When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself feels in sync with our pulse, when we know that what we're doing matters, we can get totally absorbed in our task. That is happiness.

Nourish the world with your words, yo.

In our cultural history, all emotions have been more culturally acceptable to women.

I always do like seeing other people dance in their cars. It's one of the things that makes me happy.

One thing that blocks flow is self-consciousness.

I've been thinking about disowning some of my genes lately. I have a few healthy, happy, long-living optimists in my family tree - most of them fans of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy, a major champion of positive thinking. But I've got plenty of ancestors who played out more tortured hands.

I'm sure there were plenty of loving, attentive mothers in the 'me generation,' but none of them lived at my house.