My Invisible Army

I sort of have an obsession with empowering quotes. Here is the latest one I'm infatuated with:

"If you're going to be passionate about something, be passionate about learning. If you're going to fight something, fight for those in need. If you're going to question something, question authority. If you're going to lose something, lose your inhibitions. If you're going to gain something, gain respect and confidence. And if you're going to hate something, hate the false idea that you are not capable of your dreams."

-Daniel Golston

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Sometimes I struggle with the fact that I like quotes. The mere act of repeating another's brilliance or eloquence in words makes me feel, at times, fraudulent and unoriginal, like I'm putting on a front to seem more intellectual than what I really am -- or that I'm just trying to live vicariously through these strangers.

So I finally attempted to cure this dissonance the other day and came to the conclusion that I gravitate toward the quotes that most reinforce my biggest dreams and most real outlook on life. These empowering, risk-taking, big-talkin' reflections of self may scare the people whose opinions I value. Because of this idea that the people I am surrounded by may not always support or understand my outlook on life, it's natural that I have looked to people who do.

Though I may not know the sources of these quotes, their muttered words have become a powerful, invisible force that fuels my thoughts & actions and supports me in ways I may not receive from my inner-circles of loved ones (Disclaimer: I really do have an amazingly supportive network, though). Whenever I doubt myself, I flip through my mental file of quotes to assure and encourage myself, as well as give myself a person or idea to aspire towards. They're my invisible army that battles to protect and feed my soul.