February 2025 Blog Prompt: What is your favorite quote and why does it inspire you?
Contributor of the prompt: *Wil Becker

I think I have a few that have become ‘favorites’ over the years. 

My first absolute favorite is:

“See the light in others and treat them as if that is all you see.” Wayne W. Dyer 

I like to follow this one up with the phrase we have all heard a million times that says, “You find what you are looking for.”

I went to Google for this phrase because to be honest I was not sure if it was a quote, phrase and who originally said it and shared it.  I just knew I had heard it and love it when it follows my favorite Wayne Dyer quote.

Google shared this:  Alexander McCall Smith said, “We find what we are looking for in life” in his book The Full Cupboard of Life. The quote continues, “If you look for happiness, you will see it; if you look for distrust and envy and hatred—all those things—you will find those too”.

How on point is that?

You find what you are looking for whether it be positive (happiness) or whether it be negative (distrust, envy and hatred) so why not “See the light in others and treat them as if that is all you see.”

Having been incarcerated, labeled a criminal, deported, being an illegal immigrant in the United States and all the other labels I may or may not carry – I know firsthand what it is like when others only see moments of your life.  They see and remember a glimpse of your time on earth and frankly a glimpse of your time associated with them and it’s not the most positive moments they remember and or share!

The addict on the street –

The illegal immigrant crossing a border –

The person shoplifting –

I’m not advocating any of these are ‘right’ but considering my favorite quote can we view this human as resilient, hopeful, doing what they can to survive?   Can we see them as a son, sister, mother, aunt? 

This brings me to my second favorite quote – and this one I have TRIED to find who originally said it and shared it but can not seem to find any information on it.  So, if you have any insight, I am open to it!

The quote is: “It’s not the choices we make that define us, it is the reasons for those choices.”

That addict has choices – they are choosing to be numb rather than maybe filled with anger and hate and lashing out.   They are choosing to be numb rather than end their life. 

That immigrant is crossing and choosing to try to enter a different country – rather than die in their country.  Their choice is illegal entry – not a great choice – but the reason for their choice says they are hopeful, willing to do what it takes and what they can to live.

The shoplifter – not a great choice but the reason for the choice could be to care for a starving child or feed themselves because they have been without for a long time and do not know how to access resources.

“See the light in others and TREAT THEM AS IF THAT is all you see!”  We are not our choices but rather the reason for our choices.

Cheryl.

*No A.I. was used in creating this blog