I sometimes truly despair at ever being meaningfully altered and affected by the things I claim are so important to me.

My husband is a fall-away Catholic, but with a vengeance. He's actually more of a feminist than I am.

I talk to women's groups all over the country and see women struggling with this. The fear of not being accepted, of being different, of not having a man, all make it hard for a woman to do what she really believes is right for her.

The rest of us are still trying to find ways to live in the world with spiritual values. Myself included. We've learned certain skills, we've learned to prevail somewhat, but we've not made it over the mountain.

I think we have to be careful about what we label as a prerequisite for spirituality. I don't think you have to know a lot to have a spiritual life, but knowing gives life richness.

When I was a kid, I'd kneel down at the side of my bed every night before I went to sleep, and my mother and I would say a Greek prayer to the Virgin Mary.

Thankfully, it became clear to me that when I compete, I lose my connection to the passion I have for my work.