I collect quotes, often running for paper and pen to capture words in the middle of a TV show or movie or while reading a book or magazine. I like to ponder their meaning and see if it’s a “zen” message I need to apply to my life. Recently during one particular TV show, a woman was explaining to an ex-lover she had run into the reasons why their relationship would never have worked.  “My job was too time-consuming, you travel too much, my family is difficult to get along with, your habits drove me crazy, blah, blah, blah,” on and on she went with her litany of excuses, damn right well knowing that they were still in love and always had been and always would be.  He looked her straight in the eyes and simply said, “Tell yourself that if it helps.”  Boom!  Thanks for shooting straight, buddy.

How many times have we, too, told ourselves stuff that was fluff in order to get by and go on, trying to make sense out of ridiculously challenging situations?

 

Fluff: “Well, the divorce rate is 60%. Everyone gets a divorce these days. People just don’t stay together anymore.”

Straight:  The ex was a lying, cheating coward.

 

Fluff:  “The economy is getting better – the unemployment rate is going down.”

Straight:  Really?  Is that why gas is almost $4 a gallon and finding a job these days takes a magic act by David Copperfield?

 

Fluff:  “Endings are just beginnings.”

Straight:  Let’s face it, when it’s a truly shit time, then it’s going to be a truly shit time.

 

Fluff:  “When one door closes another one opens.”

Straight:  Sometimes it gets better; sometimes it gets worst.  Sometimes you have to tie a knot at the end of your rope and just keep hanging on until the wind blows in another direction.

 

Fluff:  “Leap and the net will appear.”

Straight: Sometimes you have to let go and begin again.  

 

Fluff:  “The sun will come out tomorrow.”

Straight:  Whatever gets you through the night…keep telling yourself that if it helps.