The Dinner List

by Rebecca Serle

Worrying is wishing for what you don’t want. Man plans and God laughs.

The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.

Life is growth. If we stop growing, we are as good as dead.

When someone leaves, remembering the joy is far more painful than thinking about the misery.

“You cannot have good without evil,” Audrey says. “They are like DNA strands. Intricately and irrevocably spun together. Sometimes good wins, sometimes evil does. We do not fight for good’s permanent triumph, but for the balance. And so it goes.”

Jessica has this theory that people in relationships are either flowers or gardeners. Two flowers shouldn’t partner; they need someone to support them, to help them grow.

“Sometimes I think that the only true way we can ever know a thing’s value is by losing it.”

“Happiness is not constantly needing things to be at their full potential,” Jessica says. “That’s depressing,” I say. “That’s true,” Jessica says. She looks up from her plate. “Like I don’t get happiness from having a perfect day with Sumir. I get happiness from accepting that I rarely, if ever, have a perfect day with Sumir. My happiness is accepting that ninety-five percent of the time my life is deeply imperfect.”

“The person who believes they love more believes they give more,” Jessica says. Her tone takes on a wilting, guru quality reminiscent of our early years. “And that can lead to resentment.”