I’m giving you my selection of favorite quotes from the creators of the characters and stories most loved by kids – Walt Disney and A. A. Milne. Walt Disney needs no intro, of course. A. A. Milne, for those who have forgotten, is the one who gave us Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their friends in the Forest.

These words will surely touch you, no matter how young or old you are. Share them with the kids and the kids at heart in your family and circle of friends.

If you’re thinking about slacking off at work, read these motivational quotes first. And you might just have a change of heart. In fact, a couple of these quotes made me realize about the more positive things about work some years back. And I continue to assure myself with these optimistic thoughts whenever things aren’t really looking bright in my job.

Perhaps, you might want to spread the positivity to your co-workers. You can share this on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

My faith is my mightiest weapon against times like these. I often stop and reflect on God’s words whenever I have these negative feelings and experiences. And I’d like to share with you some of the biblical verses that have given me strength through the years.

 “I want to go on and I will finish it …”

These are the brave words of Jaycee Dugard, the 11-year old girl who was abducted and abused for 18 years in South Lake Tahoe, USA. She tells all in her book, “A Stolen Life,” which was published in the middle of 2011 – two years after she was rescued. She may talk about loneliness, fear, and uncertainty all throughout the book, but these words best represent her thoughts and attitude that made her survive all those years.

Someone who thought I might want to read it sent me a copy of this book. When I scanned the book and saw the photos, I remembered I came across her story in a real-life crime show on TV. But even if I already knew how her kidnapping story went, it didn’t prepare me for what I read in the book.

“I do not want comfort from this awful man, but there is no one else here and I reluctantly lean into what comfort he gives… Now I feel like a rabbit being comforted by a lion. I am so scared.”

Dugard wrote with raw emotions and words that I don’t recommend the book for the faint of heart. She told parts of her ordeal in graphic detail that made it a chilling piece. What made it even more disturbing was that I knew it happened in real life.

I liked how she disclosed everything that was running through her mind from the time she was snatched by Phillip Garrido while she was walking to the bus stop. Her comparison of her family to Phillip and his wife, Nancy, made me feel her confusion, loneliness, regrets, and fears in her life. For me, this contributed a lot in making her account a powerful one. It also made the whole story even more real.

“Maybe if I go to sleep, then when I wake up I will be in my own bed and this will be just a bad dream.”

Whenever something bad happens to me, I also have these same thoughts going through my head. The words Dugard used in the book were so simple but direct that you can relate to many of the things she said, whether you’ve been a victim of someone else’s cruelty or not.

“Life is too short to think about all the things you don’t have.”

The book is filled with so much darkness that enveloped Dugard’s life even from the time prior to her abduction. But it is this very darkness that makes the redemption, hope, and spirit in Dugard shine all the more as you read the book further.

Her “Reflection” after every chapter of the kidnapping account is a clever touch for a detailed story like hers. It gives more feelings and wisdom about everything that happened to her. It explains, puts the details in perspective, and, at times, makes her story even heavier, particularly when she talks about her family and friends.

You’ll find a lot of reminders about surviving the heartaches and hardships in life in this book. And one of those reminders that I liked best is this: “I don’t believe in hate. To me it wastes too much time. People who hate waste so much of their life hating that they miss out on all the other stuff out here… If all my heart was filled up with hate and regrets and what ifs, then what else would it have room for?”

“Write a best seller”

This was in her March 26, 2008 journal entry entitled “My Dreams for the Future.” In July 12, 2011, “A Stolen Life: A Memoir” was on its first day of sales and already sold 175,000 copies. The book made it to the various lists of best sellers, including that of the New York Times.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Jaycee Dugard’s account of her 18 years of captivity contains some disturbing details and may be quite heavy for some. But her book is an excellent read for those who’d like to know how someone can turn from victim to victor.

Many of us find it hard to achieve or maintain our ideal weight. We can always blame the fast food and complicated lifestyles of today. There are many obstacles and temptations along the way. But the fact is we are the ones accountable for our own health and fitness.

For us who choose to be persistent, even after stumbling from our diet and exercise, here are more words of encouragement.

They’re great motivational quotes to share with your training buddies, too.

He may have been exercising from time to time, but he’s been more into doing his day job and helping his wife take care of their two little girls. He trained about 5 months before the 10-Mile Run.

He may have finished far from first place. But the point is he finished the race, even after years of not being into any serious running. He’s now preparing for another run, a shorter one – a 10K, but still something he should be proud of.

Physical fitness goals are definitely tough for most of us. Bouncing back from a slump is even harder. But it’s possible.

I’ve found these motivational quotes that can give us a boost whenever we’re too sluggish for a workout. Feel free to share them on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

This is why I don’t find it surprising that when musicians talk about their craft, sometimes I’d think that they’re alluding to life in general. Here are some brilliant quotes from music artists that I hope would will liven up your day.

Why not spread these motivational messages through Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest?

This is what I heard the golf pro say to this guy who was beside me in the driving range. Obviously, he was taking too much time in between swings. That was quite some time ago, but it’s stuck in my mind.

Paralysis by analysis. It’s a phrase I now remind myself whenever I freeze right behind the starting line. We seem to lose our bodily functions when we overwork our brain and emotions. This has happened too many times to me. And thank God, I’ve been back to life every time. When it takes me too long to start something, I try to warn myself that if I keep putting it off, I won’t be able to do it ever.

In my last post, I imparted some words of wit and wisdom from athletes that can fire you up. I’m posting here now what someone shared to me recently. It’s a video of American humorist Ze Frank, “An Invocation for Beginnings.” His speech contains some expletives, so just a warning and an apology to those who might find some words offensive. But if you get past those words, you’ll see his brilliant mix of comic and motivational approach. If you’re someone “who’s stuck in a terrible place between zero and one” due to overthinking, overacting, or simply laziness, this could give you a really good kick to start right now whatever it is you need to do.

I haven’t heard of Ze Frank before this. But to those who are into personalities on the World Wide Web, he’s a popular speaker. This is the first episode of his latest online show.

 “An Invocation for Beginnings” by Ze Frank

But even if you’re not an athlete, the combined humor and depth of these quotes will still inspire you. Hope you enjoy reading them. Why not pass on the laughter and the inspiration to other people, too?

I miss him and his wit and wisdom a lot. So, I’ve thought of sharing with you motivational quotes from sports figures the world has known. While they may have been mainly talking about their respective sports, their messages can uplift anyone’s spirit.

Please feel free to share the inspiration, too.