Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

by Cheryl Strayed

This is how you get unstuck, Stuck. You reach.

You aren’t torn. You’re only just afraid.

Something ugly happened to you and you didn’t let it make you ugly.

There are so many things to be tortured about, sweet pea. So many torturous things in this life. Don’t let a man who doesn’t love you be one of them.

I know it’s a kick in the pants to hear that the problem is you, but it’s also fucking fantastic. You are, after all, the only person you can change.

Most things will be okay eventually, but not everything will be. Sometimes you’ll put up a good fight and lose. Sometimes you’ll hold on really hard and realize there is no choice but to let go. Acceptance is a small, quiet room.

There’s an essential truth I learned on that job that might be useful to you. It’s that the work you do each day matters. Even if it’s work that seems invisible. Even if it’s work that doesn’t lead to the outcome you hoped for. Even if others attempt to undo your work.