Lisa Fipps > Quotes

“She's the first person to smile at me today.
The first to make me feel wanted.
Understood.
I blink back tears.
It's unknown how many students' lives
librarians have saved
by welcoming loners at lunch.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“I'm a starfish,
taking up all the room I want.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“It’s unknown how many students’ lives librarians have saved by welcoming loners at lunch.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“The fat on my body
never felt as heavy as
your words on my heart.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“Every kid needs one place they can escape to when life gets to be too much.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“every kid who’s ever been told, “You’d be so pretty or handsome, if . . .” You ARE beautiful. Now. Just as you are. You deserve to be seen, to be heard, to take up room, to be noticed. So when the world tries to make you feel small, starfish!”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“Why aren't kids allowed
to tell grown-ups when they're wrong?
They don't know
everything
Sometimes it's as if
they don't know
anything.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“DNA doesn't make you family.
Love does.
Actions do.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“It would be great if people realized that we’re all different, in all kinds of ways, and different is okay.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“That’s what the best books do. They make you think, and rethink how you see yourself, others, and the world. Most of all, they make you feel. Feelings toward people who aren’t like you. Feelings you didn’t know you had.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“The universe should warn you when something horrible is about to happen, give you a chance to take a deep breath before your breath gets taken away.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“Stereotypes stink. They give people an excuse to hate people who are different instead of taking the time to get to know them.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“The library is my safe harbor since I dare not go into the cafeteria alone, a whale surrounded by starving sharks.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“But it's a lot easier
to toss into the trash the thoughts
others have about you
than the ones
you have about yourself.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“No matter what others say or do, embrace what makes you, you.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“Mom always says,
"You'd be so pretty"
- and all the big girls in the world
can finish this sentence in unison -
"if you lost weight.”
― lisa fipps, Starfish

“The best way to be understood is to learn and speak someone else's language.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“It's unknown how many students' lives
librarians have saved
by welcoming loners at lunch"
-Ellie”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“I learn big girls,
even obese ones,
were once seen as
normal,
preferred,
beautiful.

I can't imagine a world so...
safe.

As I flip through the pages,
I start thinking that if I'd lived back then,
it could have been me
in the pictures,
as sculptures,
as art.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“You replay the moment in your mind from every possible angle, trying to understand why. Why the rules exist and who. Who came up with them and how. How does anyone have the right to tell you how to live just because of your weight?”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“When grown-ups fully understand technology, kids will be in big trouble. Until then, we rule the planet.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“It's not what a mom should do!"

I collapse onto the couch.
Hug the pillow to my chest,
hiding my heart,
not my stomach.

"Moms shouldn't do that."
Tears flow as I rock back and forth.
"She's supposed to love me."
My voice is a whisper.
"Just love me.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“That's what the best books do.
They make you think,
and rethink
how you see
yourself,
others,
and the world.
Most of all,
they make you feel.
Feelings toward people
who aren't like you.
Feelings you didn't know
you had.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“At first I think
being ignored is better
than being humiliated.
But then I wonder.
Because when people look right through you,
it's like you don't even matter.
Like you don't exist.
And everyone is fine
with that."
-Ellie”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“As I walk away, I realize I've been starfishing-starting to claim my right to take up space in this place.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“I included the hurtful stuff I say to me, too. Fat Girl Rule: You need to bully yourself as much as, if not more than, everyone else bullies you.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“If eye-rolling were an Olympic sport, she’d be a gold medalist.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“It's unknown how many students' lives
librarians have saved
by welcoming loners at lunch.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“I’m a poet, so I love music because lyrics are sung poems,” I say.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish

“Write down the hurtful words people say so you don’t have to carry them around in here.” She taps her head and heart.”
― Lisa Fipps, Starfish