Richelle E. Goodrich

Don__ quit.When your latest efforts fail, don__ quit. When your performance is scoffed and ridiculed, don__ quit. When you__e told you have no talent, don__ quit. When you come in dead last, don__ quit. When it seems an uphill fight to keep going, don__ quit. When you can__ see any possible way to achieve your goals, don__ quit. When your last supporter is you alone, don__ quit. When discouragement and depression seem your constant companion, don__ quit. When you feel like quitting, don__ quit.Time and time again you will crave relief from the harsh fight of trying to succeed. You will falsely think that quitting will bring peace and reprieve, but alas, only regret and disappointment await the quitter. Victory means never ever quitting. So don__ quit.Do not quit.

It is tempting to quit striving toward a goal when you have neither the time, the resources, the support, the means, nor perhaps the confidence in talent to reach the level of standing you wish to reach. But these are not reasons to quit. Move forward anyway. Try your best. Put what little you do have into accomplishing what you can, because along the way you may attain a portion of what you feel is lacking. And owning a portion of a dream is better than owning no dream at all. Never give up.

You never step backwards when you__e sure of where you__e going.

Never be intimidated by what seems ominous, for BiG is only an accumulation of many smalls.

It__ not a dream, it__ my destiny.

None of us have reached the peak of perfection, but it shouldn__ stop anyone from trying to make the climb.

World peace, true love, and happily-ever-afters amount to wasted wishes, failed endeavors, and most precious dreams.

If you invest nothing, the reward is worth little.

My goals may seem impossibly far-fetched when really they're not. Break them down into steps and see how I accomplish great things. I can easily reach from A to B. I can manage from B to C. I can then make it from C to D. And so eventually, I will find my way from A to Z.

When it comes to fighting for your dreams, be a dragon. Breathe fire.

Gavin, I can__ talk to you here. People will call me crazy." My imaginary friend smirked. "But you__e already talking to me." "Well, I have to stop." His smirk grew cocky. "I doubt you can resist." And he was right. There was nothing I wanted more than to give my full attention to an imagined shadow and ignore those who ignored me in the real world. I wanted to talk out loud to Gavin__o play and laugh boisterously with him. In a dream I could justify such behavior, but to succumb to hallucinations while wide awake would only prove me insane.

Eyes speak louder than words; life is precious; hate is poison; God is the best of all possible friends; silence and time are valuable treasures; happiness can be just as powerful in pretend; and soft licorice is a temptation in any color, especially exotic black.

Friendship true is a vow of care.A warm embrace when in despair.A loving presence waiting thereto lift a heart, its burdens bear.Friendship true is an earnest prayer.A tongue of praise for one__ welfare.A smile __id laughs as light as air,and thoughtfulness most kind and rare.

If I could have one friend,just one in all the world,I know that I would not seek outa boy or pretty girl.The friend I__ dare to chooseto stand by me each daywould be a dragon fierce enoughto scare the world away.

What is so rewarding about friendship?_ my son asked, curling his upper lip into a sour expression. __aking friends takes too much time and effort, and for what?_ I sat on the edge of his bed, understanding how it might seem simpler to go at life solo. __riendship has unique rewards,_ I told him. __hey can be unpredictable. For instance...._ I couldn__ help but pause to smile crookedly at an old memory that was dear to my heart. Then I shared with my son an unforgettable incident from my younger years. __rue story. When I was about your age, I decided to try out for a school play. Tryouts were to begin after the last class of the day, but first I had to run home to grab a couple props for the monologue I planned to perform during tryouts. Silly me, I had left them at the house that morning. Luckily, I only lived across a long expanse of grassy field that separated the school from the nearest neighborhood. Unluckily, it was raining and I didn__ have an umbrella. __etermined to get what I needed, I raced home, grabbed my props, and tore back across the field while my friend waited under the dry protection of the school__ wooden eaves. She watched me run in the rain, gesturing for me to go faster while calling out to hurry up or we would be late. __he rain was pouring by that time which was added reason for me to move fast. I didn__ want to look like a wet rat on stage in front of dozens of fellow students. Don__ ask me why I didn__ grab an umbrella from home__eenage pride or lack of focus, I__ not sure__ut the increasing rain combined with the hollering from my friend as well as my anxious nerves about trying out for the play had me running far too fast in shoes that lacked any tread. __bout a yard from the sidewalk where the grass was worn from foot traffic and consequently muddied from the downpour of rain, I slipped and fell on my hind end. Me, my props, and my dignity slid through the mud and lay there, coated. My things were dripping with mud. I was covered in it. I felt my heart plunge, and I wanted to cry. I probably would have if it hadn__ been for the wonderful thing that happened right then. My crazy friend ran over and plopped herself down in the mud beside me. She wiggled in it, making herself as much a mess as I was. Then she took my slimy hand in hers and pulled us both to our feet. We tried out for the play looking like a couple of swine escaped from a pigsty, laughing the whole time. I never did cry, thanks to my friend. __o yes, my dear son, friendship has its unique rewards__riceless ones.

On a grim and dismal day that shattered my last ounce of confidence, I broke down and whimpered, ____ awful and hideous and incompetent and boring and utterly useless._ And then you grinned at me and said, __hat__ okay.

Laugh, and the world longs to be your friend.

The calling that has been thrust upon you is likewise as demanding and daunting. I understand how you feel, believe me. But we need you, Eena. I would say I__ sorry, but_honestly I__ have no other woman take your place. You are exactly what we need. And yes, it does require a great deal of sacrifice, but you don__ have to bear these burdens alone. We are all here to help you. And believe me there isn__ one of us who wouldn__ give his last breath to defend yours so you might go on to heal Harrowbeth. Don__ block us out. Don__ think you have to stand alone. Please wake up and know that I understand. And I promise I won__ say, __ told you so.__ The room fell quiet. Eena didn__ move. Derian could see how her breathing continued smoothly in and out just as before. ____l give you some chocolate if you wake up._ It was a last-ditch effort. ____e got plenty of it, and I don__ care for the stuff.