You are beautiful and you matter.

More stuff and more money don't bring more happiness.

I'm most often surrounded by people, so what I usually crave is time alone.

I recently went for a walk in a state park and found that some of my favorite trees had collapsed. It makes me feel vulnerable, personally and for my children.

It's a constant process for me to learn to take the time to really understand what hurt me and how best to address it or respond. I tend to be reactionary, and that doesn't help me or others. I do try to keep my heart open.

I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it as something mercurial that required all the right conditions, but now I know that even if I don't get any sleep, I can still work, I can power through. The stars don't have to be perfectly aligned for me to do a good job.