“It's easier, sometimes, to love when you know it's a love you can't have.” LoveLifeFearCourageLive Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“But something like this--I want to, no, need to put the photo out into the world, into the universe, as if the second that pictures exists somewhere besides my phone is the moment I'll start to exist, too.” HopeCourage Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“There’s much more in this life to fear than just spirits, and if I let fear rule my every move, I will become nothing more than a little ghost child myself. I want to be brave. I want to live the life I was given. So what if the spirits hear us call their names? Let them hear it.” Courage Book:Hurricane Child Source: Hurricane Child
“What’re you afraid of? Everything. I’m scared I’m not living my life to my full potential. I’m scared I’m wasting my life when I’m meant to be doing something else, something more . . .” LifeFearPurpose Of Life Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“The idea of not being alone -- of having someone who sees me, same way I see the things that no one else can see, makes me feel like I'm real. Like I deserve to exist on this planet alongside everyone else. That I get to be here because there's someone else who wants me here too.” WantedLonelinessAloneBelongingCompanionshipDeservingRealnessSeen Book:Hurricane Child Source: Hurricane Child
“My dad won't look at me. I don't know if he even knows how to look at me. He can't see me for who I really am--only who he wants me to be.” FamilyAcceptance Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance.” LoveSelf EsteemAcceptance Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“Do you ever feel like you’re only ever watching? I ask Declan. Never really participating. Never really doing. Just always watching.” AlonenessVoyeurism Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“Yeah. I don’t know, I always feel like I can’t figure out how to just stop watching and actually join.” AlonenessSocial Interaction Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“When you are ashamed, it isn't because of something you've done. It's because you are ashamed of your own life. Of your own existence. You want to apologize for living.” Shame Quotes Book:Moonflower Source: Moonflower
“It had never really crossed my mind I guess to think about doing self portraits. They've always felt a little narcissistic to me and I'm not exactly the guy who wants to, or is even able to, stare at myself all day. I never take selifes and I barely like glancing at myself in mirrors. Dysphoria has played a huge part in that. It's what Dr. Rodriquez first called the feeling I have when I see myself and I know I don't look the way I'm supposed to. The discomfort I used to have in seeing my hair long and a chest that wasn't flat. I've been lucky enough to see most of the changes I want to see, but I'm still the shortest guy of all my classmates and sometimes I can feel strangers' stares as they watch me, questioning my gender. "Self-portraits are empowering," Jill says. "They force you to see yourself in a way that's different than just looking in a mirror or snapping a picture on your phone. Painting a self-portrait makes you recognize and accept yourself, both on the outside and within. Your beauty, your intricacies, even your flaws. It isn't easy by any means," she tells me then shrugs. "But anything that reveals you, the real you, isn't easy.” IdentityAcceptance Of OneselfSelf Portrait Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“It can be easier, sometimes, to choose to love someone you know won't return your feelings. At least you know how that will end. It's easier to accept hurt and pain, sometimes, than love and acceptance. It's the real, loving relationships that can be the scariest.” LoveRelationships Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After
“It’s almost like I was looking for the pain and the hurt, because it was easier to live with the idea that, even though I want love, I’m not the kind of person who deserves to be loved.” LovePainHurtAloneDeserve Love Book:Felix Ever After Source: Felix Ever After