by Maria Sirois
“Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.” —Elie Wiesel
As you prepare this morning and this moment to shift into a healthier life and into a happier being, surround yourself with the words that inspire you. Prime your walls with quotes, line your datebooks and wallets with the articles you never want to forget. Ping yourself through your own phone. Write them on your hands, your foreheads, and carve them into your hearts. Let the power of words work through you as lightening. The right words in the right moment attain the quality of deeds–they change your life like a visit from the beyond. Allow them to work on you and through you. Let the words that touch you, truly touch you. Here are the ones I carry with me today, from Marina Keegan, killed in a car accident one week after her graduation from Yale in 2012, “What we have to remember is that we can still do anything. We can change our minds. We can start over … the notion that it’s too late to do anything is comical.” The notion that we are stuck forever in the life we are currently living is ludicrous. Every moment of every day is a choice. Find the words that ignite the power of choosing for you. Write them on your doorposts and your bathroom mirrors and know that any phrase that wakes you up is a gift as devoted and delighted as a spaniel bouncing at your feet as you head into your wild, blossoming life.
Dr. Maria Sirois, PsyD, is the Vice President of Curriculum at Wholebeing Institute and an inspirational speaker, seminar leader, and author who has worked at the intersections of wellness, psychology, and spirituality for nearly 20 years. As a wellness guide, Maria has been invited to keynote throughout the country at conferences for wellness centers, hospitals, hospices, philanthropy, business, academic and corporate institutions, as well as for the general public. She has been called both a “true teacher” and “an orator of great power and beauty.” Her book, “Every Day Counts: Lessons in Love, Faith, and Resilience from Children Facing Illness, was published in 2006.”
Maria, I knew Marina, and her words inspired hope in young people everywhere. I agree that surrounding ourselves with words of inspiration help us to be mindful of who we want to be all the time. Thank you for sharing this.
I’m so glad to keep sending her words on…she had a remarkable heart and a great gift. Maria
Maria, how appropriate that you are posting about words, which are vehicles for change in our minds and in our hearts. Thank you for this…we need to remember how, as Gandhi said, “Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.”
Thank for this reminder from Gandhi – when I first read his words I remember I went into an altered state for a bit for I knew that he knew what he was talking about.
Beautifully put. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. Everything up to this point was our warm up – and all we need to do is decide to run freely with the energy of our inner child!
Love this! You are an inspiration and a mentor.
Reading Maria,s Inspiring Change – Words fills me with gratitude and hope. Thank you WBI and Maria.