Close your eyes Quote by Bob Flaherty
““Noon. In the middle of Knoll Road. In it up to your waist, wearing your father’s old reindeer sweater, your mother’s fur-lined gloves. Squinting across an infinite ocean of white. Shivering. Breathing. Listening. To nothing. There are no cars, no mailboxes, no traffic islands, no sound. The triple-deckers are now double-deckers and everything’s muffled and buried and gone. You yell and you are the only one yelling. The only one breathing. The only one there. The faint chime of a city plow in the distance. The wail of one of Schoerner’s penned-up hounds. But no one is with you. No one to contradict you. And you dare to close your eyes and fill up your lungs with winter, your destiny before you like a map of the world. And the wind seems to whisper promises, and you, with arms outstretched and chin to the heavens, swear oaths back to the wind - little things, like fulfilling prophecies and charting new courses and going forth from this time and this place to do great and wondrous things. But first, of course, it will be necessary to get high.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: Untitled winter vignette, 2022
A solitary person stands in a quiet, snowy landscape, feeling both isolation and inspiration, and resolves to pursue grand ambitions while acknowledging the need for a mind‑altering boost.
In simple terms: Alone in winter, they feel inspired and plan big goals, but need a high.
Key Takeaway
Embrace solitude, seek inspiration, but be cautious of escapism.
Themes
solitude
inspiration
ambition
escapism
Mood
contemplative
determined
anxious
Type
literary
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- winter walks
- creative brainstorming
- goal setting
- mindful breathing
- seeking altered states
Key Concepts
existential reflection
psychology of motivation
nature as catalyst
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives you to seek inspiration in isolation?
- How can you channel that energy without relying on substances?
A Different Perspective
Reliance on a high can undermine genuine motivation and clarity.
