Nice article about his book:
http://www.beaversonidol.com/articles/whatilearnedfromclayaikensbook.html
Being born with a collapsed lung doesnt mean you wont one day have the lungpower to knock a stadium full of people out of their seats with your voice (not to mention a nation of TV viewers).
Recognizing your mistakes demonstrates intelligence; learning from them demonstrates wisdom.
The worst critics you'll encounter in your life you'll most likely run into on a playground; after that, dealing with the grown-up ones is child's play.
There are worse things than poverty; poverty doesn't define you but how you deal with it can.
Families come in all shapes and sizes and may or may not include blood kin and loved ones.
There's a proper place and time for being loud, funny, uninhibited and the center of attention... the classroom is not that place... the stage is. (If in doubt, just ask yourself which place you'd rather have your mom show up to observe your behavior.)
Listen to your mom; she may not always be right, but she'll always be your mom so she deserves your attention (or she may threaten to take you over her knee).
A skinny person can have broad shoulders, and standing tall doesn't always refer to height.
If you can laugh at yourself, you're more likely to be taken seriously.
Your mom will always tell you the truth, even when it hurts... her.
The best Christmas memories are associated with giving rather than receiving great gifts.
You may be able to fool yourself, but you can't fool your mom; she probably knows you better.
Stubbornness can be an attribute when it involves sticking to your faith and moral values.
Your mom knows when you're getting too big for your britches because she knows what size britches you look best in.
The best learners make the best teachers; especially if they continue learning even while they teach.
You don't need a classroom to be a teacher.
Don't stop striving to make a difference even when it's obvious you already have because setting that example is one of the ways you are.
Even if you think you've gotten away with something, you'll probably end up telling on yourself someday as a lesson to others.
It's amazing how much smarter your mom gets with age... yours, not hers.
When you're a child, standing out in the crowd can lead to ridicule; when you're an adult, it can lead to adulation.
Millions of people can't all be wrong or blind or deaf, but you may need to believe they are to remain grounded.
You can't make people love you, but you can't stop them from loving you either.
Dare to dance.
I squealed when I saw him on Scrubs. And I just love when he bites his lower lip. It's my favorite.
