As a fan and collector of pretty stationery, it should come as no surprise that I also love pin boards. Mood boards, vision boards, motivational boards, or just a place to put bills and to-do lists, I have always used pin boards. As motivation, I have started gathering quotes, photos, and images to put together a journey board.

The very first thing I put on my board was an image of Princess Leia, with three words above her. Words that fit not only Princess Leia but Carrie Fisher herself – because she picked them.

A year after Carrie passed away, her brother Todd wrote a book about his life – My Girls, A Lifetime With Carrie And Debbie. I admit it took me some time before I felt emotionally ready to read about Carrie’s life and death, but it was a wonderful book – a great companion to Carrie’s own autobiographies.

Todd notes in his book that that Carrie had these words painted over her bed, inspired by the film Heartbreak Ridge –

Adapt! Overcome! Persevere!

In looking up the scene in the film, the quote is actually a little bit different-

You improvise, you overcome, you adapt.

I like the word persevere more than improvise. Both are useful words for life, but ‘persevere’ feels so much more like Carrie. She faced so many battles, but kept going – something I admit I struggle with.

To persevere implies obstacles, to carry on despite setbacks and rough patches. Life isn’t always plain sailing, and Carrie had more obstacles than many of us – but she persevered. Just one of the many reasons I admire her so much.

It feels very fitting that the first pin on my board is inspired by Carrie Fisher. A daily reminder of Carrie and her legacy of inspiration through both her on-screen characters, and her own personal journey – while I begin my own.