“No one who is trying to be themselves will be free from tragedy. External circumstances will forever continue to frustrate us on our way. We are so conditioned to the expectation of the worst that we have become suspicious of peace, joy and love and are certain that when we experience joy, horror must be just around the corner. We cannot stop a hurricane, silence a storm or keep a loved one from leaving us. But it is our response and reaction to these catastrophic experiences that will determine whether we will continue to survive and grow toward becoming a fully functioning person. This is another way of saying that fully functioning persons use pain and joy equally in determining themselves. They can either relinquish the responsibility for their lives to outside forces such as society, family, friends, or lovers, or they can assume the bittersweet responsibility of their own self-creation.”

~ Leo Buscaglia