Pier Pressure Quotes

“I’m good in a crisis. It's regular life that's scarier.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“There's a specific kind of quiet that only exists at the end of a long night shift. It's a soft hum, a unique frequency.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“It sounds stupid, but I want this. A beautiful place. Peace and quiet. One person to come home to. Building a family and growing old together.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“You take care of people all day, but you won't let people take care of you. It's selfless and compassionate.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“It's only nine o'clock, and being tucked into bed with a book before ten feels like the ultimate indulgence.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“Three days of vacation is like a month of normal life. You see people stressed out. In new situations. They're at their worst. It's why people always say to take a road trip with someone before you get married.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“What do I want? Thinking about that feels dangerous, precarious, and a dreadful thought lodges itself in my head. Do I take care of others' needs because I don't know how to take care of my own? Am I too afraid to want things that I don't believe I'll ever get?”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“When your life starts to fall apart, you second-guess everything, including your own version of reality. Your own sense of self. It's easy to believe that if everything else is wrong, maybe I'm wrong. I need some stable ground to work from.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“You're the most hopeful person I know, Mace. You're willing to suffer for years because you give people the benefit of the doubt. We only want you to figure out what you want-to take what you want. To know that you're worth more than what some deadbeat guy who refuses to get in his car and drive more than once a week is willing to give you.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“I look back at my friends, chatting with other members of our group, and swell to the brim with gratitude. How did I get so lucky to have two of the three?
So, my life isn't perfect. The romance side of things is a bit of a mess, but I've been so focused on that for the past three months that I've missed out on the incredible relationships I do have”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“Do you ever think about how much of medicine is just trying to recreate what people are missing outside of it?
All the time That's why I volunteer. Every time I hand out pills and medications to help with anxiety, depression, and even high blood pressure or bladder infections, I think about the exercise, sunshine, friendship, or healthy food that could take their place. We do our best at our facility, but six staff members can't take the place of a family. A spouse. A friend group.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“When you're doing something new, your brain has to work harder. It's processing more information, forming new memories, paying attention in a way it doesn't during routine. Sometimes in the moment, it can feel overwhelming or fast, because there's so much input. But when you look back on it, it feels longer. Fuller. Because your brain recorded more.
That's why childhood summers feel endless.
Exactly. Everything is new. Every day is distinct. As adults, we fall into patterns, and time compresses because our brains stop differentiating one day from the next.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure

“I didn't realize how important touch was. Like, not just romantic touch. We talk about it in reference to ICU palliative, and end-of-life care-
Oh, totally. It's one of the first things you notice. The residents who get regular, intentional contact--hand-holding, a hand on the back, even just helping them sit up without rushing. Their baseline anxiety drops. You can see it in their breathing. Slower. Less shallow.
Co-regulation.
One of my professors talked about it like an adjunct. Not the main intervention, but something that supports everything else. Pain management improves.
Because their nervous system isn't in full threat mode," I say. "Less cortisol more parasympathetic activation.”
― Cynthia Gunderson, Pier Pressure