“For all my life, I had been passive when faced with dangers. I was stunned as I swam to find that I had, for the first time in my history, asserted myself and been truly heard—respected. It felt monumental, I was buzzing with adrenaline. It was as if I’d become someone else entirely. I had escaped a kidnapper. It finally felt real. My body unclenched tension in the balmy pool. I was proud of the strength I’d found. I was the one who asserted he take me back; I caused him to listen. I was no longer a passive Doll Girl, trapped. This was me learning I could trust my voice—I’d used it, and it finally worked! I was triumphant. This escape showed me: I had grown, and grown vividly.”
“The only way to know is to learn, relearn and unlearn.”
“A child, without toxic interference, will naturally become the person they are meant to be. André Chevalier”
“The wilderness is a place of an encounter with the Creator.”
“You may know how to operate computers. You may know a lot about medicine or robots. You may be a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or specialist… but, if you don’t know how YOU operate, why your life is the way it is, and how to increase fulfillment, love, and peace in your life - then all the knowledge and degrees aren’t really worth much!”
“You ought to be curious and daring.”
“...go live happily alone requires a serious amount of intentional thought. It s not as simple as signing the lease on your own apartment and leaving it at that. You must figure out what you need to feel comfortable at home and in the world, no matter your means (indeed, staying within your means), and arrange your life accordingly--a metaphorical architecture.”
“The sense of your own experience will grow along with your confidence.”
“If you wish for it, you can have it.”
“What would be the best therapy? Punching the evil sod in the knob! [...] It doesn t undo it though. You d feel good for a second and then there s just emptiness. It s like bingeing. After the chocolate there s the wrappers.”
“The only voice of dissent you have to dispel is your own.”