Gina Greenlee, Postcards and Pearls:Life Lessons from Solo Moments in New York

"No map? No problem. Let commitment and determination lead the way."

"When life hands you lemons, why stop at lemonade? Create an entire product line."

"If it’s true we only live once, then raise your red velvet curtain every chance you get."

"Keep moving. Your next big thing may be just around the corner."

"Till your inner garden and your outer landscape will flourish"

"The adventures of a lifetime begin with “Yes."

"Fear not your flame as you flood your caverns with firelight."

"By necessity, we are direct and swift in speech and movement. This is the true dynamic that underlies our apocryphal rudeness. Also true: we do not make eye contact. Neither do we encourage it. Consider the number of humans a New Yorker will pass on a given day – on the subway, in a train or bus terminal, in an office or simply walking down the street. To facilitate speed and minimize drama, it’s productive to keep one’s eyes focused ahead."

"You’d be surprised who will back down when you speak up."

"For all the energy directed toward the stratagem of big city living, New Yorkers are never too distracted to respond to, and more often, proactively assist visitors. Tourists tracing the routes of subway maps with their fingers, squinting at street signs or staring at a slip of paper with confusion are typical recipients of our generosity. We know our city can be as challenging as it is fascinating, and we want visitors to have a good experience."

"If you built the box, you can also break it down."

"I know when people think of New York, they think of theater, restaurants, cultural landmarks and shopping,” I told him. “But beyond the iconic skyline and the news from Wall Street, New York is a collection of villages. In our neighborhoods, we attend school, play Kick the Can, handball and ride our bikes. I grew up knowing the names and faces of the baker, the shoe repair family, the Knish man and the Good Humor man who sold me and the other kids in my neighborhood half a popsicle for a nickel. My father took me to the playground where he pushed me on the swing, helped balance me on the seesaw and watched as I hung upside down by my feet on the monkey bars. Yes,” I told the interviewer, “people actually grow up in New York."

"Want more fizz in your life? Shake things up."

"Practice trust in small matters for huge returns in the large ones."

"Nothing is lost in a stumble, only in the refusal to get up."

"The alchemy of diamonds from the rough is to mine every moment."

"Experiment with grounding yourself with who you are, not what you do."

"Those who walk the talk get the work."

"As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to reconnect with a long-held love."

"If you’ve broken any promises you’ve made to yourself, now is the time to make up for it."