How a Post-It Note Changed My Life Forever

I love Post-It notes. I also love inspirational sayings and motivational quotes. Together this makes for an unhealthy obsession.  Luckily, it’s an obsession that seemed to turn my life around.

You see, I’m the type that has to write things down. If it’s not written down, it’s not getting  done. Therefore my Post-It Notes became my to-do lists, shopping lists, bookmarks, and bill organizers. Somewhere along the way, task orientated notes turned into inspirational notes the day I was surfing the web and found a quote I liked and wanted to remember for a school project some years back. I stuck the Post – It note with the phrase to the inside of my textbook. A few days later, I opened my text book after a really hard day to study for a test I was nervous about. As I cracked opened the pages, I came across the note I originally wrote that said, “Happiness is a choice. Choose wisely.” At the time, the note didn’t hold much significance. It was just a cute distraction from my studies, but from that moment I was hooked. I began sticking notes with motivation and inspiration in various places. In my lunch box. Under my book. In my wallet. In a notebook. In my underwear drawer. You name it; I put a Post-it note  there. My logic was that it would provide for a great pick me up when I come across one of my own hidden notes. If I was already in a good mood when I found one, it would just be a pleasant surprise. Little did I know how powerful, my surprise messages would be until a few years later…

I remember the day so vividly. It was another day at my dead end job that I merely liked. The only things that kept me going were my  coworkers and the promise from my boss that in six months I’d get a raise. So when six months came I was prepared with a speech to get the raise I was promised. I put on my most professional attire, rehearsed my lines, and walked into my boss’s office only to get rejected. I didn’t get the raise, but I did get more vacation time. (Yippee. Because an extra week of vacation was really going to help pay the bills!) Ten minutes after getting rejected for the raise I was promised and deserved, I got a phone call from my best friend telling me she just got promoted. Needless to say, I felt like a loser. Of course, to make matters worse I was reminded that my Citibank Student Loans were due.

I held back tears as I reached into my purse to pull out my checkbook and sign the check for hundreds of dollars and my life away to the devil. As I opened my checkbook, I was confronted with my fears, the reality of my bank account and the truth… Because there within my checkbook held the words I needed to see so badly… “Hang in there. You are stronger than you know.” At that moment, I dried my eyes of my tears and smiled because I knew it was true. It didn’t matter that I didn’t get a raise. It didn’t matter that I was drowning in student loan debt. And it didn’t matter that I was losing myself in a job  I didn’t love. I knew  I was destined for better and I would overcome my situation because I can do the impossible. My entire perspective on life had changed in that moment because I finally had faith in my strength. I began putting my life in motion to improve my situation and things have never been the same since then. It’s only gotten better…

Who knew an obsession with post-it notes and motivational quotes could do so much? I didn’t, but sure glad I started it. To this day, I still continue to hide notes with inspirational phrases and get just as moved and excited each time I find one. It’s one addiction I hope never dies.

Do you have a favorite quote that inspires and motivates you? 

TERRIfic Quip: On the other side of fear lies freedom.

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13 Comments

  1. August 22, 2012 / 4:36 pm

    I love the idea of hiding little notes for later. I have not thought about that. I will tell you that I love post-it notes. I have some in a ziplock bag in my purse. I have a few sticking to the dash in my truck. I never thought about inspirational notes. I am going to have to borrow your idea. Thank you for stopping by myself. I will be joining yours if you don’t mind.

  2. August 22, 2012 / 9:48 pm

    Yes, I definitely encourage you to start sticking inspirational notes every where. No matter how confident, self-assured, or successful you are, there is something to be said about a surprise reminder of your capabilities. It may be corny, but it works. Please let me know how it works for you once you start doing it!

  3. August 28, 2012 / 3:58 pm

    What a wonderful story! I love writing things down as well and have been journaling since I was 7. It’s so amazing to go back and re-read the things I thought were earth-shattering at the time only to now realize they really weren’t. Thank you too for reading my blog as well – I appreciate your comments!

  4. August 29, 2012 / 8:32 pm

    Love this post, I also like inspirational quotes myself and write them down or blog them and save them, thank you for sharing your story. God Bless 🙂

  5. August 25, 2015 / 7:58 am

    Wow! I love this post. It brought me to tears. I had a similar thing happen (although, in my case, I don’t remember why I wrote the quote). It was when I was trying to decide whether we should start homeschooling. I was kind of afraid to start and not sure what the right decision would be … and then I found a Bible verse tucked away in a book I was reading. It was what I needed to hear at that moment to confirm what I already thought. I knew it would all be ok. Thanks for sharing your heart!

  6. August 25, 2015 / 11:47 pm

    I love this! I’ve been using motivational post-it notes for a while to help with weight loss. They serve as a positive reminder that you can do it! I love how you discovered one just in the right time. Great post!

  7. March 15, 2019 / 9:28 pm

    Wow. Great post. It’s amazing what a little post-it note can do. P. S. cute blog!