More Than a Book of Quotes
In a culture often consumed by fleeting trends and digital noise, a book like Musings for Madie: Quotes to Live by When Life Gives Us Life by Stephanie Malbasa offers something rare—a pause. It’s a book that doesn’t rush to conclusions or promise quick fixes. Instead, it gently invites readers to reflect, breathe, and take in the beauty of being alive.
More than just a curated collection of meaningful quotes, Malbasa’s book is an exploration of the heart and mind, wrapped in decades of personal experience. Drawing from her journey as a lawyer, mother, business owner, and lifelong learner, she adds rich layers of insight to the timeless words she shares.
A Personal Legacy with Universal Resonance
Though dedicated to her granddaughter Madie, this book transcends generations. It’s a personal legacy meant for family, yes—but it is also a public gift to anyone navigating the intricacies of life. Each chapter reads like a love letter to those in search of grounding truths. Whether you’re a student just starting out, a parent juggling responsibilities, or someone simply seeking clarity in uncertain times, Musings for Madie delivers wisdom with tenderness and strength.
Malbasa doesn’t instruct from a podium. Instead, she shares from lived experience, reflecting with sincerity on what worked, what didn’t, and what still matters most.
The Power of Words, Brought to Life
Every quote included in the book is a doorway into a deeper thought. Malbasa pairs each quote with a heartfelt reflection—how it entered her life, the season it arrived in, and how it shaped her choices. These aren’t abstract ideas; they’re living, breathing principles that have helped her navigate loss, career changes, aging, joy, and renewal.
When she discusses the quote, “Act the way you’d like to be and soon you’ll be the way you act,” by Leonard Cohen, she uses it as a springboard to explore identity and intentional behavior. This is how the entire book unfolds: one quote at a time, followed by stories that give flesh and feeling to the words.
Faith, Family, and the Golden List
Malbasa’s reflections are anchored in three enduring values: faith, family, and gratitude. A particularly memorable section features her “Golden List”—a practice of daily gratitude she developed over the years. Inspired by the simple idea of saying thank you, she turned this into a transformative habit, one that grounds her mornings and prepares her to meet the day with peace and purpose.
This emphasis on thankfulness weaves its way through the book in subtle, powerful ways. It is not blind optimism, but a deliberate focus on blessings even in difficult seasons. Her message is clear: a grateful heart sees life more clearly.
Facing Life’s Hard Edges with Grace
Despite its warm tone, Musings for Madie is not sugar-coated. Malbasa is refreshingly honest about the hard edges of life—the grief of losing loved ones, the challenges of growing older, the exhaustion of working motherhood. In these moments, the book takes on a deeper weight, offering not just comfort but companionship.
When she reflects on the quote, “There is no pain so great as the memory of joy in present grief,” by Aeschylus, she touches on the profound ache of remembering better times during sorrowful ones. Her writing in these sections is deeply moving, and likely to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced loss.
Yet, even in grief, her words are not without hope. The reflections gently remind us that mourning is the price we pay for love, and it is worth every tear.
Encouraging Action Through Reflection
While the book is deeply meditative, it’s far from passive. One of its strongest recurring messages is that reflection should lead to action. Malbasa emphasizes the importance of getting up, showing up, and participating in life. She challenges the reader to question their habits, reframe their thinking, and redefine success on their own terms.
In her reflection on Aristotle’s quote, “Quality is not an act, it is a habit,” she examines how small daily decisions form the fabric of our character. Whether she’s writing about breaking the habit of procrastination or the importance of physical health, she motivates readers not just to think, but to act.
A Grandmother’s Heart, A Human Voice
Although the book is structured around quotes, its real power comes from Malbasa’s own voice. Warm, thoughtful, and genuine, she writes the way a trusted grandmother might speak—offering advice that’s not only practical but soulful. She draws upon faith, humor, and self-awareness, and in doing so, creates a connection with the reader that feels both intimate and enduring.
She isn’t afraid to show vulnerability, often admitting to past mistakes or things she wishes she’d known earlier in life. That vulnerability is where the magic lies—readers don’t just learn from her; they grow with her.
The Call to Live Intentionally
One of the strongest undercurrents of the book is the call to live with intention. Malbasa believes that a meaningful life doesn’t happen by accident—it’s cultivated through attention, choice, and love. Whether it’s the quote, “Live to the point of tears,” or “Be faithful to that which exists within yourself,” she returns again and again to the theme of alignment between values and action.
Readers are not told what to believe or how to live, but are instead invited to explore what matters most to them. The effect is empowering. The book encourages each of us to create our own “musings”—to reflect, write, and live with awareness.
A Book That Feels Like a Blessing
Musings for Madie is a book to be savored slowly, returned to often, and passed along generously. It’s both a mirror and a map—helping readers see themselves more clearly while offering gentle guidance for the road ahead.
In Stephanie Malbasa’s own words:
“As life gives you life, may your days be filled with joy. May you find meaning in each moment. And may you always laugh often.”
This isn’t just a book. It’s a blessing in print. And in a world that can feel overwhelming, books like Musings for Madie remind us that what truly matters has often been right in front of us all along.