One of the most important lessons of childhood is discovering what you like to do.

I'm a person who's fine saying 'No.' I like saying to myself, "no gossiping," "no nagging."

Feelings follow actions. If I'm feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myself actually feeling happier. If I'm feeling angry at someone, I do something thoughtful for her and my feelings toward her soften. This strategy is uncannily effective.

Nature is impersonal, awe-inspiring, elegant, eternal. It's geometrically perfect. It's tiny and gigantic. You can travel far to be in a beautiful natural setting, or you can observe it in your backyard - or, in my case, in the trees lining New York City sidewalks, or in the clouds above skyscrapers.

Keep in mind that to avoid loneliness, many people need both a social circle and an intimate attachment. Having just one of two may still leave you feeling lonely.

I grasped two things: I wasn't as happy as I could be, and my life wasnt going to change unless I made it change.

Outer order contributes to inner calm.