Do you have a motto or phrase to live by? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you have a motto or phrase to live by?

MsMaven

Veteran

We're coming up on the half-year mark. I have a few favorite quotes that I choose every Jan 1 and this year I picked one by Winston Churchill. It was from a speech to Harrow, a boys' school, in late 1941. I picked it for this year and I admit, haven't looked at it lately. For some reason I moved it off my desktop, but I need to bring it back.

Just wondering if any of you have an inspirational quote or motto you live by.

Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never--in nothing, great or small, large or petty--never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941

So far this year I have been tempted to give up on some long-term goals. Today I told myself "No," not going to do that.

https://www.nationalchurchillm.....never.html

As June 30 approaches, I will review my goals. I've come close to giving up on several; including fashion, physical fitness, and writing goals.

What about you? Do you need a reboot?

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32 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

rachylou

Veteran

My motto is ‘Never assume malice for what stupidity can explain’, lol

Ok. Yeah, I’m kinda mean and snarky that way, but it’s a motto that makes me more forgiving, helps me find compassion for others.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Inspirational quote by Churchill, MsMaven. Good job not giving up on your goals!

Rachy, HAH!

Since the world is in a particularly heavy and dark place at the moment, I'm going with something lighthearted:

"Live well, love lots, laugh more" - (I love my sweatshirt!)

.....and in order to keep disappointments in check:

"lead a better life through lower expectations"

The less I expect, the happier I will be!

Boden Live Well Graphic Sweatshirt

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Anonymous

Mine is cliched, but has been borne out again and again: Don’t judge a book by its cover. When I look below the surface, I am constantly amazed!

Sloper

Veteran

"Attitude of gratitude" helps on particularly rough days.

April

Veteran

I'm paraphrasing here, but close enough:

If you have more than you need, don't build a higher fence, build a longer table.

This one isn't a proverb, just something I've been saying to the younger women in my life right now: "Create the world *you* want to live in, and create the soul you want to live with."

Finally, my old office in an elementary school had the following hung on my door: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." Plato (though attributed to many later folk who were probably quoting)

cat2

Veteran

I confess that the Survivor motto got me through umpteen years in a competitive work environment: Outwit. Outplay. Outlast. I will need to retool for retirement!

Helena

Veteran

I do, I have two actually.

One is the "golden rule" as expressed so beautifully by so many of the worlds wisdom and spiritual traditions.

And the second is the question "What would Love do?"

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Bonnie

Veteran

Be Kind, Learn Something New Every Day, Keep Moving, and Relax the Back!

Anonymous

"Nolite te bastardes corborondorum" (from the Handmaids Tale, which I just started reading).

Helena

Veteran

Suntiger, sending huge love xx

LJP

Veteran

Shoulders back, core engaged, chin tucked.

Laurie

Veteran

I love a lyric from a song whose title I can't remember - "time exists just on your wrist, so don't panic..."

(Oh Suntiger....I know, I know, I know...)

Runcarla

Veteran

“People are more important than things.”

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Not a motto but sometimes when I wake up crabby I remind myself that I’ve woken up on the right side of the grass. Leads to a smile, which is a better way to start the day.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

When times are hard ,remember all this will pass,or another way of saying the same thing,in a years time this will be just a memory.l think it helps to remember how small our daily concerns generally are in the great span of history.l find it helps to bring perspective if not comfort.

Runcarla

Veteran

I like Angie’s one about expectations. I’ve tried to go through life with ‘reasonable’ or ‘realistic’ expectations - maybe even reduced expectations, and been delighted by outcomes far more often than I’ve been disappointed.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Mine recently has been, “right here, right now.” That is, don’t live by dwelling on the past (depression) or fearing the future (anxiety). Continually and repeatedly find the present and live where you are.

Helena

Veteran

Jenn, that is a perfect breath prayer/mantra. I shall be reciting this today!

MsMaven

Veteran

Lots of wisdom here. Thank you to all who contributed. I'll get back later to each of you. Trying to catch up--just back from anniversary trip to Santa Barbara. 57th.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I like Jenn's but this one is speaking to me lately.

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MsMary

Veteran

When we were first married my husband and I made a list of rules for life. They don't all hold up, but I think these do:

Be kind

Use it or loose it

Have young friends

Look where you want to go (that's a bicycling thing -- as opposed to looking at the obstacles between you and where you want to go)

No chair noises (i.e. no sighing, moaning, groaning when getting in or out of a chair -- it makes you seem old!)

Assume good intentions

People are not improvement projects

Anonymous

Love that one UmmLila!

Aquamarine

Veteran

Lately this has been my motto: “Right now, it’s like this.” Similar to Jenn’s, helping me to stay grounded in the moment.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Lately mine has come from something I talk about in presentations I give on photographic seeing:

Open heart, open mind, open eyes.

JAileen

Veteran

If I had one, it would probably be, “It could be worse.” Instead of focusing on the bad, there are usually good things to focus on.

Runcarla

Veteran

My longest held motto (I have a coffee mug and a pillow!) is: Keep Calm And Carry On!

Jules

Veteran

This isn't a guiding principal so much as a way to keep pushing through the day when I am feeling overwhelmed or "depression exhausted"...

"Just Keep Swimming" - Dory, Finding Nemo

RoseandJoan

Veteran

My daughter has really been struggling with anxiety and had been unable to engage in every day tasks since coming out of lockdown.

Due to sheer determination on her part and some timely support she has started to say "screw it, I'll do it" and it has had such a positive impact that I have adopted it too.

I have far too many barriers in my head and my daughter's moto is helping to gain perspective

rachylou

Veteran

RandJ — you know, along those lines, I’ve found Cher’s *Whatever* from the movie, Clueless, freeing in all sorts of ways.

Your daughter is not alone in that anxiety. One of my boss’s daughters hasn’t returned to school in person because of it. She hangs with us at work now.

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