I came across a list of movie quotes on Instagram the other day, and instead of scrolling past like a normal doom- scroller, I stopped and thought, “Wait… aren’t these subtitles from my kidney journey?” It’s striking how a few lines from films can echo the hardest, strangest, and most hope‑filled scenes of my life these past two years.
Here’s how each movie quote found its place in my story, almost like it was waiting for me.
(From: The most influential lines from movies about life on Instagram.)
“Don’t ever let someone tell you, you can’t do something. Not even me.”
Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Kidney failure had a way of making my world smaller. The walls closed in. The days narrowed. My limitations knocked and settled in as uninvited guests. But this movie quote reminds me of the hope that refused to leave. It kept slipping into the room, even on the days I started out doubting myself. Somewhere beneath my fears, a voice whispered, “Keep going.”
And in time, I learned to listen to that voice.
—
“May the odds be ever in your favor.”
The Hunger Games (2012)
Kidney dialysis felt like stepping into an arena I never registered to enter, as if someone had drawn my name. The rules strict. The limits real. Every number on my patient chart represented another challenge to face. But even then, I wasn’t alone. I had people praying for me, professionals watching over me, and strength I didn’t know I carried. Each dialysis treatment became its own kind of mercy, a reminder that survival wasn’t left to chance. And slowly, the odds began to turn in my favor.
—
“Get Busy Living, or get busy dying.”
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
This one reminded me of my long waiting period. Life could have turned into a prison of “not yet,” a place where hope is thin and days lose their color. But something in me kept choosing to keep going. So, I kept writing and dreaming. I kept laughing and showing up. I showed up, even when my body was worn down, my spirit remained on its feet. It refused to be shackled.
—
“Just because something works, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved upon.”
Black Panther (2018)
My kidney dialysis worked. It kept me sustained. It carried me through days when strength was hard to find, and my treatments were challenging. But it wasn’t the end of my story. The kidney transplant didn’t just improve my life; it reshaped it. Energy returned and my freedoms widened. Possibility opened its hands and pulled me up. And even now, recovery keeps reminding me that growth doesn’t stop with one miracle late last October.
Also, kidney transplants have improved substantially in the last seventy-some years.
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“It ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward?”
Rocky Balboa (2006)
Kidney disease threw its punches I never saw coming, like surgery pain, setbacks, exhaustion, and fear. But I kept moving. Sometimes slowly, sometimes sideways, and even sometimes seemingly going backwards. But I looked forward. And that’s what mattered.
—
“Oh yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it or learn from it.“
The Lion King (1994)
There are parts of this kidney journey I wouldn’t want to redo. Some days were heavy; other days were sharp around the edges. But I wouldn’t erase them all, as they’ve reshaped me. They changed in me what needed softening. They taught me compassion, patience, and the perspective you only gain by walking through the low valley and coming out the other side.
—
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Chronic illness changes the way you think about time. Hours that once slipped by are now precious. Moments you used to overlook become treasures. Recovery has given me the chance to choose again how I spend my days, to write, to connect, and to find inner peace.
—
“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
There were days when “trying” was all I could do. Strength had worn thin. My resolve often wavered. But this quote had popped into my head (and even sounded like Yoda) and nudged me toward something much deeper. Toward a commitment to a better, healthier life. Toward healing and feeling normal again. It reminded me to keep showing up in my own life, even when the path was steep, especially steep.
—
“You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.”
Inception (2010)
After the kidney transplant, my dreams stretched out. Not the wild ones, but the simple ones that had once slipped out of reach. Travel. Creativity. Live with more energy. A future that felt full and open instead of fragile. And I’m learning, little by little, to dream bigger.
—
“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?”
~ Sidney as Yoda in an unmade Star Wars parody (October 22, 2025)
Sidney may be small, but they’ve never acted like it. One kidney, the size of a fist, somehow runs an entire life-support operation with Jedi‑level determination. Yoda’s quote reminds me of something true: strength isn’t measured in inches or ounces, but in the smallest things that carry the greatest weight. Sidney does.
If anything, this Instagram quote list reminded me that every story, whether told on a screen, in a hospital room, or in the corners of my home, is stitched together with courage and resilience. And tucked inside each scene is the belief that it might hold a gift of grace.
Related Post:
Organ & Kidney Related Plots in TV Shows & Movies