This semester hasn’t been easy (or this year, for that matter), not for any of us, and no matter where or how this pandemic-riddled and socially-unjust semester has hit, it has still hit. Hard. Some days it takes every ounce of strength just to climb out of bed, and I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. So here are the seven quotes that help me face each day—hopefully, they’ll help you, too.
- “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” – Rabbi Tarfon
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This is probably one of my favorite quotes of all time. I came across it a couple years ago, and it really captures the spirit of what it means to just keep going. My actions may not be the end-all fix to the world’s problems, but it’s not my place to walk away from them.
- “What is grief, if not love persevering?” – WandaVision
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When Vision delivered this quote, I cried, I did. Having lost two grandparents so close together, sometimes I find myself trying to bury the grief and dry the tears, but after hearing this, I realized that my grief is nothing to be ashamed of. It is simply the legacy of their love.
- “I wish it need not have happened in my time.” — “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world besides the will of evil.” – The Fellowship of the Ring
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It’s easy to look around the world and wish that the injustices we see were left for others to deal with—I know I get tired of seeing it on every news channel. But it’s not our place to decide what we must go through; all that we can do is wake up and decide to leave the world a better place than we found it. Be the good in the world. Be the good, and evil cannot win.
- “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage, against the dying of the light.” – Dylan Thomas
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Thomas’ poem is a favorite of mine. It reminds me not to fade away but rather to leave a mark.
- “Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it.” – Helen Keller
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The suffering that exists now will not last forever simply because it cannot. The story of humanity is the story of overcoming, and nothing will ever be able to change that. Take heart in the knowledge that you have survived 100% of your worst days, and you’ll continue to do so.
- “La notte insegue sempre il giorno, ed il giorno verrà.” – Il Mondo by Jimmy Fontana
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“The night always follows the day, and the day will come.” This quote—and this song—plays on a loop in my head constantly. I’m not sure why it’s so uplifting to me, but I do know that on my dark days, I listen to this and remember that the new day is always around the corner, bringing a new dawn with it.
- “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’” – Isaiah 6:8
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One of my favorite Bible verses that I cite as an accurate depiction of what happened when I realized what my career calling was. “Who will do it?” — “I will. Here I am. Send me.”
I hope that these bring you as much inspiration as they do for me. We’re almost there, just keep marching forward.