Good Advice I Wished I Had Years Ago

Not long ago, I rediscovered an old printed email that I had received from a friend and stashed away in my file of inspirational and wise quotes. I couldn’t actually find the author of the piece, but I was impressed that even after gathering dust for a few years, the advice given was still appropriate and true. I hope all the women in my life, young and old, ponder this checklist of sage wisdom. (I have added my own reflections about a few of the points, garnered by experience.) Here goes …

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to … (♥ It’s about empowerment.)

Work that little black dress

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour … (♥ That little black dress and a couple of accessories is a no-brainer classic!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
a youth she’s content to leave behind … (♥ You don’t even really get comfortable with yourself ’til you’re over forty for heaven’s sake!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to retelling it in her old age … (♥ I’m lovin’ this one!)

Nothing wrong with a pink toolbox

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra … (♥ All three are handy to have when there’s a job to get done. And duct tape, don’t forget the myriad of uses for duct tape!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
one friend who always makes her laugh … and one who lets her cry … (♥ Priceless!)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family … (♥ Except when it’s an heirloom piece that has love and stories attached to it.)

A lovely place setting for your guest

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honoured … (♥ It just makes that flimsy excuse for a party that much more special.)

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
a feeling of control over her destiny … (♥ It’s about that empowerment thing again.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
how to fall in love without losing herself … (♥ It’s best if you never develop any drooling over a potential mate. And never wait by the phone when you can have fun hanging around with friends and shopping!)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend, without ruining the friendship … (♥ This one’s tough to do, but will make you stronger – guaranteed.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
when to try harder… and when to walk away … (♥ Know that you’re only human.)

Don't obsess with dieting

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
that she can’t change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents … (♥ Lordy, how we’ve all tried at some point in time!)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
that her childhood may not have been perfect … but its over … (♥ Don’t dwell on the bad stuff, just remember the things that bring a smile to your face.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more … (♥ Interestingly, this changes over the years as our perception of love changes.)

Be friends with alone time

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
how to live alone … even if she doesn’t like it … (♥ Sometimes life unfolds differently when it’s just you around.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
whom she can trust, whom she can’t, and why she shouldn’t take it personally … (♥ Sadly, sometimes this lesson comes at a cost, but we learn from our mistakes.)

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
where to go … be it to her best friend’s kitchen table … or a charming inn in the woods … when her soul needs soothing … (♥ Whether it’s some quiet time soaking in a tub, chatting over a glass of wine, or a time away at a retreat, every gal needs some TLC.)

More than you can handle?

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW …
what she can and can’t accomplish in a day … a month … and a year … (♥ Gosh, does the to-do list ever get shorter?!)