“I spent a good portion of my life being unable to honor my feelings. When I started the process of having real friendships it was a huge change. I still struggle with it because it is not familiar ground.”

Friendship is such a powerful healer and source of support.

I was ahead in the slalom. But in the second run, everyone fell on a dangerous spot. I was beaten by a woman that got up faster than I did. I learned that people fall down, winners get up, and gold medal winners just get up faster.

When I am around someone who is a joy stealer, I say to myself, I only have to deal with you for an hour. That person has to deal with thinking that way every moment of their lives.

I was sexually abused by my step father for years and years, and that caused scars you can’t see. And we know many people have the kind of scars you can’t see.

But if the feelings are mutual, I open my heart without restriction. I’m not afraid to say ‘I love you’.

We destroy ourselves when we stop feeling. If you bury your feelings within you, you become a graveyard.

You must strive to become much less susceptible to influences outside of yourself and much more inclined to trust the instincts and feelings that lie within you.

I like the idea of readers feeling a familiarity, whether its with Africa or childhood.

Sure you have feelings and you get emotional and angry but I kept everything inside because I think I still had that thought in my mind – I didn’t want to get suspended again

I’ll try to be careful, but I know I’m not immune, cause I just can’t imagine how I’d ever come to harm with this feeling that I’m feeling as I’m drowning in your arms.

When you’re doing stand-up, you achieve an intimacy with the audience you can’t get on TV. There’s not a better feeling in the entire world then when you look out and see the audience is identifying with you.

Sometimes I get the feeling that I’m stranded in the wrong time where love is just a lyric in a children’s rhyme