Tuesday Afternoon Quotes

“Perhaps the most important thing we bring to another person is the silence in us, not the sort of silence that is filled with unspoken criticism or hard withdrawal. The sort of silence that is a place of refuge, of rest, of acceptance of someone as they are. We are all hungry for this other silence. It is hard to find. In its presence we can remember something beyond the moment, a strength on which to build a life. Silence is a place of great power and healing.”

--Rachel Naomi Remen
“If you’ve been taking care of other people and saying yes all your life, you may encounter some angry resistance when you start to say no. People may say you were nicer before. They may say you’re being selfish, that they prefer the “old” you. On the other hand, you might find that your honesty and clarity is respected by friends who are glad that you are finally taking care of yourself.”

--Ellen Bass and Laura Davis, “The Courage to Heal”

“The most common form of despair is not being who you are.”

--Soren Kierkegaard