It’s okay to take a beat, a pause before you answer: “Hold on, let me think about how this is going to work...” I’ve seen a lot of mistakes or loss of confidence in an employee because they just blurted out a guess or starting off in the wrong direction only to have to go back- just because the plan hadn’t been thought through. It only takes a minute.


15, 18, 20



Knowing something is right and application of it are two different things. To apply yourself takes discipline. Practice it.


15



Time is of the essence


16



Your intuition speaks in statements


17, 19, 21



They’re gonna be pretty mean to you for a few years. Love them, if only to spite them! (ha ha)


11. 12, 13



Look into YMCA “family camp” in PA.


7



Plan a trip to Disney this year.


6



Mom’s scrambled eggs: Use fresh eggs. Scramble vigorously. Don’t add water or milk, just cook in copious amount of butter. Add salt and pepper.


12



Toddler not interested in food? Hand them a random kitchen gadget to play with while you’re feeding them dinner, they’ll eat more if distracted.


1,2



Don’t let some dumb-sh*t’s overconfidence get you killed.


11, 14, 17, 19, 21



Start saving money early. Save as much as you can. There are plenty of things worth spending your money on, but be mindful about your money - Don’t p*ss it away.


15, 20



Begin colon cancer screening at 40. We have a family history on both sides.


21



Beautiful girls don’t exist for your pleasure. They’re not there for you. They, like you, exist to find out what it is to be alive in their body in this lifetime and to learn what makes them feel most like themself. They’re here, like you, to grow into themselves, to enjoying being alive, to marvel in creation with all its beauty and tragedy, injustices, banality and thrills. No one, friend or foe is an object for your experience


14, 16, 19, 21



Life isn’t a straight line, it’s so much more complex than that! Good things, bad things, boring or interesting things are all always happening. And always changing. So are you. And that’s good.


17, 21



Writing is re-writing


15, 18



Dress to people will listen to you, not look at you. (This is especially true at school and work.)


15, 18, 21



Always have a 5 year plan. Be thinking of goals you want to work towards, however big or small. What inspires you? What drives you? What do you want to accomplish or cure or solve?


15, 17, 21



Puberty is like putting a 12 year old in the pilot seat of a fighter jet. A total sh*t show at first, then better but still erratic and dramatic until they really get a feel for the speed and the pressure, the gauges, etc. They’ll learn when to question or to trust their instincts. Tell him that he’ll fly this jet for the rest of his life and it will always be dangerous because it’s an effing jet, but he will learn how to fly it expertly. He’ll do good, have fun, accomplish missions and refuel.


12



Life is hard. But it's not so hard you can't figure it out. You're going to be fine. xoxo


11-21



Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter. Hush until you heal.


12, 18



Read or listen to The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest.


17, 21



“Love is giving your heart without expectation.” - Dan Fogelman


16, 21



Never allow anyone to tell you who you are.


17



If you can afford to send flowers when a baby is born or when someone dies, do so.


21



Some things just don’t come easy. That’s the point. Practice working for what you want. Nothing is sweeter than when you accomplish something you set out to do. Go for it!


11, 14, 17, 21



You always have a choice. Always.


15, 19, 21



I would rather deal with a big truth than a little lie. Whatever it is you’re going through we can solve it together but only if we’re both honest.


14



Never make a decision from a place of hopelessness.


14, 16, 21



Always keep a can of WD-40 in the house.


21



If it costs you your peace it’s too expensive.


19