I live for an inspirational quote. But not just any quote (like, honestly if you're putting words atop a photo of a sunset, you need to see yourself off my Facebook feed immediately, for we have nothing to say to each other) — real, live, if-I-was-into-tattoos-I'd-get-them-tattooed-onto-me words of wisdom. The kind you hear from people you look up to and think, "These women aren't fucking around."
To be honest, I think we should all be living fucking around-free lives. There's just too much to do, and we're all too smart to waste any time. (Which is why I'm choosing not to share how much time I've wasted this morning alone scrolling through Tumblr for gifs from the Christmas episode of The Office. That's nobody's business.) So that being said, here are some of the greatest words to live by and or harsh truths, spoken by total forces, over the last year. We did it, everyone. (Use these to fuel you.)
Amy Poehler, "Yes, Please"
"You have to care about your work, but not about the result. You have to care about how good you are and how good you feel, but not about how good people think you are or how good people think you look. Treat your career like a bad boyfriend. It liks it when you don't depend on it. It will chase oyu if you act like other things (passion, friendship, family, longevity) are more important to you."
Mindy Kaling, Vogue (March 2014)
"It's really tempting not to take chances. But I don't want to be fearful. I don't want my tombstone to say, 'She hid her imperfections well on the red carpet.'"
Nicki Minaj, Complex (December 2014)
"Every woman is multifaceted. Every woman has a switch, whether she's going to be maternal, whether she's going to be a man-eater, whether she has to kick ass, whether she has to be one of the boys, whether she has to show the guys that she's just as smart or smarter, she's just as talented or creative. Women suppress a lot of their sides."
Beyonce, The Shriver Report (January 2014)
"We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible."
Emma Watson, UN #HeForShe Speech (September 2014)
"In my nervousness for this speech and my moments of doubt, I've told myself firmly, 'If not me, who? If not now, when?'"
Shonda Rhimes, Dartmouth commencement (June 2014)
"Dreams are lovely. But they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change."
Sandra Bullock, Warren Easton Charter High School commencement (June 2014)
"For some reaosn, people want to see you fail. But that is not your problem, that is their problem."
Amy Schumer, Ms. Gala speech (May 2014)
"I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story — I will. I will speak and share and fuck and love and I will never apologize to the frightened millions who resent that they never had it in them to do it."
Jennifer Lawrence, Vanity Fair (November 2014)
"You have a choice. You don't have to be a person who spreads negativity and lies for a living. You can do something good. You can be good. Let's just make that choice and — it feels better."
Roxane Gay, "Bad Feminist"
"I would rather be a bad feminist than no feminist at all."
YES. Now add your own favourites of the last year, or just take to the streets and tattoo each and everyone one of these on your arm. No one here blames you if you now feel like you can change the world. (Because spoiler alert: you can, goddamn it. For real.)
