This quote beautifully captures the fluidity and malleability of human lives and memories. It emphasizes that our identities and experiences are not fixed but are shaped by our own choices and perceptions. The metaphor of shaping lives as forms we force upon ourselves suggests a proactive role in defining who we are. Memories, often perceived as distant and fixed, are presented here as constructs we actively seek out and manipulate. This process of pulling memories into the 'sunlight' indicates a conscious effort to understand, reinterpret, and reframe our past experiences, tailoring them to fit our current needs and desires. The idea that we change the world repeatedly through these acts of remembrance and imagination reveals how internal narratives inform our external realities. It highlights the importance of active perception and the creative power of the mind, where each new quarry—each pursuit or discovery—redefines our understanding of ourselves and our environment. Life is a series of ongoing reinterpretations, each influenced by our internal landscapes and external influences, constantly reshaped through our perception and imagination. This perspective invites reflection on the agency we possess in constructing our identities and stories, emphasizing that life is less about a fixed destiny and more about how we sculpt our experiences over time, day by day, moment by moment. It honors the dynamic, transformative nature of human existence, emphasizing that change is an integral part of our journey.

*( Bluebottle ) - James Sallis