Lines That Linger by the GROG bloggers

As we head into the first holiday weekend of summer, we invite all our readers to linger and savor some phrases and quotations that inspire us. 

Perhaps you'll find a quote, motto, or saying that will spark your creativity or move you forward. We invite you to share your favorite lines that spark you in the comments. 

Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero.

Seize the day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow.
— Horace, Odes, 23 BCE

I first came across those words in 10th-grade English, around the time we read Robert Herrick’s poem To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time. Something about that idea stuck. It lit a quiet fire in me, a sense that life keeps moving, and we do not get to hit pause. 

The phrase now lives in small ways throughout my home and office, quiet reminders that time is fleeting and moments are worth holding onto. If I ever get a tattoo, it will be Carpe Diem. These words have stayed with me, not as a slogan but as a quiet challenge to pay attention, to stay present, and to remember that time is always passing.

-Todd Burleson

Music lights me up and makes me happy. I see my life in soundtracks of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell,

Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, and Jimmy Buffett. All singers and songwriters whose words are poetry and give me direction. 

When I feel stuck in a situation or with a story, I always remember the wisdom of Jimmy Buffett and this quotation. Sailing through the sea of life, there will be storms. There will be calm. There will be adventures. What remains constant is our ability to adjust our sails, make a change in attitude and latitude, so we can move forward with motivation and hopefully joy.

Kathy Halsey

from Sue H:  I usually write nonfiction and picture books, but like every other writer I know, I've got a novel on the back burner. Problem is, there are so many times when I am baffled about finding a way to put something on the page. One of the questions I've been pondering: how do you let the reader know the character's age without saying it outright?

 

 I found a wonderful example in this book, The Shape of Lost Things, by Sarah Everett. On page five she writes: “ Finn isn’t here to celebrate his birthday with us because when my brother was ten and I was eight, dad kidnapped Finn and took him somewhere. Nobody can find them. For the last four years, police have searched for them.”

A little tongue-in-cheek:

Today I will be

Wildly productive.

But first, more coffee.

 

Be well, friends! 

--Fran H.

 

from Tina Cho

I'm trying to survive the last couple of weeks of kindergarten (I'm a teacher). And after June 2nd, you'll find me doing what Eric Carle says in his quote below.  

“Simplify, slow down, be kind. And don’t forget to have art in your life – music, paintings, theater, dance, and sunsets.”

--Eric Carle

Have a wonderful summer! You'll find me in front of books, K-dramas, writing, catching up on Zzzz's, and vacationing! 

Share the lines that linger with you in the comments below. Happy unofficial summer!