Grieve Not

What though the radiance which was once so bright 
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death,
In years that bring the philosophic mind.


536. Ode, Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood
William Wordsworth 
Lines 180-191

Formula for Success

There is no formula for success except perhaps an unconditional acceptance of life and what it brings.

Arthur Robinson

From Criminal Minds, Season Three, Episode 14

Vulnerability

When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown-up, we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability... to be alive is to be vulnerable. 

Madeleine L'Engle

Forgiveness

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."

- Paul Boese

So Good

"Be so good they can't ignore you."

- Steve Martin

Inventing Life

"To invent your own life's meaning is not easy, but it's still allowed, and I think you'll be happier for the trouble."

- Bill Watterson

Aware

"We cannot change what we are unaware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change." 

- Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In 

Burden

"You love someone, you open yourself up to suffering, that's the sad truth. Maybe they'll break your heart, maybe you'll break their heart and never be able to look at yourself in the same way. Those are the risks. That's the burden.

Like wings, they have weight, we feel that weight on our backs, but they are a burden that lifts us. Burdens which allow us to fly..."

- from Bones, "The End in the Beginning", Season Four

Secret of Life

"One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others."

- Lewis Carroll

(heard on Criminal Minds, 10/17/12)

Possibility

"Even on the worst days, there's a possibility of joy."

- Detective Beckett, "Castle"
October 8, 2012 Episode

Underdog

Hey, that sounds like my luck
I get the short end of it
Oh I love to be
I love to be the underdog.

- Imagine Dragons, "Underdog"

I am...

I am seeking.
I am striving.
I am in it with all my heart.

- Vincent Van Gogh

Demons

When the days are cold

And the cards all fold

And the saints we see

Are all made of gold

When your dreams all fail

And the ones we hail

Are the worst of all 

And the blood's run stale

I want to hide the truth

I want to shelter you

But with the beast inside

There's nowhere we can hide

No matter what we breed

We are still made of greed

This is my kingdom come

This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

When the curtain's call

Is the last of all

When the lights fade out

All the sinners crawl

So they dug your grave

And the masquerade

Will come calling out

At the mess you made

Don't want to let you down

But I am hell bound

Though this is all for you

Don't want to hide the truth

No matter what we breed

We are still made of greed

This is my kingdom come

This is my kingdom come

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

They say it's what you make

I say it's up to fate

It's woven in my soul

I need to let you go

Your eyes, they shine so bright

I want to save their light

I can't escape this now

Unless you show me how

When you feel my heat

Look into my eyes

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide

Don't get too close

It's dark inside

It's where my demons hide

It's where my demons hide. 

Imagine Dragons, "Demons"

Hopeless Wanderer

So when your hope's on fire

But you know your desire

Don't hold a glass over the flame

Don't let your heart grow cold

I will call you by name

I will share your road

Hold me fast, hold me fast

Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer. 

Mumford and Sons, "Hopeless Wanderer"

Top of the World

I've tried to cut these corners

Try to take the easy way out

I kept on falling short of something

I coulda gave up then but

Then again I couldn't have 'cause

I've traveled all this way for something

Now take it in but don't look down

'Cause I'm on top of the world,

I'm on top of the world

Waiting on this for a while now

Paying my dues to the dirt

I've been waiting to smile

Been holding it in for a while

Take it with me if I can

Been dreaming of this since a child

I'm on top of the world. 

- Imagine Dragons, "On Top of the World" 

Might Drag You Down

Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found.

- Phillip Phillips, "Home"

Distance

Success isn't how far you got, but the distance you traveled from where you started. 

- Steve Prefontaine

Edge of Desire

Don't say a word, just come over and lie here with me
'Cause I'm just about to set fire to everything I see.
I want you so bad, I'll go back on the things I believe
There I just said it, I'm scared you'll forget about me.

- John Mayer, "Edge of Desire"

Chemistry Wins

"History shows that the four fastest people don't always win. Chemistry wins." 

- Team USA 4x100 relay coach. 

Love it. Applies to more than just running.

Come Over

I told you I wouldn’t call, I told you I wouldn’t care
But baby climbing the walls gets me nowhere.
I don't think that I can take this bed getting any colder
Come over, come over, come over, come over, come over

We don't have to miss each other, come over
We don't have to fix each other, come over
We don't have to say forever, come over
You don't have to stay forever, come over.

- Kenny Chesney, "Come Over"