“Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.”

Life becomes easier and more beautiful when we can see the good in other people.

To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.

Nothing can disturb your peace of mind unless you allow it to.

Count your blessings, not your problems. Count your own blessings, not someone else’s. Remember that jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own.

Believe in your infinite potential. Your only limitations are those you set upon yourself.

A smile puts you on the right track. A smile makes the world a beautiful place. When you lose your smile, you lose your way in the chaos of life.

Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes.

Happiness depends on your mindset and attitude.

Respect other people’s feelings. It might mean nothing to you, but it could mean everything to them.

The outer world is a reflection of the inner world. Other people’s perception of you is a reflection of them; your response to them is an awareness of you.

If you have a strong purpose in life, you don’t have to be pushed. Your passion will drive you there.

Life is about accepting the challenges along the way, choosing to keep moving forward, and savoring the journey.

We have to be honest about what we want and take risks rather than lie to ourselves and make excuses to stay in our comfort zone.

You are not the victim of the world, but rather the master of your own destiny. It is your choices and decisions that determine your destiny.

More smiling, less worrying. More compassion, less judgment. More blessed, less stressed. More love, less hate.

Be the positive impact on the lives of others.

Anything we experience, no matter how challenging, can become an open pathway to awakening.

Experience is making mistakes and learning from them.

I felt that I had to write. Even if I had never been published, I knew that I would go on writing, enjoying it and experiencing the challenge.

Your ultimate life experience and legacy is being built moment by moment, day by day. Your story is being crafted by your every action, all leading somewhere, all leading to what one hopes will be a magnificent crescendo.

Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften. Open to whatever you experience without fighting.

No matter what you are experiencing in life right now, trust that all is unfolding in your best interests.

I started writing poetry when I was six. I had this teacher who didn’t believe the poems I’d bring in were mine because they were dark and sad. But I wrote about what I experienced in my childhood.

I think I had actually served my apprenticeship as a writer of fiction by writing all those songs. I had already been through phases of autobiographical or experimental stuff.