The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: hissing of the sword had ceased, and he stopped
entirely.
"That outer loose lock of hair wants tidying, he
said, before she had moved or spoken. "Wait: I'll do
it for you."
An arc of silver shone on her right side: the sword
had descended. The lock droped to the ground.
"Bravely borne!" said Troy. "You didn't flinch a
shade's thickness. Wonderful in a woman!"
"It was because I didn't expect it. O, you have
spoilt my hair!"
 Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: suit each other? Do you know Mr. Bingley?"
"Not at all."
"He is a sweet-tempered, amiable, charming man. He cannot
know what Mr. Darcy is."
"Probably not; but Mr. Darcy can please where he chooses. He
does not want abilities. He can be a conversible companion if he
thinks it worth his while. Among those who are at all his equals
in consequence, he is a very different man from what he is to the
less prosperous. His pride never deserts him; but with the rich
he is liberal-minded, just, sincere, rational, honourable, and
perhaps agreeable-- allowing something for fortune and figure."
 Pride and Prejudice |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: children or not. Whatever the explanation might be, the poor children
were forced to bear the burden of grief and disappointment.
The following year Santa Claus found more and more of the
new-fashioned chimneys that had no fireplaces, and the next year still
more. The third year, so numerous had the narrow chimneys become, he
even had a few toys left in his sledge that he was unable to give
away, because he could not get to the children.
The matter had now become so serious that it worried the good man
greatly, and he decided to talk it over with Kilter and Peter and
Nuter and Wisk.
Kilter already knew something about it, for it had been his duty to run
 The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus |