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Rules I Try to Live By

Gayle Carper

Since I promised to do these commentaries, I decided to use the opportunity to organize.

I have all these sayings that I like on my refrigerator, or taped to the wall, in a computer file or in my wallet. Some of them are just for laughs, some are for inspiration and some just snippets of speeches or articles that I like.

A small group of them are ideas I tell myself or other people when dealing with the worries of everyday life. As a group, they make up some rules I try to live by.

I’m not the author of any of them, so in the written version of this commentary, I’ve given credit to my sources.

Here goes:

  1. When you make a promise, keep it.[1]
  2. Finish what you start.[2]
  3. Know where to draw the line.[3]
  4. Don’t let other people rent space in your head.[4]
  5. Feel bad, but don’t feel bad about feeling bad.[5]
  6. Don’t “should” on yourself or others.[6]
  7. Choose kindness.[7]
  8. What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.[8]
  9. Deeds, not words.[9]
  10. The handwriting on the wall may be a forgery.[10]
  11. Use your platform.[11]

 
For whichever holiday you choose to celebrate in this season of many holidays, I offer my best wishes and my hope for peace on earth and good will to all people.

Gayle Carper is a member of the Macomb City Council and she is a retired attorney and retired Professor of Law at Western Illinois University.

The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University or Tri States Public Radio.  Diverse viewpoints are welcome and encouraged.


[1] Pam Johnson, Code of the West

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Mel Kerker-Dunn

[5] Tom Carper

[6] Countless people

[7] Nan Crossman

[8] Doobie Brothers

[9] 1903 Suffragettes

[10] Ralph Hodgson

[11] Emily Boyer