Lord knows I wouldn’t be such a well-rounded individual without a little help from my friends, Romans and countrymen. Any time someone passes along a useful nugget of information or advice, I listen and see if I can somehow apply it to my life.  Turns out most of it is, indeed, applicable.

Figured I’d share some of these pearls of wisdom … if for no other reason than to remind me to preach what I practice.

“Always wash your face before you go to bed. Always.”, My Grandma Ruby told me this at some point in my youth. Unfortunately, I didn’t always follow her advice until my late 20’s.  Wish I would’ve listened accordingly.  Even in 80’s, her skin was flawless.

“If you like someone, like them. If you don’t like someone, then don’t like them. Whatever you do, don’t pretend to like somebody or waffle back and forth.”, Profound words from my college Acting professor.  Words that have become ingrained in my essence.

“Red, red wine makes you feel so fine, but red, red punch will make you blow red chunks.”, This pearl of wisdom was printed on a sign outside a party I attended in college. To this day, I still opt not to drink low-end hooch or well liquor … mainly because of the intense amount of red vomit in the dorm hallway that night. It was like a scene out of “The Shining.” Redrum, indeed.

“Here are the rules: always say yes and you can figure stuff out later.”, Tina Fey learned early on to never say no, to anything.  This is what she told Oprah was one of her AHA! moments.  It quickly became one of mine as well.

“Looks. Charm. And charisma. That’s all you need to succeed.”, A wildly attractive anchorman believed this about me. I’ve always felt like he was right … save for the fact that I only seem to have only one out of three of those qualities at any given time.

“Loquacious. You are loquacious.”, When I was in pre-school, my dad would teach me a new vocabulary word everyday.  Loquacious remains my favorite because, even at four-years old — it summed me up in one word.  I weep for people who are taciturn.

“The first cut … is always the deepest.”, This is the only thing my therapist every told me that resonated with me.  She said it after I had just experienced my very first big-boy break-up. I was devastated. She reminded me I would never feel this bad every again and she was right.

“Never leave your past in the behind. Or your behind in the past.”, I heard one of the members of my beloved B-52s say this during an early MTV interview.  Depending on which way you look at it … it’s either insightful or insanely goofy.

It’s strange the things that have stayed with me over the years.  My own personal creed, you ask?  “Avoid negativity at any cost.” It’s been my motto since I hit the big 4-0.  Five little words that have revolutionized how I live my life.  Feel free to steal that little gem … just be sure to give credit where credit is due.