For Inspiration, Look toward the Bookshelf

Graduation ceremonies usually include them; so do weddings and, of course, funerals. What are this mysterious things? Quotations, of course. Quotes are a quick dose of inspiration for any open-minded person. Many quotes get overused and stated to the point of saturation, while some are underutilized. Either way, quotes play an intricate role in our daily lives that can benefit everyone involved. For anyone that needs a pick-me-up, quotes are a great way to get the boost you need. People often look at quotes as long-lasting words from dead people, however, quotes are far livelier than one might think. Quotes can be flirtatious, engaging, motivational, and even healing.nnFlirt with life by using quotes to make it through each day. Years ago, as a young student in a small school outside New York City, I had a friend that was constantly quoting what seemed to be every saying known to man. She lived her life vicariously through the words of others. It was what made her unique and interesting. Also, it seemed to be a way for her to interact with others. She’d share a famous saying or a quote from last night’s late night comedy show. Whatever the mood was at school, she had a quote to fit it, and everyone seemed to enjoy her genuine passion for famous words. Just as her quotes made her unique, others can use quotes in a similar way to chitchat, make friends, or even fall in love. As the saying goes, crazier things have happened. nnEngaging others through quotes can bring relevance to your message, whatever that message is. It’s not that everyone doesn’t already want to listen to you talk, but just in case we’ve got a few space cadets in the audience, try to use quotes to engage others in conversation. Quotes are be appropriate for speaking engagements as well as for more casual encounters. Approach others with some interesting quotes ready to sparkle off your lips at any given time, and I promise you’ll be astonished at the reaction of those listening to you. People, for the most part, love to learn, and quotes can help put even the most confusing situations into perspective. To make others notice you, pack up your mental backpack with some quotations, and prepare to get noticed.nnGet yourself motivated by reading the words of others. Some quotes should be kept to yourself and used for your own benefit. Before a big game one year our football coach came to talk to the team about an opponent that had beaten us the last three years straight. Coach noted that for the past three years we’d been knocking on their door, and now it was time to kick it down. I can still feel my heart rate rise as I think of those magical words. “Knock it down,” he said, “knock it down.” What a perfect way of putting our losing streak into perspective. It wasn’t about us losing three years in a row; rather, we’d been making progress by knocking on the door, and now our progress was to come to fruition with a win. This quote, in particular, got our whole team so fired up that we won the game. Afterward, to be sure I wouldn’t forget it, I wrote it down, and to this day, when I feel challenged, I read it again and again. To me, that one sentence is symbolic of strength, perseverance, and triumph. Not ready to kick down the door yet? Try reading up on some more subtle inspirational quotes; if you can’t find any quotes you like lying around the house, look at quote books, or better yet, try religious texts. Those are always packed with famous guidance.nnMost importantly, quotes offer an historical perspective that is unrivaled in many cases. Quotes can sum up generational feelings or, conversely, can intricately show one person’s emotional core better then any other means. Quotes allow people to hear it from the source. Quotes offer an ocean of historical information for us to swim through, soaking up all the great words of our past in the process. nnNot everyone will be passionate about quotes, and I can accept such a fact. There is beauty in diversity of opinions in this world, and we all know there is no shortage of opinions out there. However, if quotes aren’t important to you personally, remember that in the end you may want something you’ve said to be remembered. As the old saying goes, “give, and you shall receive”: give your time to understand the great words of others, and you will receive knowledge from those words . . . and maybe one day, we’ll be quoting you.nn** This article is one of 101 great articles that were published in 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life. To get complete details on “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life”, visit http://www.selfgrowth.com/greatways2.html.