The Painter Who Feels Obligated

I Was Giving A Speech One Time, And The Woman Who Introduced Me Said, 'well, She Used To Be J. D. Salinger's Girlfriend. I Thought, 'god, Is That All I've Been?' I Didn't Want To Be Reduced To That.

For 25 Years, I Did Take My Responsibilities As A Pleaser Of Others Sufficiently Seriously.

I Have No Doubt That Over The Years My Children Will Find Plenty Of Things About Me To Criticize. But Something Tells Me That Twenty Years From Now Not One Of Them Will Sit On Some Therapist's Couch Complaining Because Their Mother Didn't Spend Enough Time Vacuuming Up Glitter.

I Believed My Story Would Be Helpful To Young Women My Daughter's Age, Who Are Still In The Process Of Forming Themselves As Women, And In Need Of Encouragement To Remain True To Themselves.

The Word No, Carries A Lot More Meaning When Spoken By A Parent Who Also Knows How To Say Yes.