Rachel Ropeik

Adulthood is made up of a prudent anticipation and a philosophical memory that make you navigate more slowly and steadily. But fear of making mistakes can itself become a huge mistake, one that prevents you from living, for life is risky and anything less is already loss.

I know it’s heresy, but I have to say, I’ve never really got the point of opera?” He says this comfortably. He says it as if, his whole square-chinned life long, he has been saying confidently stupid things, and the world has reliably responded by saying, good point, Rory old man.

daughters do not want to be kept safe, that they would prefer to be with their parents

I have always lived in the myth of New York more than in its reality. It is what enabled me to live there for so long, loving the idea of something more than the thing itself.

When self-compassion is aimed at motivating ourselves, we embody encouraging, wise vision.

The human heart is an ancient beast that roars and purrs with the same passions, whatever labels we may give them.

“What’s a hare-loom tomato?” BJ peered over his shoulder. “It’s when rich people think fucked-up-looking things are more special than normal stuff.”

when love is present in our response, and our intention is rooted in the desire to help, it becomes a strong and targeted force for the greater good. We can denounce harmful behavior and take action to prevent it without making it personal.

I squirreled away small things so that in the lean days ahead glimmers from the past might bring back the warmth. I began, reluctantly, to steal from the present to pay off debts I knew I’d incur in the future.