I'd crossed a border—Speaking openly, exposing the weak girl I'd been, I was no longer her.

The trees were friendly, they gave me rest and shadowed refuge. Slipping through them, I felt safe and competent. My whole body was occupied. I had little energy to think or worry.

Beneath hot sun, desert roses bloomed. Under cold moon, I still refused to.

Water was liquid silver, water was gold. It was clarity—a sacred thing. Drinking was no longer something to take for granted. I’d never needed to consider water before.

There was so little I wanted to carry. Packing my backpack took me all of four minutes

The bravest thing I ever did was leave there. The next bravest thing I did was come back, to make myself heard.

I’d believed I needed to be steady in myself before I could function with others—but surviving alone no longer felt like a good way either.

I realized that the most empowering important thing was actually simply taking care of myself.

I was promising myself strength.I had to write it, say it, make the effort and fake it before I actually believed I could do it.

I was the director of my life, it was already true, and I would soon lead myself to my dreamed-of destinations.It was the task of my one thousand miles of solitude.

I no longer needed to peel myself of my skin, or to hide. To Dash the colorless ephemeral things that existed just beneath my surface were as vivid as the beauty marks he traced on my cheek.

If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.

If frogs had side pockets, they'd carry hand guns.

I have to be as much diplomat as a photographer.

I will not die, it's the world that will end." paraphrase of unknown philosopher

Most men know what they hate, few what they love.

This is the most exciting part of being human. It is using our brains in the highest way. Otherwise we are just healthy animals

Hey, Mr. Cunningham. How's your entailment gettin' along?

America must always be the world's paramount military power. But we can magnify our power through alliances.

I like it when someone gives me a new book of poetry by a poet I haven't read.

I’ve heard 14 year old meth addicted thai prostitutes say more prescient things than the woman that was supposedly a “professor