We have a sense that we should be like the mythical cowboy... able to take on and conquer anything and live in the world without the need for other people.

Maybe death is the great equalizer, the one big thing that can finally make strangers shed a tear for one another

Acceptance is not a talent you either have or don't have. It's a learned response. My meditation teacher made a great point about the difference between a reaction and a response: You may not have control over your initial reaction to something, but you can decide what your response will be. You don't have to be at the mercy of your emotions, and acceptance can be your first step toward empowerment . . . For me, acceptance has been the cornerstone to my having an emotionally healthy response to my illness.

What is it about silence that makes people uneasy?

If you don’t have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don’t have much at all.

The best way to deal with that is to live in a fully conscious, compassionate, loving way. Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to recognize that this is the only way to live.

Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel.