Happiness is excitement that has found a settling down place, but there is always a little corner that keeps flapping around.

When I visit schools and talk to students about writing, I give them one word of advice and I give it to them quickly and loudly-FINISH! Starting something is easier than finishing it. You must have discipline to go from a few sentences, to a few paragraphs, to a piece of writing that has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Finishing something bridges the difference between someone who has talent and one who does not. My best advice? Apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair-and finish. FINISH!

Secrets are the kind of adventure she needs. Secrets are safe, and they do much to make you different. On the inside where it counts.

It often takes more courage to be a passenger than a driver.

By the time they get to 6th grade honor roll students won't risk making a mistake, and sometimes to be successful, you have to risk making mistakes.

It is sometimes necessary to use unnecessary words like thank you and please just to make life prettier.

Kids want acceptance from their peers, but in two different, opposing ways: They want to be like everyone else and they want to be different from everyone else. So the question is: How do you reconcile these opposing longings?