There are books that a writer undertakes because she wants to go on a journey, and there are journeys a writer undertakes because she wants to write a book.

Part of my spiritual work is learning to live with the knowledge that we can't protect our loved ones from pain and heartache.

I've always felt like my nose is pressed to glass. I always feel a little bit like an outsider.

If you write memoir, it can't be about blame or hurt; it has to be creative.

At some point each day (well, most days) I unroll my mat and practice for an hour. I sit in meditation for a while. This can be five minutes or twenty minutes, but the daily practice - simply showing up for it - is centering.

The truth is in the present moment.

If we grew up with nothing, we're complicated with that. That's the thing I keep hearing from people.