. It's always better to know what the outcome is, than to always guess and wonder, "what if?" Knowing the answer, embracing or denying the feeling, and moving on is a much better path than to wallow in curiosity forever. And to cap this off, some additional quotes that you might like.
Wise Words
"We accept the love we think we deserve." - Mr. Anderson, Perks of Being a Wallflower
"Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor and it can never be used to hurt you." - Tyrion Lannister
"I may not get that which I desire. But I certainly won’t get it if I don’t desire it." - Kraft Lawrence, Spice & Wolf
"False tears bring pain to others. A false smile brings pain to one's self." - C.C., Code Geass
"A bad moment that you encounter in life can only mean that a good moment will happen later." - Jennica Scott
"It's not wisdom to realize one's ignorance. It's ignorance." - Izuko Gaen, Monogatari Series
What are some quotes you live by? Let me know in the comments section below!From here on out, I'll finish each blog with a random song I find interesting. This tune is taken from a movie titled "The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya." I'm a sucker for stringed orchestrations, and this will explain why.The soundtrack from this movie is absolutely phenomenal. The music is beautifully orchestrated with its melancholy chords. You can feel the pull and tug of feelings happen through the crescendos and decrescendos. The light pause at 1:06 gives me goosebumps every time. This song depicts the feelings of someone whose heart is in conflict, attempting to decide the best choice to take. The song comes with no definitive conclusion, leaving the listener to decide what happens.Take a listen and let me know what you think.
長門有希の心にあるもの (In the Heart of Yuki Nagato), composed by Keigo Hoashi
Until next time.- Corey