To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn’t come with guarantees – these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I’m learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace.

The truth is, I'm a storyteller. And it scares me, because my training as an academic is that the more accessible you are and the more human you are, the less smart you are. It's a shame trigger for me to be honest.

You can choose courage or you can choose comfort, but you can't have both.

When we numb [hard feelings], we numb joy, we numb gratitude, we numb happiness.

I don't just want someone who says they love me; I want someone who practices that love for me every day.

There is no joy without gratitude.

Caring about the welfare of children and shaming parents are mutually exclusive endeavors.