Words -

I love language. I love the way letters make sounds and sounds become words and words become symbols for feelings, actions, identities. Wow - the beauty of language is stunning. So when I read, or hear, combinations of words in just the right order, I am sometimes brought to tears or chills, and left with such a swelling in my soul that I am wordless.

Here are a few that are touching me right now:

For the two of us, home isn't a place, it is a person. And we are finally home. 

I don't believe in magic, The young boy said. The old man smiled. You will when you see her. 

Wise men, when in doubt whether to speak or to keep quiet, gibe themselves the benefit of the doubt, and remain silent. 

Worry is as useless as a handle on a snowball. 

Simplicity boils down to two steps: Identify the essential. Eliminate the rest. 

I don't want a busy life where I constantly put off the best and most important things for later and "someday when I retire." I want to live a full life now. 

Watch carefully the magic that occurs when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves.

And right now, as I'm in the thick of teaching professionals and students how to love themselves and accept others (regardless of the approval quotient: Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance. 

And, to hold hands with the above quote, this one: What we need to realize is that sometimes people don't need advice. Sometimes people just need to be heard. Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is just to keep our mouths shut and let them empty themselves into our hands. 

Lastly, a new saying, from "The Greatest Showman," that as I'm coming up on my 5 year anniversary of finishing cancer treatment, and beginning to accept the new me:

http://theweekendfox.com/8-quotes-greatest-showman/

These words keep me -