Athena

“All the world’s a stage, but actors aren’t the only ones who play roles.
Even when you’re not following a script, you might as well be. You don’t behave the same way in front of everyone. You know what makes your friends laugh, and what makes your parents proud, and what makes your teachers respect you - and you have a different persona for each of them.
Given all these performances … how do you ever know who you really are?
Well, you have to find that rare someone for whom you’re not putting on a show. Someone who shines a spotlight in your direction - not because you’re who they need you to be, or who they want you to be … just because you’re you.”
― Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

“Watch carefully
the magic that occurs
when you give a person
enough comfort
to just be themselves.”
― Atticus Poetry, Love Her Wild

“Love isn't what you expect it to be. You imagine being drunk on happiness, but the truth is, you worry all the time. Is she ill? Hurt? Might she meet someone else? There's a moment when you realize you've gotten everything you wished for. And right on its heels is the understanding that this means you have so much more to lose.”
― Jodi Picoult, Off the Page

“What would you do if you only had one day left in this world? Spend it with the people you love? Travel to the far corners of the earth to see as many wonders as possible? Eat nothing but chocolate? Would you apologize for all your mistakes? Would you stand up to those you'd never had the courage to face? Would you tell your secret crush that you loved him or her? Why is it that we wait till the last minute to do the things we should be doing all along?”
― Jodi Picoult, Off the Page