Books, quotes, and tattoos on the soul.

We read thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of words each day. In the 5 minutes I have been sitting here thinking about how to start this inaugural blog post, I have read no less than 100 words. From the ironic stickers on my water bottle, the catchy phrase on my mug, and the three email notifications that have come in, to the scrolling headlines, the Microsoft Word menu, and the spines of the books crowding my desk, I am surrounded by words. (Phew! I’m tired just thinking about it!)

Some words wash over us like water – rolling off our minds without sticking. Other words can change your life forever – imprinting themselves on your soul. It strikes me how beautifully life-altering it can be when a handful of words are married together in a specific order that touches the very depths of your soul.

This happened to me on a warm summer day about five years ago. The world was deep in the throes of the pandemic, and I was desperate to find something, anything to fill my time that meant something - something more than mind-numbing TV or YouTube videos. I decided to pick up a book, and little did I know how much that action would mean for the rest of my life.

I decided to reread one of my favorite book series – The Lunar Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. The first book is called Beautiful Creatures, and this book holds eleven words that have shaped my morals, ethics, and values since I first read them.

“The right thing and the easy thing are never the same.”

I did not know the moment I read them, nor for many moments to come, but these words were tattooed on my heart, soul, and mind the moment I read them. I read over them once, maybe twice, then continued on with the story. In fact, it took me years to understand exactly what happened that day. When I finally realized how much these words had shaped me - my life - my very soul, I discovered the beauty of literature.

Every decision I make, every action I take, and every question I ponder come back to this quote. Do I want a cookie? YES! But is it easier to eat the cookie or not to eat the cookie? The answer is that it is easier to eat the cookie, so I know the right thing to do is not eat the cookie.

I recognize this seemingly makes the world very black and white, but I have spent years now using this quote as the basis for my morality. Some decisions, like whether to eat the cookie or not, are very simple, but most decisions come in shades of gray. However, I have found that it is often the hardest option that is the most right option. As another example, honesty is a very important value that I hold, but it comes in many shades of gray. To simplify a complex scenario:

1. I can lie, which is easy.

2. I can tell the truth bluntly, which is harder.

3. I can tell the truth in a kind way, which is the hardest of the three options.

I think we can all agree that the right thing to do is kindly tell the truth, and that is, consequently, the least easy thing to do.

I do not explain all of this to force anyone to agree or disagree with my morality, but rather, explore how books can shape our morality. For me, these simple eleven words have become the glue uniting my morality, ethics, and values, and it does not stop there. Literature is filled with quotes, characters, stories, and themes that have left an impression on my soul. I am changed by the words I read, especially those held in the worn pages of a book. Books contain so much knowledge and wisdom, if only you look for it.  

I invite you to join me on this journey. We will explore different literature, from Shakespeare, Austen, and Brontë, to Collins, Clare, and Rowling, and how these books express morality and coach us to become the best versions of ourselves.

To caution you before we embark on this adventure: some opinions you may agree with, and others you may not. Discussion and honest discourse are the backbone of our society, so because we are journeying together, click the box below to leave any comments, differing opinions, or questions (feel free to leave book suggestions too!). If you are unwilling to have honest conversations about morality and literature, then this is not the blog for you.

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Click here to leave comments, opinions, questions, or suggestions!