It's impossible to feel good about yourself if you are doing things that you aren't proud of. . . . It's essential that you . . . [do] things you can respect and admire.

Allow yourself to release the emotions you have struggled all your life to contain.

There's a part of every living thing that wants to become itself: the tadpole into the frog, the chrysalis into the butterfly, a damaged human being into a whole one.That is spirituality.

There is a comfort in knowing that you don’t have to pretend anymore, that you are going to do everything within your power to heal.

What would people look like if we could see them as they are, soaked in honey, stung and swollen, reckless, pinned against time?

I live in Santa Cruz. I moved here in 1974 and couldn't leave.

Everyone has the right to tell the truth about her own life.

Then you hold life like a face between your palms, a plain face, no charming smile, no violet eyes, and you say, yes, I will take you I will love you, again.

So much inspires me. People living their lives with courage, beauty of all kinds, nature in all its aspects, people I love and people I hardly know, and, of course, other poets.

Poetry is the most intimate of all writing. I want to speak first from me to myself and then from me to you.

If you’ve managed to do one good thing, the ocean doesn’t care. But when Newton’s apple fell toward the earth, the earth, ever so slightly, fell toward the apple as well.

You are the light in my darkness, Restful peace for my soul.You are the one who rescues me, Never let me go.

Do not come into agreement with fear. Activate your faith, live in victory, speak over your life and expect great things to come your way.

Being with you is like standing next to the sun. It's so hot you die if you don't move.

Friendship is not a national affair

When your ex says "I miss you", that means the person they tried to replace you with has failed.

I was seeing people that were older who didn't create any kind of foundation in their lives, and it scared me to death.

I will always be on the side of those who have nothing and who are not even allowed to enjoy the nothing they have in peace.

What's cool about baseball is you don't have to see someone for years, but when you see them, you just hustle up and give them a big hug. Those friendships endure.

When you're not goal-striving, not looking forward, you're not really living.

I'm super-obsessed with law enforcement. I'm what you'd call a 'cop fan.