Every American was to become a performing self.

Cross the street to avoid making aimless chitchat with random acquaintances.

It's as if they have thinner boundaries separating them from other people's emotions and from the tragedies and cruelties of the world.

In a way, education by its nature favours the extrovert because you are taking kids and putting them into a big classroom, which is automatically going to be a high-stimulation environment. Probably the best way of teaching in general is one on one, but that's not something everyone can afford.

I've wanted to be a writer since I was four years old!

When you're more focused in getting your message across than you are worrying about how people are viewing you, that's huge.

Ask your child for information in a gentle, nonjudgmental way, with specific, clear questions. Instead of “How was your day?” try “What did you do in math class today?” Instead of “Do you like your teacher?” ask “What do you like about your teacher?” Or “What do you not like so much?” Let her take her time to answer. Try to avoid asking, in the overly bright voice of parents everywhere, “Did you have fun in school today?!” She’ll sense how important it is that the answer be yes.