quotes
It seems as though a lot of people get wrapped up with resolutions in the new year. Instead of getting too specific (and then, let's be honest, just abandoning the resolution all together because "you've already messed up") let's go easy on ourselves this year. Just try something. Try something new, something that challenges you, or something that excites you. Life is way too short for the "what if's" anyhow.
"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Antoine De Saint Exupery (watercolor by courtney khail)
With engagement season in full swing, I wanted to send out a heartfelt congratulations to all those who have promised to spend the rest of their lives together. I am so so so excited for you and wish you both all the happiness in the world.
"Always remember that the future comes one day at a time." - dean acheson
watercolor by courtney khail
With all that has happened these past few days, I found this quote to be very comforting. No matter what terror we face, what evil emerges, or what ugliness presents itself, if we focus on making today better- today safer- my hope is that we will then create a safer future as well. My prayers go out to Paris, and all those feeling hurt, scared, and lost right now. Together, we will get through this.
watercolor by courtney khail watercolors
"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." - f. scott fitzgerald
Now that the nights arrive sooner, the clothes are thicker, and the air indeed is that much crisper, it only seemed appropriate to share this quote with you all today. Seeing as it's a quote about my favorite season from one of my favorite books is just the cherry on top.
watercolor via courtney khail, quote via margaret walker
"Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go." - margaret walker
"Silence is one of the great arts of conversation."- Hannah More. Watercolor by courtney khail
I didn't really talk until I was four. Not because I couldn't, I just didn't have to talk. My older sister always spoke for me, which was pretty cool. It was like having a personal assistant assigned from birth! Adult-"Courtney, would you like a cookie?" My sister-"She'd like chocolate chip."
Of course my mom was worried something was wrong and put me into speech therapy. I vividly remember sitting in a tiny room (it seriously could have been a transformed janitor's closet it was so small) in a hospital maybe? A doctor's office? Who knows. (Well I bet my mom knows.) Anyhow, the room was tiny and had those floor to ceiling desks that were super popular in doctor's offices in the early nineties. You know the ones. All laminate in that weird reddish brown posing as wood color with the blue confetti laminate counter tops? I feel like they were in EVERY doctor's office.
(Well everyone except doctor's office except my pediatrician's. He had an old photo of him smiling with Mickey Mouse framed in the hallway and fun child themed wallpaper borders in all of the rooms. But he didn't need to be all trendy because he was the best doctor ever.)
Excuse the tangent, now back to the point of this story. There I was, sitting in this laminate filled transformed closet in a chair where my feet didn't touch the ground staring at a woman who apparently believed photo flash cards would unlock my voice. Almost as though I just never realized what something was called, but if she showed me a photo and said the word then by gosh, I'd be cured! So there I was, listening to said woman say things like "A...A is for Apple. Do you like apples? Can you say apple for me?" And I'm assuming I just sat there looking at her like she was crazy because, duh I liked apples. Apples are delicious.
That went on forever until we got to "W." She held up a flashcard that had a big black W printed on it accompanied by a cartoon window with blue curtains.
"W.... W is for win-dow. Can you say window for me, Courtney?"
To which I responded- "There are no windows in here."
And that's the day my mom took me out of speech therapy classes. Apparently I wasn't mute, I just couldn't be bothered to talk if I didn't feel like it. I also feel like that was the moment I first showed my love of sarcasm.
Of course today, I talk ALL THE TIME.
And every time my mom tries to get me to stop talking, we all remind her that she was the one who enrolled me in speech therapy.
Mondays always seem to come so quickly, don't they? This past week has been a bit of a doozy. Without going into too much detail (because it's not my story and therefore I don't think it's my place to share) someone very close to me got some very bad news about their health. It's been a little earth shaking to say the least, but there has been one positive thing that has come out of the diagnosis- that being that it's put a ton of things into perspective. (Isn't that how it always works? You rarely gain perspective until something bad happens.)
Awhile back, a good friend from college gave me a card that said this and I've kept it ever since. Tacked up on my inspiration wall, moved from home to home, it never fails to bring a smile to my face. Not only does it remind me of her (and her sarcastic, smart humor) but it's true. Some days you'll be on top, somedays you won't. Life is full of exciting and amazing moments, but it can also be difficult and scary. Guess that's what makes it so beautiful. It's seemingly fickle and unpredictable nature, that in my belief is all part of a bigger plan.
Happy Monday everyone. I hope it's a good one. (And if it's not- if you're having a hard time- know you're not alone, and it will eventually pass.)
"I like things to happen. And if they don't happen, I like to make them happen."- Churchill; watercolor by courtney khail
While I am a firm believer in destiny and things happening the way they are supposed to happen, that doesn't mean I don't think it's sometimes necessary to do everything you can to make those things happen.
quote via christopher morley, watercolor via courtney khail
Good reminder this Monday.
"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. it will never fail you. - frank llody wright
Have to say, I agree. Then again, I am the one who studied scientific illustration in college and now own a stationery line based on natural subject matter so maybe I'm a bit biased...
be yourself by james herlohy via courtney khail