So, as is my sometimes Sunday tradition, I am using tonight for my confessional.
Here goes… In my life as mother, friend, sister, wife, co-worker and manager I sometimes find myself giving advice to others that I truly believe is right–and that I also know I don’t follow myself. I want everyone around me to be happy and healthy and well-adjusted. Therefore, I give kick ass advice about priorities and personal decisions. But while I truly believe these things when I tell other people, I don’t put them into action myself.
Think Emily Post put her elbows on the table or Ann Landers kept her neighbor’s Tupperware after the potluck? Hey, it’s possible.
And I want to make one more thing clear: other than to my kids, this advice is not unsolicited. People ask me. They do!
Some recent examples of my pearls of wisdom (ahem):
- Don’t worry so much.
- Eat all your vegetables.
- Remember you are perfect just the way you are.
- All that matters is that you have fun.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
- Get a good night’s sleep.
- Get up, get outside and go for a walk.
- Don’t work too much; you have to take care of yourself.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Don’t worry what other people think.
- Floss.
- Go for a run, it will make you feel better.
- Don’t take it personally.
- You shouldn’t feel guilty about ____.
- Don’t email in anger.
- Take the time to listen.
- Be present.
- Don’t assume.
- If you don’t know, ask.
- Put on sunscreen.
- If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say any thing at all.
- Don’t pick it; it will only make it worse.
Understanding the right thing to do and actually doing it are two completely different things. Ever see doctors and nurses smoking out in the hospital parking lot? Just because we know what is good for us–and for other people–doesn’t mean we actually do any of it. But as a mom, I have aspirations to be a role model and a guide for the boys. That might be a tall order and I know nobody is perfect, but I’m going to try to follow at least some of my own advice.
I hear it’s pretty good.
