I thought that I’d change it up a bit this week and write about my favorite quote by Andre Gide (seen above), and why it's my favorite. For those of you who don’t know, Andre Gide, was a French author, humanist, and moralist who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947. He is well known for his works of fiction and autobiographical pieces.

The quote itself speaks to the fact that change doesn’t happen inside of our comfort zone. For change to happen, we have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone (the shore) in order to be open to and discover new things (new oceans). Like the quote says, this takes courage. It’s not easy to let go of what we know in order to find something new or greater. It takes great risk and a leap of faith into the unknown. We have no idea what the new waters will bring. Will there be a storm with waves or will it be smooth sailing? We don’t know, and we have no way of knowing. But, we won’t know if we will unless we try. If we don’t take that leap, we will never know if we can fly.

In my own life, this quote has inspired me in so many ways; personally and professionally. It has inspired me to take risks, push myself, and to be open to new things. I keep this quote close by in my office, my home, and in the camera roll on my phone. It helps serve as a reminder of where I’ve been, what I’ve achieved, and where I can go if I push myself to get there.

What quote has inspired you?