The Measure

by Nikki Erlick

The measure of the string held instead the full measure of one’s life. From the beginning until the end.

“They’re a reminder that sometimes we screw up, and sometimes the system screws with us, but if you live your life with enough passion and boldness, then that’s what you’ll be remembered for. Not the crap that happened along the way.”

Did a patient receive less care because her string was short, or was a patient’s string short because she received less care?

I’ll take your part when darkness comes, and pain is all around.

I just try to remember that I’ve lived a good life. I did my best to help people. I fell in love a few times. I tried to be a good son.”

But sometimes I think we forget that it also takes strength to be able to let go.”

The odds are against it, the water always rising. But still it stands, Maura thought. A fighter.

‘It is not the length of life, but the depth of life.’ You don’t need a long lifetime to make an impact on this world. You just need the will to do so.”

we can’t go back. But at least we can go anywhere else.”

I think we’re raised to believe that happiness is something we’ve been promised. That we all deserve to be happy.

“If forever doesn’t exist,” she said, “we’ll invent it ourselves.”