You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

When I'm writing, I write. And then it's as if the muse is convinced that I'm serious and says, 'Okay. Okay. I'll come.'

When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom.

The loss of young first love is so painful that it borders on the ludicrous.

I am a child of God. I always carry that with me.