Xavi Argemí Ballbé

“Things are as they are and not as we would like them to be. At the same time, regardless of how far away reality falls short of our desires, we can still choose how to respond to circumstances. Freedom doesn’t only reside in the fact that you can choose. It’s also about how you react to situations where you haven’t been able to choose. And that freedom is a source of meaning and of keeping your feet on the ground, of not getting bogged down in things you can do nothing about or getting frustrated.”
― Xavi Argemí Ballbé, Learning to Die in Order to Live: Little things that make life wonderful

“There are other little things that, all together, make for a wonderful and joyful life. The little big things of everyday life: a good glass of water, contemplating the burning fireplace in the living room, watching the sun as it sets, a quiet conversation, a visit from a person you haven’t seen for a long time, the silent presence of people you love, watching the plants and birds burst into life in spring, the company of my dog and her affection in the form of licks that leave you smeared with saliva, like a homemade syrup…All these are small things. But happiness does not lie in being able to do many things, but in knowing how to enjoy what we can do without worrying about what we cannot do.”
― Xavi Argemí Ballbé