Good afternoon, friends and neighbors.

I’m not going to lie- the last couple months have been more than a little rough.

Between letting my side work get away from me, leaving one job, trying to make something of this whole blogging thing, and now starting another day job with a different schedule, it all takes a toll.

We are all humans- not robots, not beasts of burden, not machines. No, not even professional cooks and chefs. EVERYONE has periods where they feel overextended. Exhausted. Burned out.
Weak.
Broken.
Done.

There’s no shame in that. No shame in needing help, time, or advice to put yourself back together. As the Tao Te Ching says,

 

 

That’s where the true strength of will and character is- not in never cracking or failing, but stepping up and trying it all again.

Easier said than done, of course- but here are some of the quotes and wisdom I have been reminding myself of when things feel a bit too deep. No particular order, and I have many more- but here are some of my favorites, and why.

This poem is one of very few I have commited to memory, and it is easy to see why.
Henley wrote this while he was recovering from a disease that claimed one of his legs, and threatened to take the other as well. A longtime practioner of classical Stoicism, Henley greeted the misfortune unflinchingly- and eventually managed to keep his second leg.
It was also the favorite poem of Nelson Mandela while he was in prison. One of my favorite cartoonists, Gavin Aung Tran of Zen Pencils did some excellent interpretations of it.

I try to remember this poem whenever I feel weak, or powerless, or out of step with what I want in life. Every single day, there are decisions you make- that ONLY you make- and can decide what happens next.

You are the master of your fate.
​You are the captain of your soul.

Not all of us are trying to defeat a dark lord, claim our birthright, and restore our rule to two ancient kingdoms of men while ensuring that the failings of our ancestors are corrected.
That’s a pretty full daily planner right there.

Most of us ARE, however, feeling a little lost and confused about where to go next. We remember being bold and confident, of making decisions unflinchingly, and charging into new challenges with a wild energy. Somewhere, somehow- we feel like we lost that, and wonder where the hero- that used to be us- went.

Aragorn hid his identity for years, his true claim as king of Gondor and Arnor known only to a few. He worked steadily, quietly, and in secret- not always to reclaim his throne, but ALWAYS toward the good and looking after others.

I read this and I try to remember:
The hero you need is still in there. Do what’s right, remember where you came from, and take heart in what you’ve learned. Go seize your crown.

If there is a quote I could offer to anyone groaning about having to do repetitive, boring tasks or “paying their dues,” this would be it. It’s easy to feel enlivened or inspired in the face of some great event or display- it’s MUCH harder to feel that way when you need to separate 45 eggs for a custard. Neither is more or less important that the other- but it’s in powering through those grinding tasks that we show our discipline, our strength, and character.

One of the most treacherous things about being in a funk is the myopia that comes with it- regardless of what anyone says or does, it’s astoundingly difficult to see your way past your own darkness and misery.
Whenever I have found myself in that state, one thing that almost always helps is simply helping someone else. It might be donating to a charity, or helping out someone on the street, or offering some words to a friend in need. When you feel better, only you feel better- but when you help someone else, both of you feel like something or someone matters.
When you’re feeling down, try to do something good for someone else- it may not make your problems easier, but it will help you both feel better about them.

Yes, about time a someone food-related got on here (aside from the freebie above from Anthony Bourdain.
Marie-Antoine Carême was the first “celebrity chef”, and essentially systemized, codified, and recorded the entierty of French cooking before dying at the age of 48. Abandoned by his parents, he began working in kitchens at the age of 10.
There isn’t much I can say for this quote- it pretty much covers it all, especially for students: don’t give up, be sure of your talents and skills, and keep a clean character. You’ll be okay. 

So that’s five of my favorite motivational quotes- what do you think? Do you have any quotes- famous, fictional, or whatever- that inspire you when you’re at your lowest? Drop them in the comments!​Stay Classy,

P.S. Here’s another bonus quote- this is the one I read when I was trying to lose weight, and I remember it whenever I’m worried about starting something new!