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Inspiration comes from many voices
Discover how meaningful quotes from faith, literature, movies and everyday life can inspire personal growth, strengthen relationships and deepen your perspective.
By Julie A. Ferraro | FāVS News Columnist
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
We’ve all done it, more than likely.
We’ve heard a friend say something insightful, seen a quote on a T-shirt, listened to the lyrics of a song, read a snippet of a Gospel passage — or the pastor’s reflection — in the Sunday bulletin, and been moved to think about those words more deeply. On whatever topic, that tidbit of wisdom has stuck with us, inspiring us to grow.
For me, the sources of such inspiration also include fortune cookies, classic movies, comedy performances, adventure and mystery novels and everyday life.
My habit of jotting down the pithy sayings that find their way into my head as I observe my practice of keeping eyes and ears open has created a computer file of varied and profound wisdom. If I leave them as mere jottings on a scrap of paper, after a while I can’t read them — my penmanship is so rotten! — so they get typed and saved where I won’t lose them.
Some of my collection’s highlights
Many of my personal favorites highlight the importance of love, respect, the potential of humanity and the need for openness of mind and heart.
“We become what we Love and who we Love shapes what we become,” is one I’ve drawn from the writings of St. Clare of Assisi.
My early — and continued — interest in Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes brought this statement to my attention, from the story “The Adventure of the Red Circle”: “Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons with the greatest for the last.”
Brigitte Nicole, who created the online community “Lessons Learned in Life” wrote, “How beautiful it is to find someone who asks for nothing but your company.”
In “Northanger Abbey,” author Jane Austen had one of her characters express this sentiment, “There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
“Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship,” is attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Even when the origin of a quote is lost, the idea is still valid, such as, “Love the friend despite the flaws, just as you love the cat after scratched by the claws.”
Pet owners can relate to that one, I’m sure, as someone who had both cats and dogs around for many years.
Words become flowers in the bouquet of life
These bits of truth, gathered like a bouquet of unfading flowers, brighten my days.
Others, given my creative tendencies, remind me that I can’t take that talent for granted, or let it upset the balance I value so much in my life.
Edgar Allan Poe who, unfortunately, let his creativity become a harsh taskmaster, wrote, “I remained too much inside my head and ended up losing my mind.”
This quote from the 1943 version of “Phantom of the Opera” — starring Claude Rains, and written by Eric Taylor, Samuel Hoffenstein and Hans Jacoby — prompts me to avoid isolating myself, which can lead to losing sight of all the wonders God’s creation has to offer: “The artist has a special temperament, and he must live his life exclusively with those who understand it.”
Thanks to my years as a journalist, I’ve been able to avoid that exclusivity, interacting with many people from many walks of life, learning from them and relishing their wisdom.
Laughter can be the best teacher
Honestly, I never would have thought that some very gifted comedians could open the world to me with their humorous observations.
Robin Williams, George Carlin and Billy Connolly looked at life through a very frank lens, exposing the vulnerability of our species through their own experiences and allowing us to laugh at ourselves.
Just a few final quotes from the latter: “Loneliness is not what people think it is. If you’re loved, you’re never actually lonely. You sometimes feel adrift or you feel solitary or you feel vulnerable or something like that. But loneliness and being alone aren’t the same thing.”
“Doing what you love’s where happiness is.”
And…
“There’s only love. That’s all there is.”
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