"Do It For Her" but make it less obvious

December 14, 2024 10:08 PM

Is there a quote I can put at my desk to motivate me, particularly when I'm having a bad day, that isn't TOO *obviously* about having a bad day at work, disliking your job, and getting through it?

Long story short, I'm starting to feel like Homer Simpson. I really hate my current career and job at the moment and I'm about to start looking for greener pastures. In the mean time, is there a little quote I can put up to motivate me or cheer me up that isn't too corny or obvious? My desk is in a public space, so I don't want the quote to be something people will read and think "wow! They hate their job!" maybe it would even be so innocuous they wouldn't even notice it, but something to keep me going, to motivate me, etc. Any ideas?

posted by anonymous to Writing & Language (29 answers total)

I've always liked, "If you don't go over the top you can't see what's on the other side." Said by Jim Steinman who wrote Paradise by the Dashboard Lights for Meatloaf.
posted by brookeb at 10:29 PM on December 14, 2024 [1 favorite]

This too shall pass.
posted by samj at 12:26 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

Ain't nothing gonna breaka my stride.

Extra subtle: an art print of Debbie Harry and when you look at it you think "I've packed my bags, I've cleaned the floor, watch me walking, walking out the door."

Do you have a different favorite motivating song? Maybe a snippet of lyrics from that.
posted by evilmomlady at 4:26 AM on December 15, 2024 [3 favorites]

Hang In There.
posted by mmoncur at 4:30 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

あきらめんなよ！
posted by lucidium at 4:31 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

If you need to keep it subtle, "a picture is worth a thousand words", but no-one will know exactly which ones.

Since you're looking for "green(er) pastures", this picture might work?
posted by demi-octopus at 4:31 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

I like to pick out a favorite photograph. Some of my favorite monsters: Godzilla biting a train in half. The Creature from The Black Lagoon popping up out of the water to say hello. Also my social heroes. People resisting racial segregation in schools, lunch counters, transportation, and other moments of courage during oppressive moments. The meaning can shift a lot depending on the situation and bring some sardonic humor, courage, endurance, etc.
posted by effluvia at 4:46 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

I used to have this on a post it at an old workplace and someone asked once what it meant and I told them it was the motto from my alma mater.

I never watched Handmaid's Tale (I have to assume this is in there someplace) so now that this is part of A Hit TV Show it might not fly under the radar as well. But anyway, I've always liked it.
posted by phunniemee at 5:03 AM on December 15, 2024 [3 favorites]

This too shall pass.

That.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 5:27 AM on December 15, 2024

Make it yoyr password. Then you can remind yourself whenever you enter it and it dowsnt havw to be subte at all.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 6:11 AM on December 15, 2024 [24 favorites]

"Discipline is remembering what you want"
posted by jcworth at 6:54 AM on December 15, 2024 [4 favorites]

I ran “pay the bills” into an anagram generator

Ably Helps It

Spa Blithely

Able Thy Lips

Stably El Hip

Path Be Silly

Hat Bills Yep

Tail By Shlep

Lastly Be Hip

Sally Be Pith

Past Bye Hill

Tons of funny ones here
posted by cotton dress sock at 7:01 AM on December 15, 2024 [11 favorites]

The background image at one employer had a quote on it, in very tiny font. Nobody nearby could see it, even when using my machine, but I did.
posted by nickggully at 7:52 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

I have a ring with "Keep Going" stamped on the outside.

The "fucking" that belongs in the middle is on the inside, so I'm the only one who knows for sure it's there.

Try Etsy if you'd like one.
posted by humbug at 8:01 AM on December 15, 2024 [5 favorites]

This is why photos of dependents at work can be motivating.
posted by Mo Nickels at 8:26 AM on December 15, 2024 [4 favorites]

Remember Why
posted by ottereroticist at 9:06 AM on December 15, 2024 [1 favorite]

I kept a small card (the only thing I kept from a brief foray into Siddha Yoga) on my computer that said: Have faith everything is alright. I liked it because it can be read slightly differently with a comma after "faith" sometimes I needed the extra reassurance the comma would provide.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:10 AM on December 15, 2024 [1 favorite]

I have "one bite at a time" on my desk: it's how we eat the elephant.

edited to add: acutely feeling your pain and rooting for you!
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 9:33 AM on December 15, 2024 [2 favorites]

Had a post it note that said "Smooth seas do not make for skilled sailors"
posted by saturdaymornings at 9:57 AM on December 15, 2024 [7 favorites]

I have the quote below. I use it to remind me that there are other things outside of work:

“Meanwhile, let us have a sip of tea. The afternoon glow is brightening the bamboos, the fountains are bubbling with delight, the soughing of the pines is heard in our kettle. Let us dream of evanescence and linger in the beautiful foolishness of things.”
― Kakuzō Okakura, The Book of Tea
posted by gudrun at 10:55 AM on December 15, 2024 [7 favorites]

I used to keep a post-it note on my monitor that simply read "Through." This was a shorthand for "The only way out is through" that my boss wouldn't realize was reminding me that they sucked and I just had to, well, get through it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:14 PM on December 15, 2024 [4 favorites]

Do what needs to be done.
Everything works if you let it.
posted by Ideefixe at 1:18 PM on December 15, 2024 [1 favorite]

The Fun Never Ends!
posted by furtheryet at 3:36 PM on December 15, 2024

I have a music mix called Just Keep Swimming that is mostly songs with a theme like this; I'd probably put a picture of Dory from Finding Nemo to recall "just keep swimming."

Alternatively I'd pick another song that fits this theme and put a line that is not directly related. Fiona Apple's "Extraordinary Machine" makes me think of getting through tough things with grit and grace, so a line like "Be kind to me, or treat me mean/ I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine" could be summed up with "I'm an extraordinary machine," or "I'm good at being uncomfortable so I can't stop changing all the time" could have just the second half posted.
posted by gideonfrog at 4:02 PM on December 15, 2024

I've had a little card that says "Remember McWatt" just above my computer for almost 15 years. It's a reference to McWatt from Catch-22 who says "Oh well, what the hell." and then just does the thing.
posted by machine at 7:48 AM on December 16, 2024 [4 favorites]

I have a little plaque that says "she believed she could so she did" which is nice and inspirational but can definitely have more personal meaning for you.
posted by lemniskate at 9:54 AM on December 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

Extra subtle: an art print of Debbie Harry and when you look at it you think "I've packed my bags, I've cleaned the floor, watch me walking, walking out the door."

Do you mean Annie Lennox, or am I missing some sort of second-level cultural reference here?
posted by intermod at 1:25 PM on December 16, 2024 [1 favorite]

When filming 8 1/2, Federico Fellini taped this reminder to his camera: “ricordati che è un film comico." ("Remember, it's a comedy.")
posted by miles per flower at 12:16 AM on December 17, 2024

...a reference to McWatt from Catch-22 who says "Oh well, what the hell." and then just does the thing.

I dunno, man. he says that right after [spoiler] is accidentally killed and then [does a tough, spoilery thing].
posted by j_curiouser at 6:15 AM on December 17, 2024