I grew up in a town where there were no Muslims whatsoever, and there was not a lot of exposure.

I'm not an actress. I'm a writer.

Not deciding is a decision. People don't realize that not making a decision is a decision in itself.

I definitely think, when you're a teenager, it's more forgiving to talk to strangers and go up to people at a mall or whatever.

I remember being a teenager and feeling like I could talk to anyone anywhere about anything.

I always tell people, 'Take a class or volunteer.' It really helps you get out of your own little pocket of people you always see and gets you exposed to a new group of people.

Everybody's got baggage, and not just the classic, 'Oh I have so much baggage,' but everyone comes with so much context, and you're not just dating a person: you're dating all their context, too. Part of relationships is negotiating each other's context.

I think it's always good to get into your partner's mindset.

That's part of what a relationship is: you don't experience things in the same way.

I think it's lovely when people are more involved in local politics.

I have multiple tattoos.

There is no level of professional rejection that can compare to almost dying.

I haven't always been the best advocate for my own body. I was a too-tall, pudgy child who felt completely out of control of the genetic lottery ticket she'd been given, so in retaliation, I shut down. I ignored my body and hated it for not being tiny and cute like my friends' bodies.

Don't expect yourself to immediately love your stepchildren. In fact, you may hate them for a bit.

Do remember to pick your battles when you start parenting your stepchildren.

Don't sacrifice alone time with your spouse just because the kids seem needy. A united front requires adult time alone, so put it in the calendar and make it a priority. A house cannot stand on a shaky foundation.

A lot of new stepparents fall into the trap of letting children disobey household expectations in order to gain favor with them.

Never marry because it seems like what you should do.

Awkward conversations are painful, but they're way easier than divorce, resentment, and heartbreak.

Marriage isn't just about two people who fit together well. It's about two people who figure out how to fit together well.

I am somewhat grateful to the disintegration of my marriage for teaching me a lot about myself and about relationships, and though I wish it hadn't been such a taxing lesson, I wouldn't change a thing.

Experiences don't make us damaged goods; it's what we do with those experiences that matters.

Marriage, or any committed partnership, has become sacred to me, powerful and fragile all at the same time.

Being completely independent doesn't make you a strong woman - it's being strong enough to trust yourself in other people's hands that takes guts.