...since you can't heal your own sick mind with your own sick mind, I needed to consult somebody else's sick mind.

You have to keep taking the next necessary stitch, and the next one, and the next. Without stitches, you just have rags. And we are not rags.

Most of me was glad when my mother died. She was a handful, but not in a cute, festive way. More in a life-threatening way, that had caused me a long time ago to give up all hope of ever feeling good about having had her as a mother.

Perfectionism means that you try not to leave so much mess to clean up. But clutter and mess show us that life is being lived.

You were loved because God loves, period. God loved you, and everyone, not because you believed in certain things, but because you were a mess, and lonely, and His or Her child. God loved you no matter how crazy you felt on the inside, no matter what a fake you were; always, even in your current condition, even before coffee. God loves you crazily, like I love you...like a slightly overweight auntie, who sees only your marvelousness and need.

You should not bring more items and hurdles to the obstacle course.

...It really IS easier to experience spiritual connection when your life is in the process of coming apart.