Of course her dumb Lab’s going to do whatever it takes to retrieve the ball. What he craves more than freedom is companionship.

— Shannon Mullen

Perhaps love in the digital age is more like Netflix binge-watching: we enjoy bursts of fantasy, and then move on to something else when it’s done. Like browsing for a new series on Netflix, if the relationship doesn’t fit perfectly, you can trade it in for something new with the click of a button or a swipe on your phone.

— Shannon Mullen

She can’t worry. She can’t ‘fix.’ She can’t love.

— Shannon Mullen

Sleeping is much safer than the nightmare I’m living. When I sleep I feel nothing and I do nothing and I see nothing and nothing matters and no one cares. There’s no one to hurt or disappoint or notice when I’m low, and I don’t need to face anyone not anyone in the world or not even myself.

— Shannon Mullen

Somehow I find the energy to continue the run. Part of the high that comes after finishing a long run is overcoming the wall, that point when your body crashes, but your mind keeps moving you forward.

— Shannon Mullen

Sometimes our heroes let us down.

— Shannon Mullen

Sometimes you have to fight for the past and sometimes you have to let go.

— Shannon Mullen

Sometimes you just gotta accept that hope is gone.

— Shannon Mullen

Suddenly, I’m lighter, only half of who I was.

— Shannon Mullen

That’s what mountains do, they taunt you, lure you to the freedom of the wilderness, and it is fucking exhilarating.

— Shannon Mullen