Joan Marques

“Some "free" people are more imprisoned than those that are locked away. Trapped in narrow mindsets, they carry their mental prison with them day by day.”

“A simple compliment can make someone's dayAnd if you do it right, it could take you a long wayJust make sure that you mean every word you sayTreat others as you want to be treated: don't play”

“As a human cohort we are beautiful, yet flawedWe do things that we regret and some that we applaudWhile we're moving on there is no need to become vainLet's enjoy the sun today – tomorrow may bring rain”

“Patience is a tough lesson to learnIt's a reward we wisely have to earnBut mastering it brings a paradigm shiftAnd we finally realize that life is a gift”

“A piece of wisdom that comes with the yearsIs the purpose of having one mouth and two earsIf we could listen more and talk a little lessWe would probably make a lot more progress”

“Every relationship, job, or situationShould reinforce your internal relationThe surest way to derail your dreamIs clinging to things that destroy your self esteem”

“Live with one foot in the air, but keep one on the ground. Train yourself to be aware of changes all around. Don't get stranded in the mill of lethargy and stall. Drive yourself with noble will to betterment for all.”

“We all have areas we're self-conscious about.We all have qualities that make us proud. But when we walk with our heads in the cloud,Let's think: today we're in, tomorrow we're out.”

“If you want to complain you don't have to look long: in most anything you can find something wrong. But if you want to ignite your inner light, try to find in everything something right.”

“Be gracious in your giving for as long as you're living. The blessings will come back on an unexpected day, and present themselves in an unexpected way.”

“Every development is first rejected, then skeptically accepted, next gradually embraced, and at last abundantly praised. Let's put it straight: it's a human trait.”

“Recipe for success: Multiple years of working hardFive containers of planning smartA blend of perseverance and sacrificeA wee bit sleep to pay the priceA mountain of self-confidenceAnd a huge boatload of common senseA wad of constructive connectionsAnd a regular pause for reflections”

“Achievements are the fuel on which we thrive. They add meaning – make us feel alive.Others may judge everything we do. But our achievements are our own point of view.”

“We often say we're fine even if we don't feel good. We praise the chef for lousy food. We keep our real opinion in perfect disguise. Cause being polite often requires lies.”

“Doing nothing has become one of the lost luxuries in these hectic times. But doing nothing, even for five minutes, can be rejuvenating. Go for it: You – unplugged.”

“The power of what we say is not determined by the duration of our talk but by its content. The more the mouth chatters, the further the mind scatters.”

“Happiness is something we can find inside once we have obtained the insight that it will never come in sight if we look for it outside.”

“How sad if we allow our hearts to waneAnd obscure our joy with enduring painWhile all things, good or bad, indisputably go byLike morning that transmutes in evening sky”

“Overachievers, here's some good and some bad news. The good news is, that you're smart, special, and you're raising the bar. The bad news is: very few people will like you.”

“Here's the fantastic part of aging no one tells you about: there are no long days anymore. Time always flies, whether things are good or bad. Everyday is like a speed movie.”

“When you start thinking that you need more hours in a day you either have too much on your plate, you need to revise your schedule, or you're simply becoming slow...”

“If you can dream it, it's plausible. If you can think it, it's possible. If you can draw it, you can conceive it. If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”

“When people try to affront you, you can do two things: either accept it and ruin your day, or leave their gift unaccepted, which returns it to sender.”

“If you want people to become really creative in finding new ways to do something, tell them it's illegal or unhealthy.”

“Have you ever considered that some of the things we're proudest of, such as our nationality, religion, or ethnic identity, are also the foundations of our worst problems?”

“If we claim to be a higher order than animals, how come that we're the only species that engages in killing for sport, hurting for pleasure, discrimination, greed, and war?”

“Whether we succeed or fail in life depends on our ability to conquer the challenges in our opportunities, and to discover the opportunities in our challenges.”

“The marvel of being human only reveals itself when we do something for another without personal gain, when we forgive, and when we give abundantly, yet without expectations.”

“If my shoes were made of humility; my dress of compassion; my hat of respect, my jewelry of gratitude, and my perfume of determination, I would be dressed for success.”

“When we stop pushing we realize that it was all for habit, fear, envy, or greed.In the calmness after the strife we often see that we already have what we need.”

“The more I take, the less I'm awake. The more I need, the greater my greed. The more I care, the more I'm aware. The more I give, the better I live.”

“Contentment is an asset that we take for granted until we lose it. It's the brother of happiness, the sister of peace of mind, and the mother of purpose.”

“Be kind to your mind: use it regularly by thinking critically. When thinking stops, the quality of the mind drops. And with a lazy brain there's little or no gain.”

“You don't know what you don't know until someone who knows tells you about it. That's when you know that there's more to know than you'll ever know.”

“If you listen attentively to what you say, you'll amaze yourself with your insights, and you might even learn a thing or two.”

“When we're kids, creativity is so natural. And then, it's being taken away in a school system that teaches us xyz, and the difference between u and me.”

“Doing the "right" thing and being "good can look very different, depending on one's circumstances and viewpoint. Just ask the person across you how your clockwise motion looks.”

“Don't think too low of yourself: it attracts negative energy. Don't think too high of yourself: it leads to arrogance. Just don't think about yourself.”

“Happiness means different things at different times. First, we think it's about being with a special person. Then we think it's about being special. Finally we find it's about being.”

“Social gatherings can serve three purposes: networking, gossip, or politics. Many care about the social, some about the gatherings, and a few about neither...”

“Persistence is the devious alter-ego of perseverance. Perseverance provides us the stamina to realize our visions, whereas persistence drives us into self-destruction.”

“If marriage licenses were like driver's licenses, only to be extended every two years if both parties agreed, life would be less complicated and people happier.”

“If you think you're unique and special, you're right. If you think you're minute and insignificant, you're right. It all depends on your point of view.”

“Compassion doesn't have to be learned. It's part of our fabric. We have just been programmed to neglect it over time, and THAT is what we have to unlearn.”

“Today's pace induces uncertainty, which stresses the end of security, welcomes the era of anxiety, and demands greater creativity - toward increased life quality.”

“When someone does you wrong, don't get obsessed with revenge. You might find that "wrong" was actually "right", just disguised in a wicked wrap.”

“Do the very best you can, and then move on. Don't expect anything, because you never know where, when, or how your reward will come. Just know it will.”

“When you stop searching, you find. When you stop looking, you see. When you stop battling, you win. When you stop taking, you receive.”

“Work as if you'll earn a Nobel Prize. Give regardless of your wallet's size. Laugh until tears roll from your eyes. These are the things that give life its spice.”

“There's a difference between apathy and acceptance. Apathy lets you endure life. Acceptance helps you enjoy it.”