Quotes from Amy Dickinson

This is a tough situation. But it is what it is, and time has an amazing way of knitting together solutions as long as everybody stays calm and resolves to be as gentle and patient as possible.

Bullies never want to acknowledge their own actions. They want to move through life without reflection or apology.

Ask 10 people about their family relationships and at least five of them will report an estrangement.

Bullies often act out by marshaling aggression to cover up for insecurity.

When you are criticizing someone, you should speak only to your own experience - not others'.

When the choice is between a demanding relationship and a vintage pickup truck, I'll choose the truck every time.

Do not make your current partner pay for the crimes and misdemeanors of your previous partners.

All promises are empty - until they are fulfilled.

"Don't be stupid!" is excellent advice.

There is nothing more painful than being rejected simply for being who you are.

[from a reader] I hope she learns to look for the joy in life instead of picking out negatives - it will change her life for the better.

Healthy boundaries are important, but you may be building a brick wall when a picket fence would do.

Life is easier when you are comfortable in your own skin.

Almost any group of three is going to form a triangle, with two points closer to one another.

Marriage is an intimate relationship between two people. It is a bad idea to involve a third party.

Individuals who are uncomfortable with themselves sometimes emit vibes that make others uncomfortable.

Weddings and funerals are when you figure out who your real friends are.

The fullness of life is incubated in its messy places.

You cannot beat the clock. My advice is to grab your moments of grace and enjoy them while they last.

Being alone is almost always preferable to being with the wrong person.

In life, you don't get instant satisfaction. In life, you get to slog. You work. You grow. You take the long view. You fill the void with self-actualization.

We are not our best intentions. We are what we do.