Is there space among the woke for the still waking?

There are millions of people who are still undecided on whether they're down with the new America or not.

An America that is open, plural, gender equal, tolerant, and brings the whole world in — that's the mega force.

I'm still in many rooms that are old and problematic, but I'm also in a lot of room that are radically new.

We can't afford to lose sight of the extraordinary thing we're trying to do and the way in which we're actually doing it.

We have to be mindful of the bigger arc of history.

America is on track to basically become a subset of humanity.

We, [America], are actually trying to do something incredibly hard right now on a 50 to 100 year scale — which is to become a country without a majority.

How do we build an America in which being a little darker is not a presumption of guilt of foreignness, but in which we're also not joyless and unable to deal with [...] recognizing each other's differences?

Those of us who are from more than one place can sometimes be defensive in a way that's uncharitable and misses opportunities.

I hope we can be proud of what we're up to, regardless of the footprint that we make. The joy from our work can come from the reasons of why we love doing it, and not from who's affirming us externally. I hope that you have a word, like the word 'surreal' for me that keeps you in check.

Nebojte se založit si vlastní tradici, ať už bude jakkoliv bláznivá.

Nebojte se dát své děti na řemeslo, budou se mít dobře.

Aby tradiční značka přežila, je pro ni důležité, aby byla schopna inovovat.

Don’t worry about the believability of your stories. The reader will believe everything you want them to. The only thing you have to make sure is that you create a character with which the reader can empathise. They have to see and recognise something of themselves in the characters.

By reading we will develop our imagination which means that we will also increase our empathy levels. And neuroscientists actually found out that when you read fiction you will get this immediate boost of empathy.

Sometimes when I read books it feels like the author reaching out his hand to me and saying, “Hey, I get it, I’ve been through this before. I can explain it to you and while I explain to you I just sit next to you and let you know that you’re not alone.”

One night I thought my life would be very different if I was just like Pippi Longstocking. And then I thought what if every time I am anxious or scared to walk up to other kids I just imagined that I was Pippi Longstocking?

How do we stand on the edge of that vast ocean, and pull in for ourselves a most magical fish? How do we make sure that our creative and wild-hearted muse is always in the room with us when we bring a new piece of work into the world?

We all have a private mythology. We all stand with one foot on either side of the looking glass. How do we preserve that wilderness and share our unique terrain with the outer world?

Step through the looking glass frequently, go romping around out there, and come back and share with us what you’ve found.

If you can’t talk about your successes, who will?

Learn to be proud of your successes. Sometimes it can feel awkward and embarrassing but I think it’s really important that if you feel like you are doing things well, that you can say it.

Never ever take silence as a no.

Make something with love.