Author Archives: Olivia B.

My Favorite Quotes and Why

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Quotes are often discarded and ignored, seen as meaningless words that are repeated uselessly. However, there are many quotes that are actually quite inspirational and can be applied to anyone’s daily life. Here are some of my favorite quotes, along with explanations and analysis.

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear” – This quote suggests that growth and success cannot be achieved without facing our fears. Hesitation and discomfort is what stops us from achieving what we want. By stepping out of our comfort zones and taking action, we are able to reach our goals. Taking risks is the first step in growth.

“Don’t be afraid of losing people, be afraid of losing yourself” – As the quote indicates, it is not our jobs to worry what others think or believe. Let people assume what they want to, because what truly matters is your own personal opinion. Changing yourself just because of another person’s opinion is harmful and unauthentic to your identity.

“Hatred is the poison we drink, hoping the other person will die” – This quote compares hatred to poison metaphorically; poison hurts the one who consumes it, just as hatred harms us. This quote indicates that holding onto anger or resentment hurts ourselves emotionally and mentally. It highlights the irrationality of hatred, showing that although we may think our anger punishes the other person, it only damages us.

“Nothing changes if nothing changes” – This quote is repetitive and seemingly ridiculous. But if you stop to think about it, it accurately represents the world. So many of us complain about problems, but do not actively try to fix them. Nothing changes, if nothing changes. We cannot improve anything if we do not do anything about it. You can either continue to live a life you are just okay with, or you can take responsibility and live a life you truly enjoy.

“you don’t meet anyone by accident” – Nobody in your life is meaningless. Even those that harm you, even those that seem to distract you from your goals. Everyone you meet has a role in your story and an impact in your journey. Each person teaches you a new lesson and can help you improve yourself. It is important to understand that interactions with others are valuable.

“It won’t happen overnight. But if you quit, it won’t happen at all” – Small progress is still progress. Oftentimes, we lose motivation and interest and begin to drift away from our goals because it seems unachievable. But this quote reminds us that anything will bring you closer to success, except for stopping. You cannot achieve anything by quitting.

Why Ending a Friendship Should Not Be Villainized

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Ending a friendship with someone is often treated like a horrible thing to do, something cruel and morally wrong. But these ideas are ignorant to the truth: some friendships simply do not last forever. Leaving a friendship in the past is not an action that automatically makes one dramatic, selfish, or in the wrong.

Everyone grows and changes as a person; values shift, priorities change, interests fade away… All of that is a normal, inevitable thing. Unfortunately, these changes can also lead to friendships becoming weaker. The person you once promised to be friends with forever may suddenly feel like a stranger. Maybe there was a change in personalities, or you realized that you two do not really agree with each other. In situations like these, it is better to just let the friendship go, rather than to hold onto it and hope it rebuilds itself. Staying in a friendship out of guilt or fear does not make you loyal, it just makes you stuck.

We villainize individuals that leave relationships because we fear endings. Humans fear the unknown and are uncomfortable with the idea of losing something that was once a comfort. Endings also indicate a loss of control, and control is something that we are naturally drawn to. Another thing is that ends force us to mature and move on, which is something that is difficult for many. Most people find themselves stuck in friendships, simply because they are not willing to step out of comfort zones. But time keeps on moving, and we are the only ones that can decide who we spend our lives with.

Of course, ending a relationship should not be careless and harsh. The most important thing is that you are honest, take accountability, and are kind about it overall.

Ending a friendship does not erase the previous memories. It does not mean that the relationship was fake. It just means that you are letting go of a fading connection, and that should not make you a villain.

Book Review: Animal Farm

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Cover of 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell featuring a silhouette of a pig and the text, 'All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others', against a red background.

Animal Farm by George Orwell was one of my first classics, and is one of my favorite pieces of literature. It is a dystopian novella that, despite having complex ideas and themes, is quite easy to understand, making it a great read for beginners. However, it should be noted that this story contains mature themes, such as violence.

Taking place in a mid-20th century English farm named Manor Farm, the book follows farm animals that overthrow their abusive human farmer, Mr. Jones; the animals hope to establish an equal society within the farm. However, the pigs, led by Napolean, take control and tyrannically oppress the other animals.

The plot is interesting, keeping readers engaged the entire time. Orwell’s writing style and language is a bit challenging, but still understandable. The slow build up to the pigs’ corruption is thrilling yet terrifying; the reader slowly begins to understand that the pigs are no better than the humans. Despite being published in 1975, Animal Farm‘s themes are still significant to society today. It criticizes totalitarianism, revealing how power corrupts.

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This quote by George Orwell is ironic, satirizing tyrannic leaders. It means that ideals of equality can be destroyed by unchecked power. The corrupt pigs of the farm demonstrate this danger.

Perhaps I am a bit biased because it is one of my favorite books, but I cannot provide any criticism when it comes to The Animal Farm. To me, it is an amazing book that challenges readers to contemplate society and its flaws. This novella is powerful, despite its seemingly simple story.