Letter to Abigail

I belonged to a book club for several years.  Each month, the assigned host, would select the next book.  One month, Maya Angelo's book, Letter to My Daughter was selected.  It was also suggested that we take the time to write our own words of wisdom to our daughter or son.  Here were mine:

• Don't be so hard on yourself.  When you are 50, you will realize the body you had at 25 wasn't so bad.
• Your word should be golden.  If you really don't want to do something, just say NO.
• Do a few things well, rather than a lot of things half-ass.
• Appreciate what you have.  Learn to differentiate between what you want and what you need.
• Nothing is black or white.  Look for shades of gray.
• If you have a child at 40, you will be going through menopause while the child begins the teenage years.  You will have more wisdom, but less energy.
• Be true to yourself; stand up for your convictions even though it won't earn you a popularity contest.
• Fight for injustice and truth.  Don't wait for someone else to do so, because they won't.
• Vote
• Understand what feminism has done for you as a female and embrace it.
• Give yourself permission to have fun; don't take yourself too seriously.
• Live within your means.  Stuff won't make you happy.
• Charity is an act of giving to those less fortunate, not a town where the poor live.
• If in doubt, don't.
• Be assertive, but not aggressive.  It is often just a fine line between the two.
• There is no weakness in admitting you are wrong.
• It can take only a moment to do something you will regret a lifetime.  Please think about this when you want a tattoo.

AND AS PASSED ON FROM YOUR GRANDMOTHER:

• No white shoes after Labor Day or before Easter.
• It's just as easy to fall in love with a rich man as it is a poor man.
• Wash bed linens in hot water to kill the dust mites.