There was a point in time where the thought of people even talking about me made me anxious. Physically.
I've always felt that the best whips and chains are in the mind. With a little creativity, the physical ones are hardly necessary.
There's always, always a choice. My options might really, truly suck, but that doesn't mean there isn't a choice.
Whenever you've got a choice, do good, kiddo. It isn't always fun or easy, but in the long run it makes your life better.
The human mind isn't a terribly logical or consistent place. Most people, given the choice to face a hideous or terrifying truth or to conveniently avoid it, choose the convenience and peace of normality. That doesn't make them strong or weak people, or good or bad people. It just makes them people.
Growing up is all about getting hurt. And then getting over it. You hurt. You recover. You move on. Odds are pretty good you're just going to get hurt again. But each time, you learn something.
There's more magic in a baby's first giggle than in any firestorm a wizard can conjure up, and don't let anyone tell you any different.
Since you know the means of getting better, in the name of God, make use of them. Do not take on anything beyond your strength, do not be anxious, do not take things too much to heart, go gently, do not work too long or too hard.
Last year I was a judge for a prize in England, the T. S. Eliot Prize, so I read everything that was published in England last year.
When I remember my life in Russia it is in totally dark colours.
Curtain! Fast music! Light! Ready for the last finale! Great! The show looks good, the show looks good!