Knowledge that Maturity Brings
(A response to "The Devil Wears Prada")

1. People are more important than things.
2. Tedious work is more tedious if you decide it is.
3. Success comes from believing in yourself, not the other way around.
4. Someone's expressed opinion is not an accusation of you.
5. Win-win is possible.
6. Changing how you look will not change how you truly feel about yourself.
7. Having more will not make you happy.
8. Love is more important than sex.
9. Other people are not out to get you.
10. Judging others causes you to not believe in yourself.
11. You can say no.
12. Walking away from a fight is usually the best choice.
13. 90% of life consists of just showing up; if you don't show up you aren't living.
14. The world doesn't owe you anything.
15. Some relationships are not worth the effort.
16. Too much [alcohol, speed, food, fashion, etc.] is just too much.
17. Hurt feelings are a choice.
18. It is not wrong to refuse to play by someone else's rules.
19. It's not about blame.
20. More communication is better than less, but not always.
21. Good enough is good enough: perfection does not exist.
22. If you assume someone is on your side, they are much more likely to help you.
23. Sharing what you have will make your life better.
24. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
25. There is enough to go around.

Beth Parkes, July 2006

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Beth Parkes is a square and contra dance caller from Massachusetts. She put this on her web site, here.

Plenty of wisdom in that knowledge, I'd say!

~ Becky in Tucson