save yourself

One of my very first posts was entitled “carlotta’s wisdom.”  In it, I shared three of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever heard or given. If you have not yet read it (or haven’t read it in a while), I highly recommend doing so.

In response to yesterday’s post, “hitting the wall,” Dibby responded with a comment containing some more wonderful wisdom passed on from her mom and my friend, Carlotta.  I just couldn’t pass up sharing it with everyone as a post proper:

“When you are feeling crowded and think your upcoming schedule is too much, chances are that something will get cancelled.”

[My thoughts:  Where “chances” don’t take care of it, choices will.]

“Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you think it’s going to be.”

[My thoughts:  Expectations are powerful.  Both of the truths contained above result in enjoying everything more.]

“If you wait long enough to do something, sometimes the need to do it goes away.”

[My thoughts:  While this hails a certain benefit of mindful procrastination, it also supports the finding that 80% of the things we worry about … never happen at all.]

And this post’s namesake:

“Save yourself.”

[My thoughts:  If you don’t, you are in no position to help anyone else.  As the kindly flight attendants instruct, “Place the mask securely over your own mouth before assisting others.”]

I don’t believe I can add much more.  As Dib astutely assessed, “My mother was brilliant!”  And that she was, in all senses of the word.

Thank you, Carlotta.  Your spirit and wisdom are still very much alive.