MandyB.

Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did. Know when to let go and when to hold on tight. Stop rushing. Don’t be intimidated to say it like it is. Stop apologizing all the time. Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph. Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down. Stop giving your power away. Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting. Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it. Finally know who you are.

- Kristin Armstrong (via internal-acceptance-movement)

There is nothing wrong with loving the crap out of everything. Never apologize for your enthusiasm. Never. Ever. Never.

- Ryan Adams  (via emphasisadded)

(Source: bitinglightning)

You can’t own a human being. You can’t lose what you don’t own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don’t, do you? And neither does he. You’re turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can’t value you more than you value yourself.

-

Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon

Relevant. This is by far one of my favorite books…I think it’s about time to re-read it.

(via lookingforleeway)

Dear Sweet Soul,

We are all hopelessly flawed. We are all perfect luminous beings inside vulnerable hearts and bodies. We are doing our best, sometimes fumbling through near dark trying to make our way. This applies to you too. It’s ok to love yourself anyways.

Love the brilliant light of your heart. Love the dark places. Love what’s cracked and parched. What’s bruised and still bleeding. Take this magnificent whole and be as kind and as gentle with it as you are the sweet souls around you.

Take off your armor. Put down your fists. This is not a war. With grace and humility willingly receive all the love, happiness, kindness, connection, money, travel, opportunity, privilege, praise, and acceptance that this sweet life bestows upon you. Use these incredible gifts to help others.

Keep growing. Keep learning. Keep opening your heart wider. Be sweet. Work hard. But in this moment please remember: You are good. You are enough.

-

jane ysadora, read this when you don’t feel good enough 

(via growing-up-indie)

I think actually one of the things that’s a comfort in marriage is that there isn’t a door at seven years, and so if something is messed up, in the short term, there’s a comfort of knowing, ‘well we made this commitment, so we’re just going to work this out. And even if tonight we’re not getting along, or there’s something between us that doesn’t feel right, you have the comfort of knowing, we’ve got time, we’re going to figure this out.’ And that makes it so much easier. Because you do go through times where you hate each other’s guts, and the no escape clause, weirdly, is a bigger comfort to being married than I ever would have thought before I got married.

-

Ira Glass

[spotted via gypsy-soul and emilyposts]

(via umcanyounot)