Richelle Goodrich’s words have a unique way of touching the heart and inspiring the mind. Known for her insightful and uplifting quotes, she has a talent for expressing profound truths with simplicity and grace. In this collection, you’ll find 140 of her most inspirational quotes, each one designed to motivate, encourage, and bring a fresh perspective to your day. Whether you’re seeking wisdom, comfort, or a spark of positivity, these carefully selected quotes from Richelle Goodrich are sure to uplift your spirit.
1. “Don't ignore me. I only get more annoying.” - Richelle Goodrich
2. “You can capture this body of mine, take away my freedom and enslave me. You may even have the power to capture my soul and sentence me to the realm of eternal darkness. But my dreams you cannot touch. They are my will―the very essence of who I am. In them I laugh. In them I cry. In them I love. And in them.....I live.My dreams are untouchable and unceasing.” - Richelle Goodrich
3. “He was everything I needed because his entire character had been molded by my deepest wants and desires. He was my rock when I cried, my playmate when I laughed, and my hero when I needed to imagine that one existed for me.” - Richelle Goodrich
4. “Why hasn't someone lassoed a few teenagers and had them sit down and write out all the supposed answers they have so we can solve the world's problems already?” - Richelle E. Goodrich
5. “I went to bed without reading, instead staring out my window with the curtains drawn, wondering about boys. Why did they behave so oddly? One minute their teasing was relentless, and then bam!― they’d stun you with a thoughtful gesture. Either way, their actions made you want to cry. Maybe that was the intent.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
6. “The description of Huck’s father grabbed my full attention, and I glanced up at the book in my teacher’s hand as if to double check. My eyes bulged reflexively. Huck’s father was an abusive drunk just like mine. The boy was hopeful that a corpse found near the river was actually his dad, but it turned out not to be. It was spooky how high my hopes rose for the boy, and then sank so utterly low when the body was discovered to be a female in disguise. I should’ve mourned for the woman, but it was the boy I felt bad for.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
7. “One way or another, I think we are all destined to learn the same lessons in life. Universal truths are universal truths. They cannot be changed.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
8. “You will realize one day that all the money in the world cannot buy you happiness. Nor can it make you a person of good character. ” - Richelle E. Goodrich
9. “Eena had thought the whole idea of his picture was absolutely wonderful and had asked Willum what kind of animal she might be. He’d responded after only a moment of thought. “I think you’d be a crioness.” “Why is that?” “Because they can fly.” “Why would that remind you of me?” She’d been unable to guess his reasoning. “Because few animals can fly. You can do things others can’t do. Like flying. It’s magic.” “Oh. How very clever.” The comparison had left her both impressed and flattered.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
10. “It is said that you can't write without a reader. The opposite holds true as well; you can't read without a writer. But if as a single, creative person you are one in the same, then, well.....problem solved! Great writing is born from that which we personally long to read.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
11. “It was God who gave a man's rib to a woman. But it is man who must learn to give away his heart and never take it back.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
12. “No matter how hard they try, they'll never create anything so perfectly beautiful as what plays out in my own imagination.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
13. “Authors always carry a means for scribbling and an excuse for pausing, often inopportunely, to record those fleeting sparks of creative fancy that might otherwise vanish like a wisp in the wind if ignored. Writing is a jealous and needy lover.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
14. “The calling that has been thrust upon you is likewise as demanding and daunting. I understand how you feel, believe me. But we need you, Eena. I would say I’m sorry, but……honestly I’d have no other woman take your place. You are exactly what we need. And yes, it does require a great deal of sacrifice, but you don’t have to bear these burdens alone. We are all here to help you. And believe me there isn’t one of us who wouldn’t give his last breath to defend yours so you might go on to heal Harrowbeth. Don’t block us out. Don’t think you have to stand alone. Please wake up and know that I understand. And I promise I won’t say, ‘I told you so.’” The room fell quiet. Eena didn’t move. Derian could see how her breathing continued smoothly in and out just as before. “I’ll give you some chocolate if you wake up.” It was a last-ditch effort. “I’ve got plenty of it, and I don’t care for the stuff.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
15. “Christmas, when observed with the right spirit, still has the power to call miracles from Heaven to Earth.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
16. “What do you mean I have to wait for someone's approval? I'm someone. I approve. So I give myself permission to move forward with my full support!” - Richelle E. Goodrich
17. “Don't laugh. A girl can dream.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
18. “Brazen it out! Throw away the scabbard! Grit your teeth, buckle down, and die with your boots on! Or in other words, be determined and resolved until you accomplish the thing you set out to accomplish.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
19. “Though I adore the idea of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, Sandman, the Tooth Fairy, and such luminary characters—especially their altruism and devotion—I still don't believe in them. For I know the truth. Only one such miracle worker exists who performs magic in my life, seeing to my wants and needs without fail. That queen is my mother. With unwavering faith I believe in her.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
20. “As I quietly stare off into space, eyes glazed over and brow thoughtfully taut, know that I am going about my business. I am a storyteller. Daydreaming is the best part of my job.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
21. “When you open your mouth, listeners are offended. When you close your mouth, the expectant are offended. If a person seeks misdoing from you they will find it regardless of whether or not you deliver. ” - Richelle E. Goodrich
22. “Marriage is a million piece puzzle, a pristine and exciting pursuit at the beginning that gradually becomes a daunting task, usually more challenging than anticipated. It is only those truly committed to solving that puzzle who witness in the end the miraculous outcome of every tiny piece laid out and pressed together in an inspiring and envious creation—a treasure only time, resoluteness, and perseverance could create. ” - Richelle E. Goodrich
23. “As a writer, you must truly possess a love for words.""Yes, that's right," I agreed."I've noticed that some authors favor particular words, making frequent use of them. Do you have a favorite?"I nodded assuredly and shared my answer. "BECAUSE."My interviewer looked surprised, as though he'd expected an impressive adjective or some rare verb. "That's your favorite word? Why?"I tried not to smirk. "Because.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
24. “Mother nature changes her looks for the same reason any woman changes her looks—to be noticed.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
25. “Optimism: That effervescent, blindingly- bright, perky, chipper, twittering quality you want to squash out of annoying people.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
26. “Our greatest duty to our children is to love them first. Secondly, it is to teach them. Not to frighten, force, or intimidate our children into submission, but to effectively teach them so that they have the knowledge and tools to govern themselves.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
27. “There are far too many silent sufferers. Not because they don't yearn to reach out, but because they've tried and found no one who cares.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
28. “Punishing a person for the wrongs of another makes about as much sense as throwing up to enjoy the meal a second time.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
29. “I write because I love it, not because I excel at it. But because I write, I shall slowly excel at it.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
30. “True love takes time. It’s an earned comfort that tells you she’ll be right there beside you no matter what you do, not necessarily happy with your every action, but faithful to you just the same.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
31. “Happiness doesn't always come in pink. Learn to appreciate the rainbow.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
32. “Vengeance, retaliation, retribution, revenge are deceitful brothers—vile, beguiling demons promising justifiable compensation to a pained soul for his losses. Yet in truth they craftily fester away all else of worth remaining.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
33. “I love the magic of a hot bath, how time pauses and every grievance melts away.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
34. “It is human nature to try hardest to accomplish the very thing we are told is impossible. Why? Because innately we know that nothing's impossible.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
35. “Laughing in the face of danger doesn't negate the fear, it simply enables you to smile at it.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
36. “Tomorrow is an illusion suggesting that another chance always exists. It is a dangerously false illusion.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
37. “Love tickles parts of you that, prior to its influence, you didn't even know could feel.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
38. “One thing about a skunk—once you recognize the markings, you know things are gonna stink.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
39. “I am grateful for the rare opportunities to look at my circumstances from a higher perspective, one detached from the dim outlook I normally insist on seeing. These periodic glimpses show me life's grandeur.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
40. “World peace, true love, and happily-ever-afters amount to wasted wishes, failed endeavors, and most precious dreams.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
41. “I don't so much mind looking back on having lost the election, or having been denied a role in the play, or having had my novel repeatedly rejected, or having been turned down for a date, or recalling laughter at my expense when I attempted some silly challenge. Those things simply prove that I lived life. What I do mind, however, is looking back on the lost opportunities where imagined concerns kept me from even trying—lose or win. I've learned that there is no regret in a brave attempt, only in cowering to fear.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
42. “Of Woman and Chocolate "Chocolate shares both the bitter and the sweet.Chocolate melts away all cares, coating the heart while smothering every last ache. Chocolate brings a smile to the lips on contact, leaving a dark kiss behind. Chocolate is amiable, complimenting any pairing; berries, peanut butter, pretzels, mint, pastries, drinks...everything goes with chocolate. The very thought of chocolate awakens taste buds, sparking memories of candy-coated happiness. Chocolate will go nuts with you, no questions asked. Chocolate craves your lips, melts at your touch, and savors the moment. Chocolate is that dark and beautiful knight who charges in on his gallant steed ready to slay dragons when needed. Chocolate never disappoints; it leaves its lover wanting more. Chocolate is the ultimate satisfaction, synonymous with perfection. Chocolate is rich, smooth pleasure. Chocolate has finesse - the charm to seduce and indulge at any time, day or night. Chocolate is a true friend, a trusted confidant, and faithful lover. Chocolate warms and comforts and sympathizes. Chocolate holds power over depression, victory over disappointment. Chocolate savvies the needs of a woman and owns her. Simply put, chocolate is paradise.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
43. “What's the point of changing who you are in order to impress a woman, when your intention is to return to who you were, a person she was never attracted to in the first place?” - Richelle E. Goodrich
44. “Vengeance is a monster of appetite, forever bloodthirsty and never filled.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
45. “Service is a smile. It is an acknowledging wave, a reaching handshake, a friendly wink, and a warm hug. It's these simple acts that matter most, because the greatest service to a human soul has always been the kindness of recognition.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
46. “True love asks no question of the heart. It knows with surety.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
47. “The bitterest hardships, the most daunting trials; none of these are burdens if it means being with you.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
48. “I have lost my spark, I'm told, and should seek to rekindle it. Respecting the messenger, I wonder if this is true. I feel as if my spark endures, but having opened up to the world so bright, perhaps it no longer shines by comparison. So, without a word, I slip back into seclusion to nurture my beautiful inner glow.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
49. “Happiness depends upon two things—pleasing God, and then pleasing yourself.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
50. “No matter what you write, no matter how meticulous and painstaking the creation process, someone is going to laugh, scorn, and dissect your work with criticism while another quietly falls in love with it.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
51. “No misery compares to staring at a clear night's sky with arms stretched toward a coveted star, wishing on what is forever out of reach.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
52. “Some build their castles 'mid thunderbolts and fireworks. My worlds take shape in silence.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
53. “No one is without troubles, without personal hardships and genuine challenges. That fact may not be obvious because most people don't advertise their woes and heartaches. But nobody, not even the purest heart, escapes life without suffering battle scars.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
54. “A dreadful thing one day befell me when a horse came to stand on my toe. Having no power to remove him, I found that I could not go.An awful thing sometime later befell me when the horse was removed from my toe. Alone and with naught to secure me, I found I was forced to go.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
55. “Why certainly, words possess power. They do! But releasing their magic requires combining and arranging those words in the right order.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
56. “When I finally find that one willing agent, I'll have found my prize in the Cracker Jack box.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
57. “To fight discouragement, remind yourself of the basics: I can write.I have the opportunity to do so. I love what I write. Now smile and be thankful.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
58. “Is anything truly impossible? Or is it that the path to our goals appears too unclear to follow? It seems to me that if you seek hard enough, pray hard enough, you usually stumble across a scattering of breadcrumbs that marks the trail leading to the goal you once considered beyond your reach.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
59. “Between here and there is a journey illuminated by the rising and setting of a radiant sun. Don't miss its splendor in your all-fired hurry to cross the finish line.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
60. “Be nice. And if you can't do that, just don't be mean.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
61. “Wanting help, I reached out to serve. Seeking happiness, I smiled and offered comfort. Yearning for love, I showed love. And now I understand. My life was never about me, it was always about you.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
62. “I love when I finish reading a chapter that I wrote and my cheeks hurt from smiling and all I can utter is, 'Wow.'” - Richelle E. Goodrich
63. “Employing your imagination is the first step to the fulfillment of any dream.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
64. “While you judge me by my outward appearance I am silently doing the same to you, even though there's a ninety-percent chance that in both cases our assumptions are wrong.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
65. “Prayer, faith, and vision, plus real effort too.Blend them together for one potent brew.The magical spell to your dreams coming true.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
66. “Don't underestimate the power of friendship. Those bonds are tight stitches that close up the holes you might otherwise fall through.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
67. “I think one of the biggest reasons people have difficulty believing in God is because they do not understand Him. I often hear doubting comments like “if there is a God then why this and why that?” and “how could He allow…?” Perhaps if people were to invest true effort getting to know Him, they would discover a mindful Father who remains with us every step of the way through trials and tribulations that, though painful, are crucial experiences meant to teach and mold His children for a higher purpose.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
68. “Prove that you love me through a lingering gaze and never losing that twinkle of adoration in your eyes.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
69. “It's good to look at life from the bottom up so you can see that things have risen above what they once were.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
70. “Yes, he knew he was falling in love, her way. And the worst part was, as disabling as he found the emotion to be he craved it all the more. To feel this way about a woman was amazing even if it was ‘temporary and fleeting’, as he’d put it. It was a natural high like he’d never felt before. One he couldn’t get enough of.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
71. “I settle into my imagination so that I might be someone when the real world tells me I'm no one.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
72. “You are the one star I wish upon nightly, praying your glory will fall from the heavens and land in my undeserving arms.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
73. “Someone described a writer's world as tormented, and I had to laugh. A tormented writer? I personally wouldn't have put those two words together. Emotions have the power to torment a soul, yes, I agree to that. But writers, through the formation of our characters, delve so often into the depths of a vast range of emotions that we earn the advantage. For we've examined every little thrumming, fracture, spark, pang, and darkening of the heart to a point that we understand and appreciate the necessity and strength of emotions as well as the cause and effects manipulating them. We understand. We can imagine. We sympathize. Our knowledge is power over the torment of emotional ignorance. I would suggest that those truly tormented are the readers of our works because those poor souls shall never know with such clarity and sentiment all the tiny little details that make our characters breath, move, and live before our very eyes. Perhaps, if torment does lurk among writers, it comes simply through knowing more about an imagined friend than can ever be adequately expressed in words.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
74. “The direction you choose to face determines whether you're standing at the end or the beginning of a road.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
75. “A warm feeling fell over the boy. A mix of security and comfort, as if a blanket were wrapping its soft layers around his heart and nuzzling him snuggly. Gavin loved his mother, and he would be forever grateful to his father for protecting her. The whole mystery behind it made him itch with curiosity, however.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
76. “Just because a person successfully steers a voyage through hell doesn't mean he ever wants to sail that route again.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
77. “The pleasures of being a novelist are many. But the greatest by far is the manner in which I live through my characters; experiencing every detail of their story as it unfolds gradually and personally within my own creative psyche. I'm like a cat with untold lives, because each new book is my rebirth.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
78. “Little girls grow up thinking that knights in shining armor actually exist. But they don't. And if those valiant heroes ever did bless this world with their chivalrous deeds, I imagine, just like Christ's apostles, they were destroyed by envy on the battlefront.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
79. “What's in a name? The accumulation of reputations from all who've owned it before you.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
80. “Truly, there is magic in fairy tales.For it takes but a simply-uttered 'Once upon a time...' to allure and spellbind an audience.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
81. “Gratitude is medicine for a heart devastated by tragedy. If you can only be thankful for the blue sky, then do so.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
82. “Even the smallest tender mercy can bring peace when recognized and appreciated.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
83. “Rainy, gloomy, drab, sunless day. There are times when hope seems entirely clouded over, when looking for the blessings in your circumstances feels like trying to catch a ray of sunshine from six feet under.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
84. “Goals are my north star. My compass. The map that guides me along the road I wish to travel. Goals are motivations with wind in their sails—they carry me forward despite the storms.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
85. “I had the most beautiful dream, and then I fell asleep in your arms and my dream turned lovelier still.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
86. “A poet is simply an artist whose medium is human emotions. A poet chisels away at our own sensibilities, shaping our vision while molding our hearts. A poet wraps words around our own feelings and presents them as fresh gifts to humanity.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
87. “It is a key keeper’s right to bestow a copy of his key on anyone he wishes. But this practice―a phenomenal rite―is hardly ever performed. To receive a copy of the key means to have its imprint seared into your hand. Holding that branded replica over the front lock miraculously parts the gates to Dreamland. It works just as effectively as inserting the genuine key. Staggering to think about, isn’t it? You might consider clenching your fists when you dream.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
88. “Be not wishing and pining but thankfully content. For it is a short bridge between wanting and regret."- from "Dimpellumpzki” - Richelle E. Goodrich
89. “He reached out for her hand and she grabbed onto his. “Eena, when you’re ready to talk about it, I’ll be here. That’s what best friends are for.” She let the tears fall. He’d never know they were for him. He’d think they were because of Derian. They held hands silently throughout the night, Ian unaware that this was by far her most tortured nightmare ever. Paradise so close, and yet completely unattainable.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
90. “We never think lightly of those who walk with us on our uphill days.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
91. “As ofttimes as it rains on my little spot of earth, you'd think I'd grow accustomed to the gloom.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
92. “Time and again the sun sets like a bedimming curtain before my eyes, taking with it all illumination, warmth, and color. I am overwhelmed by night and the monsters that lurk in shadows of despair. But alas, stars twinkle from afar, shedding the tiniest rays of lighted hope. I am reminded that the sun also rises and that morning's glory shall restore beauty to my world. The realization of this dream is only a matter of waiting out the dreary night. So, I shall persevere.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
93. “Of course I want the moon. And were you to offer it, I'd propose as a trade the stars in my eyes.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
94. “Last night I danced. My body rose from its slump for the first time since the beginning of sorrows—my fingers beckoning to the stars at arm's length, back arching as tingles bubbled up my spine, hips caught in a silent tempo while on tiptoe I twirled in endless euphoric circles. It didn't matter that you loved me or that you didn't. For I was wanted by the gods last night, their seraphs and muses descending on moonbeams into my midst, caressing my face and gliding their spirited arms about my waist, lifting my toes from the soil that I might feel what it is to fly without heaviness of heart. I danced with them under the glow of a loyal moon. For one brief, visceral dance I joyed as Heaven joys—in endless bliss.And the universe cherished me.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
95. “There's enchantment in a smile, did you know?Shall I prove in a wink that it is so?Watch my mouth grin wide and see,How quick your lips smile back at me!” - Richelle E. Goodrich
96. “Me"( Notice Me)I was sent here on a journey that has no end.I hear you joke of going nowhere fast.Well, maybe life’s a joke and I’m the foolThat dreams of being first but ends up last.Life’s a trial—a sentence I can’t escape.Confusion and desperation tear me down and turn to hate.There’s so much more to figure out,But it’s growing way too late.If I could answer half the questions in my mind,If I could find the place where I belong,If words were near as strong and deep as the wall of emotions I climbThen sorrow wouldn’t be so wrong.There’s no way to make you understand.An entire symphony could not play the broken notes in one child’s soul.That child screams and no one hears her,Until the tears have dried and now she’s just too old.I don’t want to hear the philosophies, the opinions,The remarks, the horrible reasonings.Words are to pad the mind and fight with the solitude of the heart.Still, silence chills to the bone and tears the soul apart.She never means to hurt or harm, only to belong.To find the truth ‘mid mortal lies, to sing her only song.But someday this race will end, and if she comes in last,I pray the first will look deeper than the others, smile, and then pass."Copyright 1985” - Richelle E. Goodrich
97. “Let them hear your voice so rarely that a simply-uttered word creates a hush of expectancy in the room.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
98. “To love her was to taste sweet surrender. For had she not entered his life, he would have sought the wonders of both Heaven and Earth. But she surpassed them all and, by her pleasing nature, stayed him.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
99. “A single act of kindness is like a drop of oil on a patch of dry skin—seeping, spreading, and affecting more than the original need.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
100. “Frozen yogurt is tastier than ice cream; nobody is too old for cartoons; bald men are sexy; chocolate is the best medicine; BIG books are better; cats secretly rule the planet; and everything should be available in the color pink, including monster trucks.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
101. “Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
102. “Moisture falls from the sky, cleansing the world and sustaining precious life. But it's the gloom—the cold, dark air—that receives notice. We fail to see the miracle of raindrops through our own tears.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
103. “A session of boasting won't attract any real friends. It will set you up on a pedestal, however, making you a clearer target.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
104. “For whatever reason, there are people we like and people we don't like. It's hard to say why, and often a difficult opinion to change. Luckily, there's no steadfast rule stating that we must like everyone. But to keep from disliking ourselves, we should develop the good character to treat everyone kindly whether or not we deem them deserving.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
105. “I've a habit of placing a happy-face or a frowny-face on my calendar, depending on what kind of day I've had. Often I slap a droopy circle in the box, discouraged by the things I failed to accomplish and the unpleasant encounters endured. But then, invariably, a wise muse stops to ask me these three questions: Did your children let you hug them today? Yes. Did you do a kind deed for someone? Anyone? Yes. Did God forsake you today? No. Then, my dear, despite your challenges, it was a good day after all. Standing corrected, I twist that frowny-face upside down and smile.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
106. “The sun, moon, and stars God gave to the world, but He embedded their glories in your countenance just for me. Woven in your hair are the sun's shimmering golden rays. From your face glows the pale luminescence of the moon. And in your eyes God sprinkled a million stars to twinkle against a backdrop of endless night. You are my celestial light.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
107. “Have you ever pondered the miracle of popcorn? It starts out as a tiny, little, compact kernel with magic trapped inside that when agitated, bursts to create something marvelously desirable. It’s sort of like those tiny, little thoughts trapped inside an author’s head that―in an excited explosion of words―suddenly become a captivating fairy tale!” - Richelle E. Goodrich
108. “When a person boldly declares 'You can't' he might as well add on 'Can you?' knowing that this spoken roadblock only serves to fuel a challenge in naturally stubborn souls.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
109. “You try moving things with nothing but willpower. It's about as easy as trying to lasso a bull with a licorice whip."—from "Phantom's Veil” - Richelle E. Goodrich
110. “Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts—so what?” - Richelle E. Goodrich
111. “Act like you care. Pray like you care. Speak, smile, reach out, and live like you care. The point is to make sure those in your life know beyond doubt that you do care.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
112. “Gratitude is the real treasure God wants us to find, because it isn't the pot of gold but the rainbow that colors our world.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
113. “Gratitude paints little smiley faces on everything it touches.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
114. “One grateful thought is a ray of sunshine. A hundred such thoughts paint a sunrise. A thousand will rival the glaring sky at noonday - for gratitude is light against the darkness.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
115. “When you devalue ethics and morals by proclaiming that our attitude toward them should be casual or lenient, you can't be surprised by a rising generation who then behaves disrespectfully, treating life, people, and choices as if they possess little value or worth. For whether or not that was the intention, society has taught them to believe thusly.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
116. “And what about your brother, Agus? Will he be entertaining us with his pipes?”“Agg,” Shanks rasped, wrinkling his nose. “I didn’t tell you? He ain’t with us no more.” A heavy fist slammed on the arm of the Viidun’s chair as he growled, “The idiot went off and got himself killed!” “What?” Derian and Eena replied in unison, both horrified by the news.“You heard me!” Shanks bellowed. “The crazy fool should’ve known when to duck. He died in a bloody challenge with some brainless Deramptium! A downright disgraceful way to die! I’m ashamed to say he was my brother!”“That’s a little harsh, isn’t it?” Eena muttered, mostly speaking to Derian.“What was that?” the Viidun demanded.Derian whispered a hush to Eena. Addressing Shanks, he expressed their condolences. “We are truly sorry for your loss. Your brother will be sorely missed. On the other hand, we look forward to welcoming you and your crew aboard the Kemeniroc.” Derian held up his right hand, extending his thumb and two adjoining fingers. “Strength, truth, and honor, friend,” he said, ending their conversation.“Strength, truth, and honor,” Shanks repeated. The screen went black. The captain turned to Eena who was still in shock.“You have to understand,” he explained, “the Viiduns are a fiercely competitive people with proud, warring ways. Their culture doesn’t call for much sympathy, especially when it appears one of their own has failed to live up to expectations.”Eena was still disturbed by the lack of compassion. “But that was his brother.” “I know. I can hardly believe it myself. Shanks and Agus were very close. They traveled everywhere together. All I can figure is it’s easier for Shanks to express his anger than his anguish.”“After all that, I’m not sure I want to meet him in person. He scares me,” she admitted.Derian laughed. “He scares everyone. That’s why you want to keep him as an ally and not make him an enemy.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
117. “When the girl didn’t move, Gavin summoned her near with his fingers. His heart thrummed as she obeyed, stepping up close to him. Her young stature was much shorter than his tall, wiry form. Gavin regarded her prettiness - pale cheeks, pink lips, inquisitive eyes. Fascinated by her, he longed to know her name. “Who are you?” he asked. He heard the girl utter the same question at the same time. Cocking his head, he claimed, “I asked you first.” “No you didn’t,” she protested, shaking her red-hooded head, “I asked you at the same time you asked me.” Gavin grinned at her insistence. It was hard for him not to chuckle. “Well, then, I suppose we’ll have to go with ‘girls first’.” His grin widened into a white smile. The girl gestured to herself. “I’m Little Red Riding Hood.” He recognized the name of a fairy tale character, and groaned under his breath at not having discovered this dreamer’s real name. “Actually,” she confessed almost immediately, “I’m not really Red Riding Hood. My name is Annabelle, but I’m pretending to be her because……well……because this is my dream and that’s what I wish to dream about.” Oh glorious day! He’d learned her name! Annabelle! Annabelle! What a perfectly sweet sound was this utterance of…..Annabelle.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
118. “The fact is, the man who’d begotten me didn’t want me. In his eyes I should never have been born. And perhaps that would’ve been best. As it was, my existence had proven to be nothing more than a nuisance for everyone. I angered my father, brought strife upon my mother, irritated my teachers, and annoyed the other children who were forced to interact with me in school. All by simply being. When you aren’t loved, you aren’t real. Life is cold, like the stone against my palm.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
119. “Why is it that at the very moment I need to appear graceful I stumble and fall like a klutz, as though this scene had never played through my mind differently a million times?” - Richelle E. Goodrich
120. “Every brush stroke on the canvas, every dab of color introduced, the fine textures impressed in the paint—this accumulation of many small acts combines to shape a final work of art. And so it is with life; each step, each deed, each brief choice builds gradually, day by day, to shape both character and destiny.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
121. “It's a sweet thing to sit quietly in the early-morning darkness and talk to God for a while. It's amazing what you gain from the conversation.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
122. “Just resign yourself to the fact that you're going to be miserable so you can finally be happy. (It's a sound theory if you think about it hard enough.)” - Richelle E. Goodrich
123. “How does knowing 'things could be worse' than what I already deem awful make me feel any better? You mean I could sink even lower? Oh joy!” - Richelle E. Goodrich
124. “Real? Real depends upon your perspective, Annabelle. People never see life exactly the same way. The world is what you think it is.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
125. “Your body and spirit, subconscious and conscious—every portion of you recognizes home. That is why on the moment of arrival, your entire being relaxes into a contented puddle of joy.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
126. “I realized at that moment - observing his form move further away without once turning back - that I’d already begun to rebuild the imaginary wall between us. I was shielding my heart with stone cold feelings again, the only way I knew to protect it. I still planned to try my hand at prayer. If God would grant me this one request, if I could keep my only friend, I would give anything in return, even the treasured books trapped beneath my arm. I’d tasted enough of a dismal life to know that a real, true friend was of greater worth than the collection of every imagined fairy tale in the world.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
127. “Closing your eyes won't make the awfulness go away. It may be that nothing will. But dwelling on it, dreading the evil, playing out the misery in your head - doesn't this feed the monster? You can't close your eyes to life, but you can choose where your gaze lingers.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
128. “Knowing the path to follow doesn't make it a breeze to step along. If every desire were only a skip, hop, and a jump away, we'd all have arrived.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
129. “Nothing in this world compares to the comfort and security of having someone just hold your hand.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
130. “Though it pained me, I gave in. Why was it that I repeatedly succumbed to the first whisper of a promised maybe? How did the enticer, hope, always find my heart unguarded? There was no such thing as hope. Not for me. Why was it so hard to accept that?” - Richelle E. Goodrich
131. “Life is learning to take God's hand.....and hold on.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
132. “I could really use someone else's smile today.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
133. “You can add up your blessings or add up your troubles. Either way, you'll find you have an abundance.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
134. “A Wish on the Sun""I see the world beyond a tiny window that allows a glimpse of Heaven into my life. Those who dwell in that enviable light cannot hear me through the glass that muffles my cries. They do not appear to see my face pressed against this barrier.I watch them live, carefree and smiling. Even when our eyes lock—mine wide and weary—theirs squint beyond notice of me. They can't peer past the glass, the sunlight glaring off its surface. They don't see me. They won't see me.I make a wish on the sun, staring into its fiery brightness, imagining it blinding me to the beauty beyond my reach. Would my hell feel so awful then? The sun, this nearest star, absorbs my deepest wish for the thousandth time. 'Save me! Hold my hand! Pretend to care!'The light is blocked by a figure stepping past my window, and I feel the universe turn its cold shoulder on me. Despair smothers the hope that made my lips move in utterance of a desperate wish. It ebbs and weakens, but it does not die. The flicker of an ember remains, enough to ignite hope again—another time.All storms eventually cease, do they not?Once more, I press my face against the glass to view a glimpse of Heaven lived by the undeserving. I savor the sunlight, the only thing powerful enough to penetrate the window that bars me in hell. The warm rays touch me. I imagine God's fingers caressing my face—and the dying ember of hope suddenly inflames.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
135. “Had she any respect for him at all, his words would've affected her. But no value accompanies comments spewed from the mouth of a brute.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
136. “This thing that troubles you is only one small part of your life. Don't allow it to be all-consuming when there's so much more to embrace.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
137. “Okay, let's put this another way―if what you're about to say wouldn't look good permanently engraved on your tombstone, bite your tongue.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
138. “Mothers observe all, absorb all, give all, forgive all, offer all, suffer all, feel all, heal all, hope for all, pray for all.But most of all,Mothers love always.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
139. “Heroes make us smile because they not only rescue us outwardly, but inwardly too.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
140. “Kiss a frog with your eyes wide open. If he turns into a prince you won't miss the transformation, but if he doesn't, you won't be fooled by some wishful illusion in your head.” - Richelle E. Goodrich
