I’ve recently been in a nostalgic season. Perhaps it’s the slower summer days or the fact that my twin daughters just turned 18. Life has me looking back a bit and I’m enjoying the memories. One thing I’ve found myself doing is re-reading books I’ve loved through the years. This has brought me front and center with truths, quotes, and themes that shaped who I am. Like we have favorite songs, I’ve had some favorite sayings through the years. Here are several that stand out:
“Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.”
This popular lyric, written by Kris Kristofferson and sung by Janis Joplin before I was born, has captivated me for as long as I can remember. I could never quite recall where I first heard it. I was quite surprised to find it was a recurring quote in a book I read in high school. Mystery solved. Throughout my life, I’ve sought freedom. The idea of having the choice to change, take a risk, and follow the least worn path has been how I’ve defined success. As life has grown richer for me in terms of the quality of relationships and goals accomplished, I still love freedom. Yet, I now understand that it can be joyful to have much to lose. And that’s all the reason not to cling too tightly to any one thing but to make a full effort to stay connected to the people we care most about.
“Deferred gratification is the best kind.”
This is a truth I know for sure. In my 20’s I served in the Marines, studied law, and started a business. All amazing experiences. And, at times, exhausting. Through challenges, I learned to value hard work. And, more importantly, to love the journey toward success. While we live in a society that applauds instant in many forms, I seek the depth that comes from struggling, overcoming, learning, and growing. Not only does this process hold my attention, but it also delights my soul.
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
This gem is one of many Henry Ford offered the world. I’ve made enough missteps in life to know failure isn’t final. In middle school, a woman who would become a lifelong mentor gave me a book called Dare to Succeed. Just the very title motivated me. This quote appeared on page 210. While I didn’t have the perspective to understand it at 13, today, I treasure the fact that I’m okay with not only missing the mark but talking about what’s off, needs attention, or is a clear gap. By confronting hard truths, clear paths toward better emerge.
What are your words to live by?
We illuminate much by taking time to reflect on how we learned what we value. That awareness creates opportunity—an opportunity to change or reconfirm our commitment to what matters.
