Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song and the Power of Perseverance

I like to believe that you don't need to reach a certain goal to be happy. I prefer to think that happiness is always there, and that when things don't go the way we might like them to, it's a sign from above that something even better is right around the corner.

I made up my mind not to care so much about the destination, and simply enjoy the journey.

Sometimes when you least expect it, the tables turn and that scary feeling that has taken hold of you for so long somehow turns into hope

...I started to realize how many great things could happen by confronting the things that scare you most.

Without inspiration, we’re all like a box of matches that will never be lit.

The future can be a scary thing. Because it's something that's always left open for anything to happen. It's a total mystery. But at the same time, it's so exciting. Each decision we make can alter how our future will turn out, so how we end up in the future is really our decision. We never know what will be thrown at us, but it's up to each of us as to how we deal with whatever does come. No one else can decide that for us. While I might be wondering about what will happen down the road for me, and gt nervous about it now and then, I am also really hopeful for it because I know there will be so many windows of opportunity that can really change my life if I choose to take hold of them and not be afraid to go for it.

No one can see your life the way you see it.

It's really important to do everything that you possibly can to stay true to yourself.

Searching for a perfect love is not easy to find,but having the love of our God is more perfect than what you have found".

Things never happen exactly how you think they will.

Once you let yourself believe that you've gotten to the top, you've lost sight of the real goal. Which is to keep climbing no matter what. And by climbing, I don't mean trying to out do yourself with even more accomplishments. Instead, what I mean is that just when we think we have done something well, we should start looking at the other areas of our lives that need attention.

Yes, I've worked hard; and yes, I may have achieved a certain level of success-but I'm very clear about the fact that none of it would be worth it without doing the things that keep me close to God.

Children laugh 400 times per day... the average adult laughs 15 times per day. Somewhere along the way we lost 385 laughs a day.