When I was a kid on the playground, life was simple but loud. If someone threw an insult my way, I didn’t overthink it; I just raised my shield. My go-to defense was, “I know you are, but what am I?” It was a knee-jerk reaction, a silly schoolyard echo, but it kept me safe. Back then, I didn’t realize that words were things you had to carry—I just wanted to throw them back.

As I grew up, the playground battles faded, and the real world got a lot bigger and heavier. I had to learn how to let go of control. That’s when I found my anchor: “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” It became the phrase I repeated when things didn’t go my way, a reminder to breathe and trust the timing of life. It taught me how to surrender.

But the real shift happened when relationships came into the picture. Suddenly, heart and connection were on the line, and I realized how deeply words could wound or heal. That’s when the ultimate rule clicked: “Taste your words before you spit them out.” I finally understood that we are made entirely of our words. Tasting them first forces you to check their flavor before they impact someone else—asking if they are bitter, sweet, or true. It transformed how I connected with the people who mattered most.

But life isn’t just about filtering what you say; sometimes, it’s about finding the backbone to stand your ground. Like scripture, different wisdom shows up exactly when you need a push. When I’m facing a moment that completely terrifies me, I don’t need a soft reminder—I need John Wayne. I look to his iconic truth: “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” It’s a sassy, grit-your-teeth reminder that fear is normal, but staying glued to the ground isn’t an option.

And when doubt creeps in and the hill looks too steep to climb, that’s when Henry Ford’s blunt leadership style kicks the engine into gear: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” It knocks away all my excuses. It reminds me that my mindset dictates my reality.

Looking back, I realize these weren’t just favorite quotes. They arrived exactly when I needed them. A shield. An anchor. A filter. Grit. An engine. Each one carried me into the next chapter of my life, and together they became the person I’m still becoming.