I've Been Secretly Collecting Words from Friends

The habit of writing down wise words from friends, family, and people around us

Word collecting. It’s a habit I’ve picked up over the past 15 years of keeping a Commonplace Journal. It’s a place for gathering quotes, ideas, anecdotes, and insights worth remembering. Unlike a traditional journal, it’s not about recording personal experiences but about capturing wisdom from the world—things that resonate, challenge, or shift perspectives. I keep mine on my phone. Last I checked mine is a 88-page single-spaced document in size 11 font.

At first the quotes came from famous people I admired like Steve Jobs. Then I began including lines from movies, song lyrics, and book quotes. You can find about 12 Dumbledore quotes in there next to Chuck Berry and Seneca. But in the past 5 years, something shifted. The most meaningful words aren’t coming from famous names anymore.

Instead, they come from bits of conversations from friends and strangers. A friend’s late-night wisdom. A phrase overheard at a coffee shop. Words that linger in our minds like a fingerprint long after the conversation ends.

Sometimes it arrives as advice a friend shares with us while we are going through a challenging time. Other times it’s a stranger’s offhand comment we eavesdrop at a coffee shop. Words of wisdom and inspiration are all around us if we choose to listen and live with ears open. From our friends, family, neighbors, and even strangers.

The real wisdom in life comes when we open ourselves to the people around us—when we take the time to listen, to truly hear what others are saying. The wisdom we gain is not always grand. Sometimes it’s simply a phrase that stops us in our tracks, making us see things differently, or reminding us that we’re not alone in our struggles. And sometimes, it’s a quiet observation that leads to a deeper understanding of ourselves or the world around us.

So, rather than offering my own lessons as I turn 29 today, I want to share the words that others have shared with me. Quotes and phrases from my family, friends, and strangers. Wisdom they’ve offered perhaps without even realizing:

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1. “It seems to me that this is precisely what makes our lives unique: the impossibility of knowing what life has in store for us.” —Melanie N. (Connected online, met on streets of NYC)

1. “Everything we pass through will shape and affect us, even in the bad moments. There is something hidden behind that we will discover later on in life.” —Hassan H. (Met in Turkey at a hostel)

2. “Be open to whatever happens and don’t try to control the outcome. The universe has your back. Just enjoy the journey and the moment.” —Beverly W. (Met through Substack)

3. “We are all singing symphonies on the deck of the Titanic. If we are sinking anyway, might as well go down singing.” —Benny J. (Met on Instagram)

4. “It’s like seasons. We can have it all, but not all at once.” —Jarrett W. (Met thanks to running)

5. “Remember, you haven’t met all the people who will love you yet.” —Staffan T. (Met thanks to YouTube, kinda a long story)

6. “Once you make a decision, the stress goes away.” —John D.’s mom (Met him through a friend, passing on his mom’s wisdom)

7. “To remember is to live.” —Pipa (my grandmother)

8. “After the storm comes the good weather.” —Captain Mustafa (Grandpa stranger met in Turkey while sheltering from a storm)

9. “Art is the preservation of culture, a moment, a person, or a thought.” —Luisa V. (My sister)

10. “Never loose the essence of adventure.” —My mom

11. “Success is external. Instead, I’d encourage you to pursue significance.” — the Keynote speaker at a graduation

12. “That which you wish would happen to you, grant that to someone else as well.”—Mary-Sue V. (Met through Youtube + Instagram)

13. “You can do anything with nothing.” —Stephen (barista at my neighborhood coffee shop)

14. “Everyday is a journey and a journey itself is home.” — Yejin L.’s tattoo (met at a hostel in Turkey)

15. “Never allow waiting to become a habit. Live your dreams and take risks. Life is happening now.” —Ron M. (Met through a friend who I met through YouTube. Long story. The quote is originally Paulo Coelho, but, I heard it from Ron first.)

16. “It’s your world.” —Jeremy W. (Met through running)

17. “The magic of life.” —Diezavel M. (YouTube I guess? Very long story)

These words arrive in the most unexpected ways, in off-hand conversations. Likely, their speaker had no idea the impact their words actually had. Sometimes the best words of advice are just hidden in plain sight, waiting for someone to notice and take note.

So, what do you think about starting your own Commonplace Journal? It could be as simple as using the Notes app on your phone. For me, while I’ll still collect quotes from well-known people, books, and movies, I’m focusing more on the words shared by the people closest to me. So hey you might find your quote right next to someone like Einstein. Let’s keep listening, noticing, and collecting these little pieces of wisdom. We never know which one will be the reminder we need, or the lesson we’ll share with someone else.

My name is Maria and I’m a word collector. How about you?

PS: There was not enough room for all my friends and fam quotes on here, so rest assured if you’ve ever spoken anything wise, witty, or inspiring… it’s most likely in my notebook ;)