A Fine Balance

I love quotes. I have them pinned to my bulletin board at work. I write them down as I’m reading a novel, essay, or calendar. I’m a collector. My quotes tend to be about “you can do it” “you create your own reality”, the beauty of nature, spirituality, the interconnectedness of all life forms.

My 20 year old daughter is a collector as well, but her collection looks very different than mine. Her quote collection is made up of pithy comments, satire, cynicism, anti-establishment slogans. I love it when she puts one up on our white board, behind our phone table. She does it inconspicuously, sometimes we don’t notice until after she leaves. I love the shock value that some of her quotes create.

I think my quote collection content has something to do with my profession. I teach life skills and employment skills to people with multiple barriers. I’m all about possibilities, behaviours, thoughts, and feelings, “be the change you want to see in the world”.

My daughter observes, analyzes, and names things. She’s not sure what she wants from life yet. She stands tall and looks on and inward. She’s brave in trying new things. She rages against injustice with a calm visage. She scorns the accumulation of possessions.
She attracts “fuck it’ sentiments like moths to light. She hates clichés.

I would imagine that my daughter thinks my quote collection is a bit hokey and Polly Anna-esque. But I think between the two, they create a fine balance.