That's how a good story works. It changes how you feel. It brings you to a greater appreciation, a greater joy, of your own existence.

Real smarts begin when you quit quoting other people.

We all have some proper noun to blame.

Life is short, death is forever

I really believe it's the moments we can't talk about that become the rest of our lives. It's the moments we can't process by telling a story that destroy us in the end.

It only takes one mistake,' the Dan Banyan guy says, 'and nothing else you ever do will matter.' With his empty hand, he takes one of my hands. His fingers feel hot, fever-hot, and pounding with his heartbeats. He turns my hand palm-up saying, 'No matter how hard you work or how smart you become, you'll always be known for that one poor choice.' He sets the blue pill on my palm, saying, 'Do that one wrong thing- and you'll be dead for the rest of your life.

Don't write about your most emotionally charged moment as a learning thing.