#not that dean is wrong but like. it is impossible for him to ever repay dean

[lonewolf638]

'i owe him everything' is actually so crazy. dean saving sam over and over again the debt piling on and sam never being able to catch up forever the little brother trailing behind who gets n gets && sam's hero worship as a child just continuing as szns pass, like god there is nothing dean can do that sam won't forgive dean will forever be the perfect good man

[thegeminisage]

Here's something I'd love your take on: I read a meta recently (would link it but I can't remember where, ack) that suggested that Sam is able to forgive John in later seasons because a) he's had the whole "family making unilateral decisions for your own good" thing repeatedly shoved down his throat, and b) whatever John did under this umbrella in their childhoods, Dean has done far worse by that point, and Sam HAS to forgive him so by extension he can't really be mad at John anymore (1/2)

(2/2) As someone who has admittedly only seen bits and pieces of the later seasons, this seems to jive with Sam losing a lot of his characteristic early-seasons anger, letting Dean call the shots almost all the time even when he thinks it's the wrong move, and moments of sympathy for John (contrasted w/Dean's growing resentment, which is so interesting!). But! I got some big ol' gaps in my spn comprehension, so was curious if you had any thoughts on this dynamic

wow okay long answer warning! i got carried away and forgot how to use punctuation. nobody is obligated to read all of this lol and the biggest part of the answer is behind a cut. anyway!!

first things first: i think a big thing to remember with sam’s characterization in later seasons is that it’s like...not there, and when it is there, it’s sometimes flat and inconsistent. because dean became sole the main protagonist after the first 8 (arguably the first 5 or even first 2) seasons, sam sort of got demoted to “side character we don’t know what to do with” along with cas and crowley. they all had good arcs pop up now and then (sam had some fun stuff going on with lucifer in s11 and s13) but most of the time the writers either don’t know how to give him a meaningful characterization or don’t care (or both). so we have to do a lot of that work ourselves. 

so, for example, when we talk about sam losing his anger, i like to read it as him OVERCOMING that anger to avoid becoming his father (which may even be where some of the seemingly sympathetic comments come from, because he’s trying to be forgiving instead of angry), but really...it’s that the writers forgot he had anger issues. in-universe explanation vs irl explanation, yk? and i think pretty much all meta about sam in late seasons is written through that lens, whether the writer of that meta knows it or not. including this one! i can’t prove any of this shit, it’s my personal reading, i’m making it up. like there were just SO many different people involved in the production of supernatural that there was a lot of conflict and contradictions in things like continuity and characterization. (most of the writers room hadn’t even seen every episode!) so there’s not one definitive way to go about it. in many ways it makes the characters more nuanced and in many other ways it makes me fucking insane.

as for sam and john and whether or not sam forgives him, i’m actually glad you asked because this has been driving me nuts for a long time and it took me SO LONG to pin it down - sam’s relationship with john is very different to dean’s, and i couldn’t figure out WHY. it’s not that he was “abused less,” it’s not that he loved john less or was less hurt by his actions, so why doesn’t he seem as INVESTED in everything that happened to them as kids? like he says in season 14 he had to learn to let it go and that it was all a lifetime ago for him. meanwhile i think dean still deals with it every day. he’s still stewing in it to some degree 24/7. so like what’s the difference??

i think it comes down to two things. firstly, that while dean didn’t have anybody parenting him except john (and mary, but only for a very short time that he could actually remember), SAM’S parents were john AND DEAN. most of the time dean was the one raising sam, and in fact he arguably did way more parenting of sam than john did. so the person that made dean feel safe and like he could fight back against monsters, the person he was grateful to, was john. but the person who made SAM feel safest was dean. he doesn’t have that same gratitude towards john that dean does and he never will, because of how john made him feel alienated and excluded from their family growing up. dean’s resentment of john is so tangled up in this very deep and unconditional love and gratitude for him that sam just doesn’t have. 

secondly, i think dean has a serious case of “i can fix him” re: john that sam doesn’t have and possibly never had. john just never showed sam the same kind of inclusion and warmth and trust that he showed dean (however rarely he showed it, and however fucked up it was). i think sam figured out very very early on that their quest for yellow eyes was either a long shot or straight up impossible, and that they couldn’t waste their entire lives doing it, and that even if the demon died, john was never going to change. dean 100% drank the koolaid - he really truly believed in a world where someday they’d kill the demon and all retire from the life and be normal and be a family again, because that’s what john said and dean took his father’s word as gospel. sam knew better.

so i think what sam did was just disengage. partially because he felt he couldn’t afford to nurse that kind of anger and not become either his father or lucifer, and partially because even though sam loved john, still loves john, he never needed him the way dean did, because sam had dean. so it doesn’t hurt him as much to just “gray rock” it. i think if sam stopped and really dug into it he’d find that he’s still quite angry (probably more angry on dean’s behalf than his own, at least at first, because in his mind he was able to move past it and dean was not, dean had it worse, HIS OWN trauma isn’t real etc etc), but he doesn’t do that because he doesn’t want to be that angry, and possibly even thinks that if he brought it up dean would jump to john’s defense and it would cause a fight, which the opposite of what a gray rock does.

as for being forced to forgive john because if he didn’t he would also have to condemn dean...i don’t think i buy that at all. sam is fine making dean his exception and he allows dean to get away with a lot of deeply horrible shit he would condemn other people for. partially because he’s dean and sam loves him, but in my ~personal reading~ of sam, this is also because once sam became an adult the weight of everything dean did and had to give up to raise him really sank in, and part of him felt guilty (even though sam arguably didn’t have a childhood either). you know how kids take care of their parents in old age to repay them for raising them? that’s sort of how sam is with dean in later seasons - he implies multiple times that he would leave the hunting life forever and not look back if it weren’t for dean.

and as a side note - sorry, this is only tangentially related - dean implies several times in later seasons that the job is where he finds his sense of accomplishment and self-esteem and meaning - he believes the world is a better place because of what he and sam do, and even though he doesn’t always like DOING the job, he likes the outcome. it’s weird because this is as close as we see dean get to even HAVING self esteem. sam, emotionally intelligent, would have picked up on that - and since he and dean have both tried to leave the life multiple times and have always come to regret it, i also think part of sam believes you CAN’T escape - certainly SAM could never escape so long as dean was still in it, because whether he meant to or not dean would always pull him back in. and part of dean doesn’t really want to escape because he’s made his peace with it. so sam stays, and i think even if he can’t find the same meaning in the job that dean does, he finds a lot of meaning in being there for dean. (this, like gray rocking, is also consistent with the seasons where sam’s sole character trait is caring about dean lol. but i’m happy enough to read it in a kinder and less bitter/resentful way.)

it IS worth noting i think that the most forgiving sam ever was about john was in the adam episode, where he said he understood why he was the way he was and why he did what he did, and when dean said they were alike sam decided to take it as a compliment. sam in season 4 is arguably at one of his lowest points - struggling with addiction, consumed by anger and hatred and the need for revenge. he WAS like john in many ways, and i think he justified what john was doing because it also justified what HE was doing. but what he was doing led to breaking lucifer out of hell and the apocalypse that followed, which is why i like to think sam worked so hard to reign in his anger afterward - both to avoid his fate and avoid becoming his father.

in short: i don’t think sam has actually forgiven john so much as disengaged from him and moved past it. because if he DID engage with it, it’d bring up a whole lot of stuff he didn’t feel prepared to deal with. one of the risks of gray rocking things is doing it to the point that you lose touch with your own wants and needs and personality, so i think by late seasons sam’s repression, which is much more sneaky and quiet than dean’s, has settled in to the point where he’s like “yeah whatever” about dad out of sheer self preservation - because otherwise, he’d end up going crazy about it like dean does. i think it’d do him a hell of a lot of good to be able to get to shout at john and finally say his piece/ he’s really afraid of his own anger, but i think it’d be healthy for him to get back in touch with some of it.

[spn masterpost]

[theinkquiry]

Just The Two

Pairing: Neville X Reader

Prompt: You and Neville have been best friends for as long as you could remember, but he's been acting distant lately. You're determined to get to the bottom of this, especially since you've been falling for him ever since the year started.

Warnings: None

A/N: Haven't written anything in a while, sorry! Finals have taken over and destroyed my life. Nevertheless, enjoy!

It was hard to think of a time when you and Neville weren't together. Your grandparents knew each other well, and Neville's granny made sure that he always found a friend in you. You never minded, not being one to be sociable all the time either. You found great satisfaction in knowing that you would always have one another's backs. During your very first moments at Hogwarts, you were elated to witness Neville being sorted into the same house as you. When his grandmother found out, she couldn't believe it either. Timid Neville was a Gryffindor!

Unfortunately, a lot of teasing came with that title. "Don't listen to them, Neville. I think you're really brave." You often had these chats, especially if he was feeling particularly unconfident.

"I messed everything up, again. It was my fault I lost the bloody list of passwords. I let a criminal in!" Neville buried his head in his hands.

You frowned and leaned down closer to him. "You're brave for facing your fears every day, Neville."

Over the years, you shared lots of things with Neville. Secrets, fears, hopes, and hugs. It wasn't until recently that conveying these emotions became troubling. Case in point, the incident last week.

"What's wrong?" You asked. Neville was poking at his food, not looking up to talk to anyone. Not even you.

"Hm?" He finally looked up into your eyes, only to blink twice and put his head back down. "Just tired I suppose."

"Was it because of class?" You guessed.

"No. I'm fine, Y/N." He lied. You hid a pained expression but tried to coax the truth out one last time.

"Did..did I do anything?" This certainly caught his attention. He looked up in shock and stumbled over his words.

"Wha- of course you didn't. I-I didn't mean to make you think- I just-"

You placed your hand on his shoulder, shutting him up in a snap. You felt him tense up. What happened? He wasn't ever like this with you before. You hesitantly withdrew your hand, deciding to instead play with your fingers.

"I'm not offended, Neville. I just want to make sure you're okay. You know you can tell me if anyone else is bothering you, I'm not afraid to hex them again." You flash a mischievous smile.

All he did was gulp and nod his head. "I guess the homework has been getting to me lately."

"I can help you if you want-"

"No!" It came out louder than either of you expected. He immediately slapped a hand over his mouth, in shock of his own forwardness. "I-I didn't mean to yell at you, I'm sorry!"

It hurt to see him act so unreachable, but pushing further only seemed to make things worse. "Well...alright then. I won't ask any more questions. I'm here if you need me." You turned to continue eating, trying not to show your disappointment inside. Why was he acting this way? Your mind tumbled and shook with theories. Was it someone else? A bully? Snape? You? Just thinking of the last option made the color drain from your face. You dared to sneak a glance at Neville.

He turned away at the last second. Were you hallucinating, or was he just staring at you before? You bit the inside of your cheek and went back to eating. Just thinking about Neville in a romantic way made your face heat up faster than ice in a boiling cup of tea. You've noticed him growing more since his last birthday. Not just taller, but better built as well. You gulped and tried to erase any strange thoughts from your head.

Glancing over one more time, your heart sunk at his depressed temperament. "Give him time, and he'll go to you when he's ready," a voice reasoned in your mind. A week. You'll wait a week and see if he needs any more help then.

As the days crawled by, you were getting uneasier. It was like you shared Neville's nerves and discomfort like everything else. He started talking to Harry and Ron more than you. "Do you want to meet up after class by the library to study?" You would ask. All you got in response was a shake of the head. "Sorry, I-I think Dean wanted my help with something. Y-y'know. Guy stuff."

You didn't, in fact, know about the guy stuff. Since when did Neville ever start doing 'guy stuff'? You sat in front of the fireplace that evening, just staring at the flickering embers. You had no plans since Neville rain-checked for the third time this week.

"If you're trying to count how many sparks fly out at a time, don't bother." Ginny sat next to you. "Fred and George dared Ron to try one time and his hair almost caught on fire."

You laughed at the ridiculousness. "Don't worry, I wouldn't take a gander like that anyway."

"Well, you seemed really...bored. Isn't Neville usually with you at this hour?"

"Usually," you sigh. "He's been...I don't know..."

Ginny sat up straighter on the couch. "Did something happen?"

You pondered that question. "Yes? No? I have no clue. I-it feels like he doesn't even want to be around me anymore. I'm thinking 'is he upset with me?' 'is he in trouble?' I don't even know how to approach him anymore."You didn't notice the few tears slipping out until Ginny was patting your back and offering you a tissue.

"That is very strange. You guys stick together like Dean and Seamus." Ginny rubbed her chin and thought hard. "Say, this might sound strange but.."

"What is it?" If it lead to answers, you had to know.

"Does he avoid you in any particular way?" Ginny finished.

You tilted your head in confusion. "What ways are there to ignore a person?"

"Well, is he cold towards you? Or more nervous? Stuttering? Red face? Any of that sound familiar?" Ginny asked. You weren't sure what game she was playing, but you couldn't stop. Like a box of Bertie Bott's, you knew you were going to finish the box whether you ended up with sweet or gross flavors.

"I suppose he does stutter a lot. But when doesn't he?"

"When he's with you, normally," Ginny muttered under her breath. You didn't hear her, too lost in your own train of thought.

"He's been avoiding eye contact too. Oh, I hope I didn't scare him in any way-"

Ginny stood up abruptly. Caught off guard, your back hit the couch. "Where are you go-"

"Don't fret about it, Y/N. I have a feeling you and Neville are going to be just fine." Ginny stated it like she could tell your entire futures.

"Are you sure? I appreciate you helping-"

"No problem, Y/N. How about...you meet me tomorrow in the courtyard? I need your help with something."

"I suppose I'm available. What does this have to do with-"

"Thanks, Y/N. Four'o'clock!" Ginny didn't let you finish your sentence. As quickly as she approached, she vanished up the stairs.

You felt very confused and very exhausted. Maybe if you just sleep it off for one more night, you could get your mind less muddled. It was hard, with you tossing and turning every few minutes. It was impossible to get comfortable, and even less so to achieve peace of mind. You couldn't help having the fear that perhaps Neville was outgrowing you.

At precisely four the following evening, you sat on a stone bench in the courtyard. Students were slowly filtering out, and the sun was low in the sky. There was a warm orange-yellow glow all around you. Despite the inviting ambiance, you were still conflicted about your feelings. And you certainly did not stop worrying about Neville. You took a deep breath, and slowly let it out. You are here because Ginny asked you to be, and you were going to wait for her and be a supportive friend. You wondered what the girl had up the sleeves of her robes. It was a few minutes past, and she was nowhere to be found.

The crunching of leaves caught your attention. Assuming the sounds to be from Ginny, you were shocked to see Neville instead. A smile immediately found its way up to your face, but it disappeared as soon as his eyes cast away from yours. Your shoulders slumped. He was avoiding eye contact again.

"H-hey, Neville." You scoot over. "What brings you here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he shrugs. Taking a seat beside you, a familiar uncomfortable silence quickly settles around you.

"Did I do something?" You ask, voice barely above a murmur. You looked down at the ground, biting your lip.

"Did you- what?" Neville looked at you now, concern glazing over his eyes.

"I just felt like..we haven't talked in days. So, did I do something?" You repeat yourself.

"No, no! Of course you didn't, you're my best friend," Neville reassured you. "I've just been...busy."

You didn't even feel the tears starting to gather up in your eyes. It took all the strength you had not to let it out. "You're lying." You try to remain calm, but your voice cracked at the end. You cast your eyes down, staring intently at your hands. You wouldn't cry. You would not cry.

For such a brave Gryffindor, you crumbled so easily when it came to him. All it took was his arms to wrap around you and your emotions were released like birds from a cage. You didn't know how long you spent sobbing into his sweater-vest. It was itchy, pathetic, and even a bit gross, but at least he was there this time.

"I'm so sorry, Y/N. I'm so so sorry." Neville rubbed soothing patterns on your back. It was how you used to calm him whenever he had nightmares as a kid. Him repaying the favor only made you cry harder. "I did this. I pulled away from you because I was so afraid of what I might do that I ended up hurting you even more."

You sniffled. Pulling away and wiping at the tears furiously. "Meaning?" You beckoned for him to continue. You already felt better now that he was actually talking to you.

"You know you've always been my best friend. You're always there for me. You're kind, y-you're sweet. You never let anyone get away with making me feel less than valuable," Neville began.

"That's because you are valuable. To me and everyone else."

"A-and that's what I mean!" He laughed dryly. "You always know what to do and say. I would have been lost without you, or worse. I could never thank you enough for everything you've done for me. You made me less afraid, but I've been more afraid than ever these past few days. I'm a coward."

He lowered his head.

You felt your heart leap at a million kilometers an hour. "No, Neville. You're not. Why are you afraid? I promise I can make it go away." You cup your hands around his face. He looked you in the eye with so much raw emotion and fear and gratitude all mixed into a galaxy all on its own.

Then you felt something else. Looking at him only drew you in further. Closer and deeper until space was eliminated. In short, you finally had the guts to kiss Neville Longbottom with all your heart. It was soft, and Neville was still very shy, but it was just what you always wanted.

Neville pulled away abruptly, in shock at what he's done. He was about to start apologizing, face red as his Gryffindor scarf, but you shut him up with another kiss.

"Is this what you were so afraid of?" You take a guess.

He nods and wraps you up in his arms. You felt like you could stay there forever. "Not anymore."

[fanfic-from-a-67-impala]

A Supernatural x Reader Story Chapter Twenty: There Will Be Blood

Word count: 4622

(You can also read it on Wattpad here)

Master Post

"I'll say it again," you chime in. "I don't like it."

Summoning a demon – the King of Hell – to the only safe place in the area – Rufus' cabin – seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

But also, you don't know if you can face him. Crowley pulled you out of Hell, and the thought of being in his debt makes you sick to your stomach. But, you have to know.

Dean catches you eye, and he gives you the look, like he's studying you, though, only after years of having known him, you know that it's his look of empathy.

"You don't have to do this," he says, not breaking his gaze. "You don't even need to be in the room, in the house. Sam and me – we can get the blood, and it can be over."

You are shaking your head before he finishes speaking. "If I'm putting you two in danger," you say, softly, but with conviction, "I need to know."

"Et ad congregandum," Sam finishes, striking a match as Dean runs a knife along his palm and allows the blood to drip into the bowl, which rests in the middle of a pentagram and candles on the table, "eos coram me."

Before the flames have even died down, Crowley, in the same black suit in which you have seen him last that makes you wonder whether he has anything else in his wardrobe, appears before you.

"Hello, boys," he says, catching a glance of you, "(Y/N). I see the happy family has reunited."

The last time – the only time – you have heard that deep, threatening voice was while you were burning, while you were being dragged out of Hell, every part of you on fire, forced through the divide.

Sam catches your eye again. Are you sure?

You nod.

"I've got some questions," you say, more firmly than you thought you would be able to manage.

"Ah, let me guess," he muses. "'How can I repay you for rescuing me from my fiery eternity?'"

You scoff. "More like, 'what the hell did you do to me?'"

"If you're unhappy, love," he says, raising his fingers in a snapping motion, "I can zap you back to where I found you."

Instinctively, you retreat a step, warranting a smirk from him. But Dean has stepped between the two of you.

"Whoa, no one's zapping anyone, all right?" he states, unquestioningly.

You let out a sigh. "Why?" you address Crowley again.

He stares at you a beat before conceding. "Well, as a general rule, I pull souls down, not pluck them back topside. But you're –" he looks you up and down "– basically a Winchester. There are certain exceptions that are made. So, in exchange, I've turned you into a sort of, erm, experiment, if you will."

"So, what does that mean?" you ask.

"It means whatever you want it to mean, love," he winks in response to your eyeroll.

"And what did you get from this experiment of yours?"

"I'll let you know once it's finished."

You recoil at the thought of him studying you, like a test tube.

"The truth is," he continues, "yours is the first soul I've ever lifted. There's been no angelic interference, no precedent, so there's really no way of knowing. I have a, uh, developing hypothesis."

You and the boys continue to stare at him. "And?" you demand.

"You've had dreams?" he questions, "About Hell?"

"Yeah," you hesitate, thinking of the nightmares Dean had after he was pulled out, "but wouldn't anyone?"

"Not every night for eight months."

You shift uncomfortably, feeling the boys' eyes on you. But of course you wouldn't have told them.

"What difference does it make?" you ask, impatient now.

"The difference is that you, for all intents and purposes, belong in Hell," he states. "Simply put, there's a possibility that Hell is trying to reclaim your soul. That it's eating away at your humanity bit by bit."

You take a moment to ponder this, though you'd had the feeling, deep down in your gut. You run your fingers around your anti-possession necklace and say the dreaded words. "I'm becoming a demon?"

"That's a working theory, yes," he bobs his head with the word.

You feel your heart sinking into your stomach. Every demon you've ever seen flashes before your eyes, the ones who possessed your parents in the foreground. You would rather die than let that happen to you, though you assume that would only speed up the process at this point.

"Well, is there anything you can do to, you know, keep my humanity... topside?" You only realize how bizarre the words are as they are exiting your mouth.

"And why should I do that?"

"Because I'm part of the team that's curing the world of leviathans," you calculate, narrowing your eyes. "Figure you'd want me at a hundred percent."

"Right," he considers for a moment. "I'll see what I can do. In the meantime –" he gestures to the tablet on the table, "– who translated it for you?"

"Never mind," Dean states, firmly. "You going to give us the blood or not?"

"Happily," Crowley says, not wasting a moment. "But not quite yet. I'm all for chopping Dick, but I can't have you running around with a vial of my blood, now can I?"

You, Sam, and Dean look at each other in confusion.

"You know the sheer number of nefarious spells my enemies can use that blood for?" he clarifies.

"Well, then when?" Dean demands.

"Last," Crowley says. "After you've got all the other components. The most difficult being the angel blood, I'm assuming. Unless, of course, you have an angel up your sleeve."

Castiel, as all three of you know, is back to the land of the living and has already happily donated a vial.

"Well, that'd be convenient," Dean comments, "but, uh, no."

After a few more minutes of chatting about the alpha vampire, whose blood would complete the trial, Crowley disappears, leaving a flaming table in his wake, the words Hoople North Dakota etched into the surface.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

"Is it true?" Dean asks from the driver's seat. You're not sure he's talking to you until you meet his eyes in the rearview mirror. "What Crowley said about the nightmare thing?"

You look down into your lap, shifting uncomfortably in your seat, where you had been sitting for about ten hours.

There's no point in lying, you think. There's no way to hide the severity of your sleep deprivation or your nightmares, not anymore. Not now that they would no doubt be keeping an eye on you.

"Yeah," you sigh, finally, eyes meeting his again.

He glances between you and the road, where the headlights of the rusty orange Plymouth – a '69 Road Runner, you guessed – illuminate the deserted road, the sunlight almost completely out of view.

"And you didn't think that was something you should mention?" His words are acidic now. "After eight months?"

The truth is, you never wanted them to know. Since you were dragged out of Hell, the nightmares were a weakness you didn't share with anyone, especially them. They are family, but you were supposed to be looking out for them, and it wasn't fair of you to impose your issues onto their already impossible lives.

"I didn't think much of it," you answer.

He looks you in the eyes, which must look sincere, because his own eyes soften. Sam cranes his neck to look back at you, too. "Look, we're just worried about you, (Y/N)," Dean sighs.

You have been worried about you, too. You wonder how the change would happen if you couldn't stop it. Will you suddenly sprout black eyes and an unrelenting bloodthirst? How long do you have until everyone around you is at risk?

"I would be, too," you tell them both. "I will absolutely understand if you don't want me hunting with you anymore."

Dean sighs. "No, (Y/N), that's not what I'm saying."

Before you can ask what it is that he was saying, a sign next to the road catches your eye, and you look back at the mirror. "Dean, I think we're in the wrong Dakota."

His eyes crease, one more than the other. His smirking eyes. "Pit stop," is all he offers in explanation.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

It's a few more hours until it starts to look familiar. Then, there are streets and corners you know like the back of your hand, and you know where Dean is taking you. For the first time, you wonder what's going to become of Bobby's old place now that he's gone, and the thought stings a bit.

"We figured you could take some time," Sam explains, "pack up anything you need."

"And also to, uh," Dean adds, coming to a stop just outside the salvage lot, smirk back on his face, "tune her up."

You feel your eyes go wide, excitement bubbling up inside you. "Seriously?" you almost squeal.

They're both smiling at you now, and Dean lifts his eyebrows once, giving you your answer.

"We'll call if we need you," Sam informs you, but you are already kissing both of them on the cheek, gratefully giddy.

"I love you guys," you exclaim, grabbing the strap of your bag and pulling it out of the car with you before you shut the door. "Be safe."

You barely see them wave at you from behind the glare of the window before Dean pulls out of the lot. You don't watch them drive away, too excited to wait before running to the familiar garage and pulling the sheet off the figure inside.

Before you is what you know to be the one true love of your life – your beautiful '72 Marquis, just as pristine as you'd left her.

Walking over to the driver's seat, you slide your hand up the length of the hood, feeling the smooth, cool metal beneath your fingers. The door creaks as it opens, and you ease yourself into the seat. You want to cry. It feels like you had never left it.

Your left foot pushes the clutch, and your right-hand fingers trace the keys dangling from the ignition for a moment before rotating them. The entire car roars to life before settling into a low purr, and you disengage the parking brake before revving the engine a couple of times and pulling out of the garage.

The short ride to the work area is rough and bumpy, confirming Dean's suspicions about her needing a tune up. Your tool box is still in the trunk where you left it, so you open up the hood and start working.

Not five minutes after you begin, you hear the click of a gun behind you.

Your spine straightens from its position bent over the engine and it takes you all of two seconds to determine that the sound was far enough behind you that you should use your foot instead of your fist to make a sharp turn and kick the gun away from the hands that hold it.

It clatters to the ground, at the deflated tire of a nearby car, and you raise a fist and narrowly stop yourself from clocking the other person across the face when you see who it is.

"Garth?" you exclaim.

He's got Bobby's old blue trucker cap on and is still as scrawny as you remember. Having spent a good deal of time with him while he was at Bobby's looking for information on the latest monster he was hunting, or just crashing for a bit, you two became good friends. You didn't realize how much you missed him until now.

"(Y/N)?" His eyes widen and his jaw drops, but he looks happy to see you. So happy that he pulls you into a hug, though you figure, for their frequency, this is not the most accurate indicator of how he feels in that particular moment.

"I thought you were dead," he says, not releasing you from the embrace, even when you try to pull away.

"Well, I'm back for now," you say between shallow breaths, patting him on the back. "Oh – okay, buddy – we're good."

He lets you go, a confused look on his face. "For now?" he repeats.

You didn't realize you said it, but that's what it's been feeling like since you learned about your soul, and what that would mean.

"Yeah, it's, um," you start, trying to brush it off, "it's a long story."

"Well, we've got time," he presses, enthusiastic.

"Maybe next time," you try to change the subject. "So, you're living here now?"

"Well, uh, you know," he stumbles, taking on a panicked tone, "you were gone, 'n' Bobby was gone, 'n', well, some'un' needed to take over the phones 'n' such, but you can totally –"

"Garth," you interrupt, smiling, "the place looks good on you."

He relaxes now. "Yeah?" he breathes.

You nod. The smile is genuine, too. You're happy that someone continued his work. Relieved, even, that the dozens of hunters he helped haven't been left hanging.

"Can I get you a beer or somethin'?" he offers.

You take a long inhale of the warm May air, feeling summer creeping around the corner. You have already broken a sweat with the small amount of work you've done. A cold beer seemed amazing.

"Sure," you agree, "sounds great."

For the next few hours, you work on the car, listening to Garth catch you up on the goings-on of the hunting world, and sipping strong beer from an unlabeled bottle, which he claims was brewed by one of the hunters he knows.

After you finish on the car, you head upstairs to pack up some clothes. Both Bobby and Garth, it seems, left your room untouched. Even the old muslin blanket still lay where you left it, a neat, dusty covering of the bed underneath.

You pause a minute to remember your old life – a life before demons and Hell, before hunting – then you open the duffel bag you brought with you and begin taking the folded clothes from your dresser and placing them inside next to what you have already been carrying around – an extra change of clothes, your laptop, and an angel blade.

You don't have much to pack, you realize, even from before. Mostly old t-shirts and jeans, and the flannel shirt that Bobby gave to you when he first rescued you when you were a kid.

In the bottom drawer, you remember, underneath the spare blankets, is a gun. You dig it out, along with quite a few extra clips, and throw them into your bag as well, remembering how the first thing Bobby ever taught you was how to load a gun.

For the first time, the guilt hits you like a truck. The man had saved you, raised you, taught you everything you know. And you couldn't pick up a phone to let him know you were all right. You couldn't be there to save him.

Bobby would know what to do about the demon thing, you think, letting a few tears fall. He would look through every book, call around to everyone he knew until he found the answer.

A sudden vibrating tone from the pocket of your bag snaps you out of your thoughts, and you run your hands across your face until your cheeks are dry enough.

"Sam," you answer, repeating the caller ID, "hey."

• • • • • • • • • • • •

You've never felt more at home than now, speeding down the I-90, the late morning sun high in the sky, yours the only car in sight.

The boys, as it turned out, did need your help. Sam was calling from a nest, where the vamps were hiding a girl, a "snack" the alpha kept on hand, who the nest was supposed to take care of. She was going to point them in the right direction, and they would get her somewhere safe while they went and talked to the alpha, who they assumed was somewhere in the western part of Montana.

On the phone with you now, he tells you they're in the town of Missoula and gives you the name of the motel where they need you to keep an eye on the girl. He also tells you that you could start looking into where she's from in case they're not back by dawn.

"Hey, Sam?" you rush, before he hangs up. "Be back by dawn, all right? Both of you."

He chuckles over the line. "We'll do our best," he promises, then a click signals the end of the call.

An hour or two later, you pull into the motel parking lot and step out into the sun. In the middle of the lobby, a woman with long hair and red lipstick in a maid's uniform catches your eye and gives you a strange look, like she's surprised to see you, though you don't recall ever meeting her. Before you can ask, she has already turned away and is walking out the front door.

"Room nine," you mumble to yourself, repeating the words Sam told you as you walk down the hall. You turn a corner and see room eight on the right, and then –

You freeze in your tracks. Room nine's door is ajar.

Silently as possible, you lower your bag onto the ground and pull out the gun, ensuring it's loaded before you raise it in front of you and slowly kick the door open wide enough for you to get through.

The place is a mess. The vanity mirror is shattered, the bedside table has been knocked over, a lamp and a phone along with it, and the door of an empty safe in the closet is wide open. But the place looks clear of monsters and people, the girl nowhere to be found.

"Damn it," you curse under your breath. Your first thought is that someone has taken her. Vampires, maybe. For their alpha.

You dial Sam, listening to the droning ring as you go out to retrieve your a bag and close the door before anyone can see inside. No answer.

You try Dean next and are met with the expected no answer. You have already dug out your laptop from the bag, hoping their phones are at least still in their vicinity.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

From the street, you stare at the mansion in front of you. It was the only one you have seen in town, and you are confident you have the right place.

Garth insisted you take a spare machete when he heard what you and the boys were up to. You arm yourself with it now, and hop the fence.

There's one of you, and who knows how many of them. You don't need calculations to know that the front door is not an option. Instead, you walk along the red-brick walls of the house until you find a door on the opposite side.

You scan the small window from each side, and the room seems to be clear. A kitchen, you think, with the furniture covered in sheets that makes it seem like it hasn't been used in a while.

Using the end of the machete's handle, you break through the glass, unlock the door from the inside, and let yourself in.

The only other exit of the room is a door on the opposite wall, which must lead to the rest of the house. Machete up, you open it slowly, trying to steady your heartbeat for fear they might hear it.

You poke your head inside the closest room. Empty – as are the rest of the rooms in the hall, until you get to the last one, where on a table lay two machetes and a handful of capped syringes of blood. Confiscated, probably, which means the vamps took Sam and Dean. With any luck, they are still in the house.

The room is empty, so you go in and gather the weapons in one hand and slip the syringes into your pockets, hoping desperately that you find the boys before you are caught.

With one hand now, you hold your machete out in front of you, checking the hall before exiting the room.

After reaching the end of the third hallway, just as you are beginning to feel hopeless, you round the corner and are met with a huge vamp barreling toward you, teeth bared. His arms are out to grab you, but you duck, rolling on the floor just low enough to miss him. Whipping around, you see him rising toward you now, caught off guard, and you swing the blade through his neck.

The body crumples to the ground, and the head rolls backwards, dropping with a sickening thump.

Heavy footsteps sound from across the room behind you, and you pull the blade out from where it lodged itself in the wall and whip back around.

Dean, with Sam following him, descends the staircase, looking from you to the body at your feet, then back to you. "(Y/N)?" he mouths, feet hitting the floor.

"I, uh," you begin, then your eyes focus on something behind them. "Hey!"

A vamp comes up behind Sam and grabs him. You charge across the room toward them, but Dean has already injected its neck with a syringe of blood. It writhes for only a second before falling to the ground, lifeless, the blood, like acid, having eaten away at its neck.

"That's not dead man's blood," you observe.

"Vamptonite," Sam breathes, both of them looking impressed with its work.

You dig out the syringes you pocketed earlier and hand them to the boys, along with their machetes. "I got to the motel and the room was trashed," you say. "I figured something hap–"

"It was trashed?" Dean interrupts, exchanging a look with Sam, then addresses you again. "Look, did you happen to find a safe in the room?"

"Yeah," you recall. "It was open, though. Empty. Why– ?" You stop yourself when you realize.

Bobby. He was bound to that old flask of his. It makes sense to you now, why the room was torn apart. It was in the path of a vengeful spirit.

"How did you find us anyway?" Sam asks.

"I pinged your phones," you state simply. When you see their surprised expressions, you add, "When you live with a computer-hacking genius for half a year, you pick up a few things."

"Well, you may have just dug yourself a third grave," Dean admits. "Edgar's in there with the alpha. Dick convinced him that the chompers and bloodsuckers could live together, because they're monster cousins or something."

"So, what's our next move?" you ask.

"Now, we keep the oldest monster alive from getting his head ripped off."

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Between the three of you, chopping off Edgar's head was quick. You got the blood, and even managed to save a little boy the alpha was keeping. You insisted that it would be better for everyone if you took him down to the police station instead of the boys.

You were all too tired to do much else that day, and you couldn't get the next item on the list until nightfall, so you went back to the motel to get some rest.

Only, you don't. Instead you find yourself staring at the popcorn ceiling, lying on your back on the lumpy motel room mattress, which is how you spend most nights these days.

There is too much to think about. Bobby's missing, a vengeful spirit on the loose. Not to mention that, for all you know, with each time you sleep, with each nightmare, you get closer to losing your soul to Hell completely. And Charlie – you haven't heard from her since you parted ways. You miss her like hell, but you can only hope she is far, far away from the reaches of any leviathan, any monster that walks the earth.

Deciding you're too on edge to sleep, you start working on finding Bobby. You start with the motel security cameras, then local missing vehicle reports, nearby traffic cameras – everything you can think of.

It's not until you have a good idea of where to start that you feel eyes watching you, studying you.

"You're making me nervous," you tell Sam, who is lying on his side, facing you. And you can't blame him. You are all on edge about what Crowley said about you. "You know, I'm not going to turn dark side overnight."

"(Y/N), it's just..." he starts. "When's the last time you slept?"

You realize you had been spending so much time worrying about what you were turning into, it didn't occur to you that he would be worried about you. After everything, you don't feel like you deserve the concern. Still, you look into his eyes, and it's there.

"Sam," you say, softly, closing your laptop and turning your body toward him, "I'm worried, too. But I'm going to figure it out. Just... not today. You have to trust me on this one, all right?"

He pauses, then gives you a small, reluctant nod.

You meet it with a smile and lean in to press your lips to his forehead before sliding out of bed. "Listen, I'm going after Bobby," you tell him.

He sits up now, forehead creasing. "Alone?"

"Well, you two have a lot on your plate," you remind him, "and the thought of him out there – it makes me nervous. The last thing we need is a vengeful spirit charging in there, even if it is Bobby. Besides, it's probably not a good idea for me to... be around you two so much. Until this whole demon business is sorted out, at least."

"And you know where to look?" he asks.

"I've got a lead."

He sighs. "Well, you know where we'll be," he concedes. "Be careful."

"You, too," you add. "Get some rest."

You pack up your bag and give him and Dean a last look before heading out.

Author's Note:

Hey, y'all! It was brought to my attention recently that my story wasn't as inclusive as it could be, and I suppose this is true. But it does state in the description that this particular work features a lesbian reader around the same age as Dean. And I've also kind of developed her into a big sister kind of character, especially towards the boys. I'm writing what I know, and what I know is how to be an out and proud cisgender lesbian with a younger sibling. Still, I would like to offer apologies to anyone who may have felt excluded because of the character's gender, sexuality, or general way she was presented. I would be more than happy to collaborate with someone over another work where the reader or OC is of another identity if you could help me to understand what the reality is for people of this identity.

Now, on a happier note...

To my loyal readers who were here right from the beginning, I am immensely grateful to you for following this story – it means a lot to me. And to the readers who have just started delving into this little work I've created, welcome aboard! Regardless, thank you all for waiting so patiently for each new chapter. This one has been a long, long time coming, and I promise I'll try my very best to do better. The next chapter will be out very soon.

Finally, a oneshot collection is in the works. As always, requests are open.

Thank you for your time, Amelia

[marcusssanderson]

100 Encouraging Quotes to Help Keep You Going

Our latest collection of encouraging quotes that will inspire you to success. These quotes of encouragement will help you face anything today.

Each and every one of us needs words of encouragement from time to time.

We may feel bad that something did not go as planned, or we may be struggling with why something did not work. We may not understand why we were passed up for the promotion this time, or why people did not respond with enthusiasm to something we were sure they were going to love.

No matter the reason, sometimes all it takes are some quotes of encouragement to remind us that it is all going to be OK; that we will figure things out, and that everything really does happen for a purpose.

Below is a list of encouraging quotes from people far better than I, at providing you the motivation and inspiration that you need to lift you up and get you headed in the right direction.

Encouraging quotes for when life gets tough

1.) “Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe

2.) “We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazawa

3.) “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover.” – Mark Twain

4.) “Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie

5.) “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

6.) “I’ve always loved journaling as a way to clear my mind. Whether I’m traveling or at home, the first thing I do when I wake up is pull out my notebook and record positive things that have happened to me as well as uplifting thoughts.” –  Gloria Reuben

7.) “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” – John Wooden

8.) “Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.” – Bruce Barton

9.) “Be thankful for what you have and you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” – Oprah Winfrey

10.) “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” – Lao Tzu

Quotes of encouragement to help you face anything today

11.) “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” – David Brinkley

12.) “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson

13.) “When we stop opposing reality, action becomes simple, fluid, kind, and fearless.” – Byron Katie

14.) “Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy.” – Groucho Marx

15.) “Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold, the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul.” – Democritus

16.) “‘Precious’ is strangely uplifting. It goes down into the valley but it also goes to the mountain tops. A lot of difficult realities are explored in ‘Precious,’ but the peaks make the valleys and the valleys make the peaks.” – Geoffrey S. Fletcher

17.)“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

18.) “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost

19.) “A constructive, useful life, good works, and good relationships are as valid as writing poetry or inventing a machine. Anything that one does well and obtains satisfaction from is a good enough reason for living. To be a decent human being that people like and feel better for knowing is enough.” – Robert Gould

20.) “A ship is always safe at the shore – but that is NOT what it is built for.” – Albert Einstein

Encouraging quotes to inspire you to success

21.) “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” – Mark Twain

22.) “I believe that one defines oneself by reinvention. To not be like your parents. To not be like your friends. To be yourself. To cut yourself out of stone.” – Henry Rollins

23.) “Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” – Napoleon Hill

24.) “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.” – Ralph Marston

25.) “Next to trying and winning, the best thing is trying and failing.” – L.M. Montgomery

26.) “‘I Won’ is not a love song. It’s just me uplifting women in general. I’m giving women the power to treat themselves as a trophy – to show that and know it in yourself and be confident – because when they do that, whoever they’re with is winning.” – Nayvadius Cash

27.) “Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.” – Mario Fernandez

28.) “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

29.) “Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.” – Alice Walker

30.) “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

Quotes of encouragement to keep you moving

31.) “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” – John Lennon

32.) “In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” – Tony Robbins

33.) “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.” – Ralph Marston

34.) “Choice is more than picking ‘x’ over ‘y.’ It is a responsibility to separate the meaningful and the uplifting from the trivial and the disheartening. It is the only tool we have that enables us to go from who we are today to who we want to be tomorrow.” – Sheena Iyengar

35.) “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

36.) “I think Romeo and Juliet is uplifting. That’s how much a son wishes to avenge his father. That is how much two young people can love each other.” – Ben Kingsley

37.) “Life has no limitations, except the ones you make.” – Les Brown

38.) “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” – Napoleon Hill

39.) “We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light.” – Mary Dunbar

40.) “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

Encouraging quotes to inspire you on your journey

41.) “If I persist long enough I will win.” – Og Mandino

42.) “With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” – Max Ehrmann

43. “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” – Henry David Thoreau

44.) “A memoir should have some uplifting quality, inspiring or illuminating, and that’s what separates a life story that can influence other people.” – Mitch Albom

45.) “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

46.) “In my books and in romance as a genre, there is a positive, uplifting feeling that leaves the reader with a sense of encouragement and hope for a brighter future – or a brighter present.” – Debbie Macomber

47.) “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn

48.) “Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent.” – Steve Martin

49.“Like success, failure is many things to many people. With a positive mental attitude, failure is a learning experience, a rung on the ladder, a plateau at which to get your thoughts in order and prepare to try again.” – Clement Stone

50.) “You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.” – Joel Osteen

51.) “I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.” – Georgia O’Keeffe

Quotes of encouragement for when you feel low

52.) “Don’t give up. Don’t lose hope. Don’t sell out.” – Christopher Reeve

53.) “The truest greatness lies in being kind, the truest wisdom in a happy mind.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox

54.) “Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.” – Aretha Franklin

55.) “Defeat is simply a signal to press onward.” – Helen Keller

56.) “I was recently asked about the business side of ‘Biggest Loser,’ but as long as we entertain people, we can keep coming back and making a difference. It’s a delicate balance, but one feeds off the other. I feel so good about the show – it’s uplifting and inspiring and entertaining at the same time.” – Alison Sweeney

57.) “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

58.) “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” – Helen Keller

59.) “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habit.” – Mahatma Gandhi

60.) “I’d rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate.” – George Burns

Encouraging quotes to inspire you toward your goals

61.) “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

62.) “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” – Buddha

63.) “Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.” – William Arthur Ward

64.) “Sometimes before we make a record I go back and listen to a few. It’s equally humbling and uplifting.” – Michael Stipe

65.) “I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

66.) “The more the panic grows, the more uplifting the image of a man who refuses to bow to the terror.” – Ernst Junger

67.) “Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein

68.) “Real Integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey

69.) “The world is more malleable than you think and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape.” – Bono

70.) “It is by going down into the abyss that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble, there lies your treasure.” – Joseph Campbell

Quotes of encouragement to brighten your day

71.) “Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.” – Robert H. Schuller

72.) “I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.” – Martha Washington

73.) “There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle.” – Albert Einstein

74.) “I try to make my mood uplifting and peaceful, then watch the world around me reflect that mood.” – Yaya DaCosta

75.) “In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

76.) “Listening to music is such an uplifting, spiritual thing. It’s far-fetched to some – I understand that. But the way dance music brings people together, it’s not a big stretch from hymns.” – Kaskade

77.) “Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.” – Truman Capote

78.) “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King

79.) “Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.” – Sara Blakely

80.) “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Encouraging quotes that offer inspiration and comfort

81.) “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

82.) “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

83.) “Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” – Benjamin Franklin

84.) “What can a pencil do for all of us? Amazing things. It can write transcendent poetry, uplifting music, or life-changing equations; it can sketch the future, give life to untold beauty, and communicate the full-force of our love and aspirations.” – Adam Braun

85.) “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

86.) “An uplifting sense of purpose is more than an impetus for individual accomplishment, it is also a necessary insurance policy against expediency and impropriety.” – Gary Hamel

87.) “Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett

88.) “Big jobs usually go to the men who prove their ability to outgrow small ones.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

89. “Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.” – Earl Nightingale