Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons

"Easter is the miracle of transformation as seen in the change of seasons, in the maturation of mortal persons, and in the resurrection of souls."

"There are trials in life that feel as tremendous as a quest to slay dragons. These trials are daunting. They require hard work, determination, and courage. But when the dragon is finally slain, the relief is immense."

"Bad habits are demons that often push us into isolation because they know that in our loneliness they stand little chance of being overcome."

"Habits grow like dragons if you feed them."

"I saw a man climb a mountain with no feet or hands and barely a stump for each arm and leg. At once I realized there was no excuse at all for me not to scale my own mountains."

"Nothing remains idle and thrives. Life needs a moving force to prevent the devastating effects of stagnancy. That is why life employs change."

"I know you would like to blame the world, but the fact is that life is an 'up to you' thing."

"Man is dust. Rue is rain. Life is mud."

"If you suffer lingering doubts; if the consolation you cling to is ‘it will probably be okay,’ then run the other way because what you’re contemplating is not a good choice."

"Sadness is the heart withdrawing to seek shelter from the pain."

"To be a rainbow in someone’s cloud is commendable, but I prefer to be the rain because it dampens cheeks and washes away tears."

"God cries for us in the same way we cry for others. His tears most often spill over for the pain and suffering caused from the mortal misuse of a gift called agency. He will not revoke the gift. It was promised to us for the duration of our time on Earth. But He will hold each one of us accountable in the end for how we applied this power of agency."

"Many of us draw lines which we intend never to cross. But life tests our resolve, mercilessly at times, and a foot budges, nudged past that thinly-drawn line. So we draw another, resolving never to cross this one. Days grow dark and fog creeps in to blind our view, clouding the reason for the line’s existence from our minds. We draw another mark, ashamed that the last was crossed with less coaxing than we imagined it would require. Shadows and doubts give further need to draw a new line, and then another and another. Lines, I think, are too slim and obscure to be dependable deterrents for behavior. Too often, too easily, people stumble into places they later regret entering. What, then, keeps some individuals from crossing those narrow lines?It is the power of values. For if a person possessing values were to step one foot outside their line, they would be forced to release hands with those inflexible values and consciously abandon them. But their values are persuasive, keeping a tight grip, warding off the luring temptations beckoning one to test the line. Thus values maintained keep a person safely away from areas they dare not travel, steering a life between the lines, enhancing willpower and shaping mighty strength of character."

"It is in the midst of laughter that our perspective alters and we realize this trying life can still be enjoyed."

"Life is a fierce duel with emotions and a slow war with psychology."

"Life has me trapped in a cocoon of earth where I must grow and change until the day I sprout wings. And on that day I shall burst free, no longer marooned on a pebble of dust in a universe that only waits for me to find a means to fly."

"I sometimes wonder if life isn’t a giant mirror that reflects back at me everything I hold up to it."

"Not every day is awful. Not every day is good. Despite the way the hours pass I’m living like I should. Not every day is all wrong. Not every day is right. At least I’m not a spider trying to scamper out of sight. Not every day is ideal. Not every day is bad. At any rate I have my senseseven if they’re mad. Not every day is happy. Not every day is glum. When sadness drags me in the dumps A simple tune I hum. Not every day I smile. Not every day I frown. With effort, I can take a scowland turn it upside down. Not every day is crazy. Not every day is sane. If consequence nips at my heels I don’t pass on the blame. Not every day is giddy. Not every day is blah. Yet I can still appreciatea giggle and guffaw. Not every day is timid. Not every day is proud. I may not be a dragonbut I roar about as loud. Not every day has rainbows. Not every day has rain. Despite the fact I’m stiff and sore,I’m not in chronic pain. On every day the sun shines,so every night I praythat I might see the morning lightand live another day."

"A sunrise is a wondrous marvel, but in reality the sun never rises. It is the earth that rotates to face the sun. Life too can be a wondrous marvel, but like the earth, we must turn our eyes toward brighter things."

"Life is not about having perfect days. Life is not about handling days perfectly. Life is about perfecting one’s character through the having and handling of every given day."