Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne Shirley has inspired generations of creative minds to live boldly, love bravely and never stop learning. She makes her own sunshine, says the things that no one else will and, despite her endearingly fiery temper, consistently shows her endless spring of kindness to those she meets. Anne wears her heart proudly on her sleeve, often proving Lucy’s uncanny gift of understanding human nature. Here are just a few of her quotes and why they mean so much to me.
“It’s been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will.” – Anne of Green Gables
This line resonates with me on so many levels. For one, it’s been my experience, too! It is far too easy to become caught up in the monotony of life, but going about my daily tasks with a positive and curious attitude makes all the difference in the world. There is always something new to learn, dream and explore, no matter how commonplace a situation may appear to be on the outside, and Anne constantly reminds me of that.
“Life is worth living as long as there’s a laugh in it.” – Anne of Green Gables
Anne taught me many things, but above all else, she taught me to take myself less seriously. I am always learning and growing—and that’s a good place to be—but without joy, what’s the point? Laughter reduces stress and makes for a longer lifespan. That’s pretty powerful and, in my view, worth every second. Even if it means taking some time away from my work to watch this week’s viral comedians on social media.
“Because when you are imagining, you might as well imagine something worth while.” – Anne of Green Gables
It’s aggravatingly easy to imagine all the ways that something could go wrong, but why not expend just a little more energy and imagine all the ways that the same something could go right? I don’t believe that imaginations were ever meant to be limited to what seems possible; anything is possible! As Walt Disney put it, “If you can dream it, you can do it.”
“‘After all,’ Anne had said to Marilla once, ‘I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.’” – Anne of Avonlea
Don’t get me wrong—I love splendid and wonderful and exciting. But I agree with Anne. Some of my favorite memories are of my feet buried in freezing sand and my eyes tracing a foggy winter sea. And that’s it. No fireworks, no castles—just the ocean.
“‘All life lessons are not learned at college,’ she thought. ‘Life teaches them everywhere.’” – Anne of the Island
Though Anne and I have always been on the same page here, it is always nice to feel affirmed.
“Gilbert darling, don’t let’s ever be afraid of things. It’s such dreadful slavery. Let’s be daring and adventurous and expectant. Let’s dance to meet life and all it can bring to us…!” – Anne of Windy Poplars
This quote gracefully sums up Windy Poplars, Anne’s worldview and the worldview that I strive to have every single day. It is human nature to fear, but it can be used to our advantage. Fear makes excellent fuel and, even in the darkest of times, finds enemies in love and hope. I have quoted Cicero before, and I will quote him again: “While there’s life, there’s hope.” Here’s to the dance!
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