“She told me later that her parents had told her to steer clear of me at school."My mum said that nobody really knew where you came from. And that you might be dangerous." "Why didn't you listen to her?" I asked."Because nobody knew where you came from, Simon! And you might be dangerous!""You have the worst survival instincts.""Also, I felt sorry for you," she said. "You were holding your wand backwards.”
— Rainbow Rowell
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Sometimes, the best decisions in life come from having terrible survival instincts and choosing empathy over fear. 🪄✨ Rainbow Rowell reminds us why it's worth letting down our guard for the beautifully clumsy and misunderstood souls we meet along the way. “She told me later that her parents had told her to steer clear of me at school. 'My mum said that nobody really knew where you came from. And that you might be dangerous.' 'Why didn't you listen to her?' I asked. 'Because nobody knew where you came from, Simon! And you might be dangerous!' 'You have the worst survival instincts.' 'Also, I felt sorry for you,' she said. 'You were holding your wand backwards.'” Who was the wonderfully strange person that accidentally wandered into your life and stayed forever? Tag them in the comments below! 👇
About this quote
In life, we are often taught to fear the unknown. From a young age, society conditions us to build walls against people who don't fit into neat, predictable boxes, warning us that differences equal danger. Yet, the most profound connections often begin the moment we choose curiosity over caution and empathy over exclusion. Rainbow Rowell’s witty exchange reminds us that the people who ultimately change our worlds aren't the ones who blend in seamlessly, but the ones who stand out—even if they are holding their metaphorical wands backwards. True human connection requires a leap of faith, a willingness to look past the whispered warnings and see the vulnerable human being standing right in front of us. When we embrace the misfits, the strays, and the beautifully clumsy souls navigating life just as awkwardly as we are, we often find our greatest adventures and truest friends. After all, having terrible survival instincts when it comes to love and friendship is usually just another way of saying your heart is wide open to the magic of the unexpected.
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