Maria

“You, my girl, are whoever you decide to be. But I hope you always keep some piece of that girl who sat by the window, hoping for the best. Life’s short enough without us talking ourselves out of hope and trying to dodge every bad feeling. Sometimes you have to push through the discomfort, instead of running.”
― Emily Henry, Funny Story

“His hands fly up to cradle my jaw. "I won't hurt you, Daphne."
"You don't know that," I whisper.
"I know how hard I'll try," he says. "Just stay. I love you. I want you. Stay.”
― Emily Henry, Funny Story

“So many decisions I made were based on the fear of what could go wrong, instead of my hopes for what might go right.”
― Emily Henry, Funny Story

“This is something I regret, and something I would encourage you to investigate ASAP if you’re in a relationship. If you haven’t already, start now. Consider crafting a relationship contract that lays out the foundations and guidelines for the various facets of your relationship, including the inevitable conflicts that arise. While the content of the contract is up to you, I recommend that it address how you’ll handle a range of issues such as disappointments, conflicts, differences in needs and desires, frustrations, communication styles, and mismatched libidos. Essentially, address all potential challenges proactively, in the abstract, before they become concrete, real-world problems. Also, begin having these conversations from the start of your relationship, so that when challenges inevitably arise in years two, five, ten, or twenty, you will already have the language and tools required to navigate them. Many couples are not proactive in their communication because they never learned how to be, but it’s never too late to start.”
― Todd Baratz, How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind: Forget the Fairy Tale and Get Real