“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend” Paul Sweeney

I believe that I am not the only one who loves to take notes from books. A round of applause to technology, now that we have so many apps that allow us to save our notes from the books that we read. I will tell you how I use my favourite book notes app someday. For our fellows “the hard copy lovers” well, believe those highlighters with beautiful colours were made for you, LOL.

If you know me personally or follow my activities in social networks you would know by now how I love sharing book notes. And, if I had a chance to talk to my younger self today I would have said these exact words.

“READ BOOKS THAT YOU LOVE, take some notes for they will surely teach you a thing or two!!.”

I selected a few quotes from the books I read in 2020 and I couldn’t wait any longer to share them with you, so here we go;

“Don’t accept less than you deserve, Charlotte. Don’t let fear you have locked in your heart keep you from something bigger”.

This is not how it ends — Rochelle B. Weinstein

It is crazy and sad that this is what most of us do. We are willing to settle for less, our needs are subject to the happiness or decision made by the other. Why is it that hard to claim for what we deserve?. I made a list of things I deserve and it was not the easiest thing to do. I bet you are asking yourself why. It is because for each item on that list fear led the way but firm decisions were to be made. DON’T SETTLE

“You must not let the distractions and busyness keep you from experiencing everything this beautiful life has to offer”

Shine From Within — Nikki Banas

I still reminisce on that beautiful last trip I took before the end of the year and I cannot wait to plan for another. What I realized is, as we keep hiding in our “busyness” the world will not stop for us. There are so many places to go, people to meet, good food to eat, sports to play and plans to be made other than your 8–5 schedule. So why limit yourself? TRAVEL! EXPLORE! LIVE!

“A strong man cannot help a weaker unless that weaker is willing to be helped. And even then the weak man must become strong of himself. He must, by his efforts, develop the strength which he admires in another. None but himself can alter his condition.”

As a Man Thinketh — James Allen

A 1902 published book is telling it as it is. We love complaining, being lazy or saying “we cannot do it” and yet we believe that we deserve to be helped. But what are we doing to help ourselves? We should be able to help those who want to help us. Be willing to be helped.

“Keep writing. There’s no magic to this. You want to write a book, you’ve got to sit down and get on with it. Write, re-write, re-write again. You can do it. You will do.”

Three Things I’d Tell My Younger Self — Joanna Cannon and Friends

I LOVEEEED this one. Joanna et al published three things they would tell their daughter and each advice was too beautiful to read. This touches the soul. I still remember when I used to write and keep the articles by myself hesitating to share. Well, look at me now hehe!!. Making this work. This is not only about writing but everything you aimed doing at life, will be done, just press START!

“It’s said that you cannot pour from an empty cup. So when serving others, remember to keep your cup full and to be intentional about what you fill your cup with.”

Vibrate Higher Daily: Live Your Power — Lalah Delia

We have talked about the weaker in a quote by James Allen from “As a Man Thinketh” but Lalah is talking about “the helper” and the most beautiful thing about this quote is how she used a“cup” to share her message.

• what are you feeding others with?
• what are you feeding yourself with before feeding others?

It is what is within the helper that can be shared with weaker. So if the helper’s cup is empty what else does the weaker expect to receive? or should your cup be filled with dirty water, will your service be of value?. If the helper’s cup is filled with clean water and he will pour it all to the weaker what else is to be kept by himself? Well, that is for all of us to think out loud but as Lalah said, make sure your stay connected to what positively pours to your cup so that you can pour some to others.

“Burning down others’ opinions doesn’t make us right. It makes us arsonist”

Everybody, Always: Becoming Love on World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People — Bob Golf

Don’t we all love Bob Golf?. This quote was a reminder of respecting other people’s opinion.

Let me wrap up with the most touching, revealing and my favourite;

“This was the year I didn’t see coming. The one that shook me out of complacency. When I learned to stop being compliant, to demand what was rightfully mine, refuse to settle for anything less than what I deserved. I lost patience with small talk, fell in love with midnight conversations.I crossed deserts and oceans with the man I love at my side, as we lived out of suitcases, drunk on life and laughter.
This was the year that came with a gentle tap on the shoulder, reminding me who I was and what I could be, if only I’d just open my arms and let the light in, stop overthinking and start living. Permit myself to fall as long as I got back up again. I held the ones I love closer, let go of the things that weren’t meant to be mine. Looked my past dead in the eye and said, You aren’t welcome here anymore. Chased away from the cobwebs that I had let linger far too long. Told the moon I was sorry, but this is now my time in the sun.”

Love Looks Pretty You — Lang Leav

Well enough has been said from the last quote. To a safest, wonderful and inspiring 2021.