I was probably toward 8 1/2 when I actually joined the church and was baptized - and, my God, did I take it seriously! I was a zealot who irritated every one of my third-grade friends. They didn't beat me up, but I got labeled "the preacher girl."

You are responsible for your life. You can't keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on.

What you believe has more power than what you dream or wish or hope for. You become what you believe.

The key is not to worry about being successful, but to instead to work toward being significant - and the success will naturally follow.

There are still generations of people, older people, who were born and bred and marinated in it, in that prejudice and racism, and they just have to die.

My highest achievement: never shutting my heart down. Even in my darkest moments - through sexual abuse, a pregnancy at 14, lies and betrayals - I remained faithful, hopeful, and open to seeing the best in people, regardless of whether they were showing me their worst. I stayed open to believing that no matter how hard the climb, there is always a way to let in a sliver of light to illuminate the path forward.

This is the body you've been given - love what you've got.