Sonya Stoa

“Words and magic were in the beginning one and the same thing, and even today words retain much of their magical power.”
― Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis

“The sweetness and generosity and politeness and gentleness and humanity of the French had shown me how lovely life can be if one takes time to be friendly.”
― Julia Child, My Life in France

“When we feel dread, when we feel discomfort of any kind, it can connect us at the heart with all the other people feeling dread and discomfort. We can pause and touch into dread. We can touch bitterness of rejection and the rawness of being slighted. Whether we are at home or in a public spot or caught in a traffic jam or walking into a movie, we can stop and look at the other people there and realize that in pain and in joy they are just like me. Just like me they don’t want to feel physical pain or insecurity or rejection. Just like me they want to feel respected and physically comfortable.”
― Pema Chödrön, Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears

“What we call obstacles are really the way the world and our entire experience teach us where we’re stuck.”
― Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron