dancing with wolves

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“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master…”

”

— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia) (via kari-shma) (via quote-book)

“I quickly learned to stop picking up my house phone, never answer the doorbell, and always, always look around before walking home from the bus stop. Debt collectors, REPO men, and eviction officials were everywhere, waiting to take possession of our house and our cars. This was an exhausting process for me, trying to study for AP Biology with all the lights off while people from the car dealership shone flashlights through the windows and pounded on our doors roaring “Mr. Durrani! We’re here about your cars. Come out immediately, we know you’re in there!” Those tremendous voices sent chills down my spine at first, but one could say I eventually grew used to it.”

— From “The Weight of Our Problems,” one of my favorite finalists in The Nation’s student writing contest, which asked high school and college students to tell us about how the recession had impacted their lives. More winners here. (via ferrrn) (via clingtomymouth) (via seaponies) (via bowfolk) (via longlivethequeen)