Our mothers are our most direct connection to our history and gender.

Writers seek to create order out of the chaos of everyday life, and to extract meaning from both the tragic and the mundane

Our lives are shaped as much by those who leave us as they are by those who stay. Loss is our legacy. Insight is our gift. Memory is our guide

When a mother dies, a daughter’s mourning never completely ends.

Someone did us all a grave injustice by implying that mourning has a distinct beginning, middle, and end.

I couldn't chance failing in New York yet, letting the city fail me. It was the only place I knew I belonged. If I couldn't survive there, I would have no place else to go.

New York City is filled with random, quirky moments like this, chance collisions that just might change your life.

Once you feel like you can safely quit a melody, you are free to explore more important things.

The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is.

Did you play? It sounded very good.

She didn't flirt with him, but they hung out together a lot, and every time I saw their heads bent over a computer screen or map, it made my stomach clench. And my teeth. And my fists.

Seek to give much -- expect nothing.

There's nothing sadder than getting to the end of your life and saying, 'I didn't do it right'.

If you want to change people's obedience then you must change their imagination.

I always try to make work that activates the viewer to be a co-producer of our shared reality.

I've come to know that what we want in life is the greatest indication of who we really are (p. 331).

The real opportunity for success lies within the person and not in the job.