Gail Sheehy

Eventually, all mentor-disciple relationships are meant to pull apart, usually sometime in the mid-30s. Those who hang on, eventually the mentor drops the disciple, and that's no fun. ”

If you begin to think you are solely responsible for keeping your loved one alive and safe, you will eventually find yourself playing God. This phase can develop into an unhealthy, codependent relationship. ”

I've had the experience of having a book praised but then it doesn't sell. Or not praised but then it sells. ”

Be willing to shed parts of your previous life. For example, in our 20s, we wear a mask; we pretend we know more than we do. We must be willing, as we get older, to shed cocktail party phoniness and admit, 'I am who I am.' ”

No sooner do we think we have assembled a comfortable life than we find a piece of ourselves that has no place to fit in. ”

Back in 1968, when I was 30, my entire life blew up. I had a life plan, and it collapsed for no rational reason. ”

Jill Clayburgh's life so closely paralleled mine, I feel as though a part of me lived a little through her and died a little with her. ”

The feminist spirit still lives! It shows most boldly among younger women from the millennial generation. ”

This is something caregivers have to understand: You have to ask for help. You have to realize that you deserve to ask for help. Because you need to keep on working on your own life. ”

When I was immobilized by fear, I might have a panic attack. I've had a couple of panic attacks in my life. ”