Home > Work > Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery
121 " Faith is a funny thing. It holds out the option of surrender when everything else has failed. The power of prayer lies in its ability to give us permission to put down our burdens and trust that the universe will have our backs. "
― Ranjani Rao , Rewriting My Happily Ever After - A Memoir of Divorce and Discovery
122 " In that sliver of space where everything—including past mistakes, future mishaps, and the uncertain present—was suspended, I could catch my breath and ease the pressure on my chest, even if it was only for a few minutes a day. "
123 " An empty room can be an instrument for introspection. It was a reflection of the void created by the decision to distance myself from a relationship that had defined me to others and to myself. If I was not a wife, who was I? I was removing a label that marked my place in a social system, but was I still “me” without that label? "
124 " An empty room can also be a catalyst for transformation. It was a reminder that I could now begin to shape the space around me exactly as I wanted, literally and metaphorically. By carefully choosing what I wanted to put into the space, by mindfully avoiding easy solutions, I could find myself. "
125 " To gain confidence, to put myself firmly on a path to independence, I needed to practice making small choices. I decided to begin by making this cavernous house into a cozy home. "
126 " Although the days seemed interminable, I became comfortable inhabiting an in-between space that was full of possibilities. "
127 " Walking was not a passive act; walking was my moving meditation. "
128 " A goal, no matter how trivial or lofty, needs the momentum provided by the conviction that it is being pursued for the right reasons. "
129 " The only way I could manage the unsettling present was to hold on to those aspects of my former life that had held me steady in the past. "
130 " Life is movement. Life is action. "
131 " Every moment spent “doing” meant less time for silence or for self and less opportunity for introspection. "
132 " Going inward through meditation was as frightening as being lost in the woods. I was afraid that dark thoughts—guilt, blame, self-pity—would emerge from the shadows of the recesses of my mind where I had pushed them. "
133 " No one is ever guaranteed a smooth life, so to expect as much is foolish. To be daunted by the challenges thrown at me was natural, but I knew what lay ahead was not insurmountable. "
134 " I did not have a crystal ball to predict my future success, but I had proof from my past efforts. For now, that was enough. "
135 " By writing what I was grateful for, I learned to look for things that made me smile. "
136 " Words have power. When we internalize things that people say about us, those words often become our beliefs. "
137 " Don’t be afraid to do your part. You will only be proud of the things you do, not the things you were afraid to do because of what someone said. "