From age 16 to age 20, a woman's body is a temple. From 21 to 45, it's an amusement park. From 45 on, it's a terrarium. Gina Barreca More Quotes by Gina Barreca More Quotes From Gina Barreca If anger were mileage, I'd be a very frequent flyer, right up there in First Class. Gina Barreca women anger class Interestingly, anger and lust are also elusive states once they have passed. Trying to recall why you were angry about something when you've calmed down is like trying to remember why you were in love with someone who no longer attracts you: the initial impulse triggering the emotion is impossible to recapture. Gina Barreca anger lust feelings Anger is the quintessential individual-signature emotion: I am what makes me mad. Gina Barreca signatures mad anger Truth is like nuclear waste: it needs to be dealt with carefully. Sometimes it needs to be buried way, way out of town. And sometimes it should never be uncovered at all. Gina Barreca nuclear way needs Having a lean and hungry look was frowned upon in my Italian neighborhood where a girl was considered too skinny if she could make her knees touch. Gina Barreca italian girl looks Although fear in the right dosage and under the right circumstance protects us ... imaginary fear offers straitjackets instead of lifejackets, nooses instead of safety nets. Gina Barreca safety circumstances fear Confessions are like tattoos in that 1) You convince yourself that the immediate pain of going through the process means it won't bother you later on; 2) They are permanent. Gina Barreca tattoo pain mean Laughing together is as close as you can get to a hug without touching. Gina Barreca touching kissing laughing I have an intimate relationship with books. After all, I take them with me into the bathtub-not an invitation I offer lightly. Gina Barreca reading intimate-relationships book It's not that diamonds are a girl's best friend, but it's your best friends who are your diamonds. It's your best friends who are supremely resilient, made under pressure and of astonishing value. They're everlasting; they can cut glass if they need to. Gina Barreca value best friends girl Like love, breakfast is best when made at home. Gina Barreca best home love breakfast If you believe that your best years are behind you, you've guaranteed they are; I'm going to dance into that good night, with the oldies turned up loud. Gina Barreca best good you dance Two things I do for maintenance: I get a manicure once a month, and I see my therapist about every six weeks. I am happy to report that, at this point, my nails crack more often than I do. Gina Barreca i-am-happy i-am nails happy We should learn to take genuine pride in a job well done and not expect praise for one simply carried out. Gina Barreca job well-done pride praise The '60s had edge; the '70s had embroidery. Gina Barreca edge had embroidery Every patient tends to bury the most important story inside some other story, just the way new writers often 'bury the lede.' 'Burying the lede' is an old journalism term for when you only find out the real point about halfway into the article, but it also applies to therapy. Gina Barreca new you journalism way I'm pretty much done with mindfulness. I'm just going to start paying attention. Gina Barreca pretty start done attention I see taking care of my emotional and mental health in the same way that I see taking care of a garment: After it's been through wear and tear, it needs attention. Gina Barreca mental-health care health way Almost 30 years ago, I started seeking help from a counselor with a master's of social work in New York City, but we were never a good match. It was like being in a bad relationship, except the guy could actually bill my health insurance company for lousy dates. Gina Barreca good health work relationship Here's something women need to stop doing to other women: We need to stop asking each other to lower our fees, cut our rates or work for free because we're members of the same sex. Gina Barreca stop women work sex