“Stored personal memories along with handed down collective memories of stories, legends, and history allows us to collate our interactions with a physical and social world and develop a personal code of survival. In essence, we all become self-styled sages, creating our own book of wisdom based upon our studied observations and practical knowledge gleaned from living and learning. What we quickly discover is that no textbook exist how to conduct our life, because the world has yet to produce a perfect person – an ideal observer – whom is capable of handing down a concrete exemplar of epistemic virtues. We each draw upon the guiding knowledge, theories, and advice available for us in order to explore the paradoxes, ironies, inconsistencies, and the absurdities encountered while living in a supernatural world. We mold our personal collection of information into a practical practicum how to live and die. Each day we define and redefine who we are, determine how we will react today, and chart our quest into an uncertain future.”

“Getting to know who you are is the most essential information that you can find out about yourself”

“knowledge of who we are helps us to be focus on our destiny”

“knowledge of who we are prevents us from being distracted by the demands of our surroundings”

“We need to know who we are and then stand strong”

“The true definition of mental illness is when the majority of your time is spent in the past or future, but rarely living in the realism of NOW.”

“Mothers who live vicariously through the success of their children or husband need to find their own identity. While it is wonderful to see your children and husband become successful, what is even more effective is to lead and inspire through the example of your own successes. – Strong by Kailin Gow”

“Time is the enemy of identity”

“The important thing is that man is lost in time, in the moment that immediately precedes him – which only attests, by reflection, to the fact that he is lost in the moment that follows”

“Her voice became vibrant and raw, veined with passion. “You can never go back to the past. You can’t heal their wounds or your own. Even God will not do this for you,” and this was a bit controversial with her audience, but she believed she had proof: “Jesus himself was not healed–he came back from the dead with the wounds still in his hands and his body. He came back changed, but not healed. Saying ‘I’m sorry’ is saying that you will be different from now on. Your identity stretches to accomodate this thing you did to them. And in this way a relationship is formed between the person you have hurt and yourself.”

“To believe you are literally a Muslim, a Christian, a Buddhist, a Jew is a form of madness. The true self is no one.”

“Sich mit diesem oder jenem zu identifizieren, ist also ein normaler Vorgang. Gefährlich wird es, sobald eine einzige Identität bestimmend wird, sobald man nur noch Muslim ist oder Christ oder Deutscher, Iraner oder meinetwegen Anhänger eines bestimmten Fußballclubs oder eines Popstars. Dann wird aus der pragmatischen Einschränkung, die jede Art von Identifizierung bedeutet, eine reale Verstümmelung der Persönlichkeit.”

“You can’t distinguish your group by doing things that are rational and believing things that are true. If you want to set yourself apart from other people you have to do things that are arbitrary and believe things that are false.”

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”[Keynote Address, University of the Arts, 134th Commencement (Philadelphia, PA, May 17, 2012)]”

“What would you say to yourself if you could actually meet a younger you?”