Words of ADVICE

My grandmother told me to "clear a path to the door every night before bed." It makes for a smooth escape if there's ever a fire in the night.

Clear a Path to the Door

But "clearing a path to the door" came, in time, to mean so much more. I learned I'll be much happier tomorrow if I tidy all the clutter tonight.

And it's a good habit when getting involved with new people or activities. Trying mountain climbing or whitewater rafting becomes possible when I know I have a safe exit plan if it becomes too risky. That "clear path" is always a wise plan.

-GLYNDA HAMILTON Vancouver, WA

Bring the Ball

My family moved to a small Virginia football town when I was in fourth grade. I loved football, but I had three strikes against me. I was the "new kid," from "up north" and-gasp-"a girl." When I came home from school dejected that nobody would let me play, my mother said, "If you want to play football, you bring the ball." By next season, if you wanted me on your team, you had to take my little brothers too. I never forgot the lesson. I've been "bringing the ball" ever since.

-JACQUELINE TRAVERS Woodbine, MD

Know When to Go

I was on a four-day float trip down the Colorado River with a large, fun group. At the end, when I said I didn't want to get off the river, another woman said to me, "It's always best to leave while you're still having fun." It changed my outlook that day, and I've applied it to many other circumstances since.

-MAREN HIRSCHI Cedar City, UT

Silence Your Inner Critic

While learning to paint landscapes with my boyfriend, I complained that I couldn't turn off the critic in my head. He told me, "When that happens to me, I say 'Be quiet, I'm painting here. I'll talk to you later." It worked for me that day, and later in graduate school while I was writing papers. His advice made me a more confident person.

-KATE JOHNSON Conway, SC