INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES AND SAYINGS BY ELENA LEVON

Elena Levon is the original author and creator of the inspirational and widely used quote “I choose to collect memories instead of things”. - Elena Levon. Please give credit to Elena Levon, when using her quotes and sayings with linking directly either to www.elena-levon.com or her instagram handle @realelenalevon #elenalevon

These kind of websites and articles on internet were specifically made for social media →→→ TRAVEL INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS “I CHOOSE TO COLLECT MEMORIES INSTEAD OF THINGS” - ELENA LEVON...

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“I choose to collect memories instead of things” - Elena Levon

“Choose to collect memories instead of things” - Elena Levon

“Collect memories instead of things” - Elena Levon

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You may use only these photos with quotes on them and all written quotes with sayings by Elena Levon non-commercial use only

! Important ! — You must give full credit to the author with a link to —

www.elena-levon.com or Instagram @realelenalevon

#elenalevon

If you are an online / print publication / business / private collector / established photographer / artist with extensive portfolio who wishes to collaborate or publish / purchase any of the photographs on this site please fill out the contact form at the end of this page.

© 2004 – 2025 Elena Levon. All Rights Reserved.

LINKS;

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Dear world,

To those of you (and there are so many!) who have given credit to me, who have found time to do a little bit of research before publishing and showed respect to the artist — I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are priceless treasures of this world. Humanity as a whole, needs people like you more than ever before. You are a rare diamond.

You see, my parents and life taught me to be generous with my work and my time with the world. My first poem was written in 2004 by hand - I was 20 - it is 2025 today — more than 20 years of art. Myspace (anyone here remembers good old myspace days?)) was the first social media where I started sharing my creativity with www world. (Yes, I’m old) In 2010 I created a website mselenalevontraveling which had readership from 190 nations and gathered over 26.000 readers from all walks of life. On top of that website was my quote “I choose to collect memories instead of things”. - Elena Levon with my name fully visible to all who visited my site. My stories, poetry and photography inspired many people, from young to old. I shared generously and for free with everyone all my stories of global expeditions - 6 continents and almost 100 nations to be exact, under my loyal and dusty cowboy boots, along with all my poetry, films, prose and photography.

However, in 2020 I started seeing how my photography, my quotes, my stories, my films have been extracted from my open to all vimeo account, then posted on facebook, stories copied and pasted by different websites without even giving credit to the author or the original source, photographs of different tribes I lived with plastered all over internet. Most just copied and pasted because they think they can get away with it... A lot of “influencers”, some with millions of followers know exactly what they are doing and think they can get away with theft of intellectual property without giving credit where credit is due. As public figures it is their responsibility to research and re-check sources, but they seldom do. A lot of people do add credit to the original author / photographer and I am very grateful to them. We need more humans like that.

Nowadays two decades of my work, which was free for everyone with internet connection, to see and use for so many years, as long as credit is given to the creator with the link back to my site, has been locked up behind a paywall and a verification process.

I do not regret being generous. No way! But there comes a moment in life, when you decide to place some concrete and nonnegotiable boundaries at the doorstep of your creative world.

I don’t really mind that some guy / girl in India or Africa or America is selling travel notebooks, mugs, cards or t-shirts with my catchy quotes, all the best to them, hope it brings them a better life, but at the very least, as a simple act of respect and gratitude - credit the author. Am I really asking for too much? I do not have children, everything I create are my kids. So yes, do share, do inspire, do make a few bucks, but do it mindfully, do it with class and honor, as many do who have credited me as author / photographer.

With love and gratitude,

Elena Levon.

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“Live simply, travel lightly, love passionately and don’t forget to breathe” — Elena Levon

“True adventure is when you dare to step out of your comfort zone and let the world take over.” — Elena Levon

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“It takes courage to step outside your comfort zones and I recommend everyone at least once in your life — step out of your sheltered illusions and see what you are really made of. See what it truly means to be alive...” — Elena Levon

“Honor your worth, honor your soul, honor your truth, honor your dreams.” - Elena Levon

“The only thing one needs to be afraid of in this life is fear itself... Banish it, lock it up and throw away the key. Fear has no place in the heart full of passion, freedom and love.” — Elena Levon

“Travel is about the people you get to meet and the moments you get to share with them... Travel is about dissolving and melting with the soil your dusty boots stand on...” — Elena Levon

“And isn't that the reason we, the mad ones, fearlessly beat our dusty and worn-out cowboy boots into the uncharted breath of this life — to feel alive?” — Elena Levon

“Fear is nurtured by Caesars to remain Caesars. A man with no fear can not be controlled. What you nurture in yourself - you become.” — Elena Levon

“To walk without seeking, To see without judgement, To hear without speaking, To love without needing. To leave, without wanting to return.” — Elena Levon

“In times of chaos get back to who you are. Hold on to your inner light. Choose to create, rather than destroy. Stay focused.” — Elena Levon

“Thoughts and lips can lie, feelings concealed, but scent will betray even the most careful of spies. The scent will silently tell the truth.” — Elena Levon

“Perfections were created by Idols - both are illusions. You are enough!”

— Elena Levon

“Buying hundreds or thousands of dollars stuff in order to look classy, stylish and expensive won't work, if you don't know how to wear a 20 dollar dress and look like a million bucks.” — Elena Levon

“Fear is not real, seek your own truth and break free.” — Elena Levon

“If you don’t create your own rules, they will twist and bend you to fit theirs” - Elena Levon

“Experience, endure, learn and keep on dancing with souls and hearts of those around us through this theater we all call Life. Go after “scary things” with your last breath, face your own demons, speak your truth, forgive, love deeply, travel lightly, live passionately and don’t forget to breathe. Fall and surrender. Face your true self in the world's mirror and in the end?... let go...” — Elena Levon

“In 2024 I proudly joined the “Women over 40” club, somehow arriving without coloring my hair, getting botox, fillers or plastic surgery. In today’s predominantly “plastic cookie-cutter” culture, that’s a beautiful and rebellious statement— one celebrating authenticity and humanity in its purest form. Living long enough to earn wrinkles, grey hair and deal with an aging body is a privilege not all of us are granted. That is why I will always wear my age with gratitude and fierce passion.” - Elena Levon

“Create more, than you destroy. This life we live is not a draft. We can’t write a better story later. Don’t be the one who will regret. Be the one who smiles with a twinkle and giggles at all this grand circus we all call LIFE.” — Elena Levon

TO BE CONTINUED...