What J.R.R. Tolien Teaches Us About Life
"In Gondor the New Year will always now begin upon the twenty-fifth day of March when Sauron fell, and when you were brought out of the fire to the King."
So this past Wednesday was Tolkien reading day (and the quote above was texted to me by my partner after I replied ‘??’ to his ‘happy new year!’) so I thought this post would be perfect for this week. If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know I’m an avid fan of all things Tolkien (though maybe not as much as my partner). All writers have their own unique voice. Tolkien’s make me thing of travel and adventure and light shining through darkness. So I’m going to share some inspirational Tolkien quotes and my take on them.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
This has to be my favorite Tolkien quote, as I have it tattooed in Elvish runes around my forearm. It is my constant reminder to, if I am not happy with my situation, I can only make the best of it. You can gripe and sulk about the bad around or you can find the bright side and not let it ruin your enjoyment of life.
“Aure entuluva!”
The battlecry of Hurin that my partner decided to get as his first tattoo. It translates to “Day shall come again”. No bad day is endless, no darkness endures. In the end, light and hope return, all the sweeter for being gone.
“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” Imagine what would happen if people stopped caring about their weight, their follower count or how much money they had and measured success in the number of hours spent on a good meal and with good friends. These things are what makes life meaningful and worth more than all the money in the world.
“It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”
I heard this quote in Ian Holm’s voice and it makes me think of traveling, going off on an adventure and discovering new, amazing places. But, all roads do eventually lead you back to home.
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
People think they need to know what they’re doing with their lives, to always have a plan. But, it’s okay to not know, it’s okay to be a little lost. You don’t always have to know where you’re doing. Over half the fun is in the journey.
“Little by little, one travels far.”
In today’s world of instant gratification, you forget to pause and appreciate the little steps and victories. We are always pushing for the big thing and are disheartened when it takes long than we want to reach our goal. This reminds us to set smaller ones, little steps, and to celebrate each little accomplishment along the way.
“Don't adventures ever have an end? I suppose not. Someone else always has to carry on on the story.”
Once you complete a big goal or check something off your list, a small piece of you is like; “what now?”. There is always another goal, another dream, something to strive for.