Hard to believe that another year is drawing to a close but
here we stand on the precipice of 2014.
Here are Mrs. Lo’s Top 10 Pieces of Advice for the new year, from
various sage persons I have known in my life:
10. ON PHOTOGRAPHS AND
MEMORIES - from my dear friend Vivian Lanzarone, professional photographer: “My
sister died when I was young, and when we looked around the house, we had
virtually no photographs of her. I
started taking lots of photos of the family and then became inspired to become
a professional photographer. You can
never have too many photographs of your family.
Never.”
9. ON BEING THERE FOR
YOUR KIDS – from Coach Kennedy, Senior Rowing Coach in the Hudson Valley,
Programs Director for the Newburgh Rowing Club and Head Coach of the NFA
Varsity Crew Team: “There is no choice
between a non championship crew meet and your son’s Playoff football game. Skip the crew meet. My mother came to every single one of my high
school football games. Every time I
looked up in the stands, I looked for her and every time, I found her there in
the stands. And it gave me courage and inspired
me. There’s nothing more important than
being in the stands for your son’s playoff football game.”
8. ON BEING ABLE TO
LET GO – from Coach Brad Clausen, Head Coach of the Goldbacks YFL D3 Division: “Sometimes
things happen in a game that shouldn’t happen.
But you have to let it go. What’s
more important is, how are you the adult, behaving as role models for these
kids. The kids are always watching to see how their coaches and parents will
react. In the end, football is a game. Accept it, thank God for your healthy players
and a great season, and move on.”
7. ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF PARENTHOOD OVER CAREER – from Judge Thomas Dolan, retired Dutchess County
Court Judge and Acting Supreme Court Justice:
“You want to know my advice on whether to accept that Law Partnership or
keep working part-time so you can be home with your baby? That’s simple, Julie. Put off making money for now. You’ll have plenty of time to make up for it
later. You’ll be a lawyer for the rest of your
life. But your kids will only be babies
for a little while.”
6. ON MARRIAGE – from my
Mom: “Never discuss the inner workings
of your marriage with anyone, not your kids, your girlfriends, not even with
me. Marriage is sacred, what happens in
a marriage is between you and your husband, and no one else.”
5. ON PARTNERSHIP –
from my Husband. When asked at a
cocktail party how we figured out the partnership split every year: “what’s to
figure out when you share everything you have?”
4. ON BULLIES – from Lolo
(my Dad): “you kids have been kind of sheltered
but soon you’re going to go out into the real world soon. There will be people who don’t like you,
either because you’re mixed race, or any number of
reasons. No matter what someone says to
you, you are never allowed to get in a fight over words. Words can hurt, but you don’t use physical
force to retaliate. Even if they make fun of your parents, you have to turn and
walk away. (And this part was for my
brother, not me) However, if someone throws the first punch, you have permission
to square up and finish it.”
3. ON SELF CONFIDENCE: from Michael, my 9 year old son: “You have to believe in yourself, Mommy,
because I always believe in you.”
2. ON MONEY - from
Phil Shatz, my mentor, and a former senior partner, now of counsel, to the
Poughkeepsie law firm of McCabe and Mack and one of the most successful people
I know (advice given to me when I was in my twenties and Phil was in his late sixties): “Kid, I’m going to give you a little piece of
advice about money. Right now, you have
enough. You just don’t realize it. People don’t realize that if they have enough
money to put a roof over their head, keep the lights on, and buy some food,
they have enough and the rest is just gravy.
Once you grasp that, you’ll not only be happier, you’ll start making
money hand over fist.”
1. ON LIFE – from Nellen,
my beloved grandmother: “Jules, remember
to count your blessings every day, just the way we do every night before you go
to sleep. Love Your Life and be thankful for what God
gives you, taking the good with the bad.
Because it’s the only Life you’re going to get – this is not a Dress
Rehearsal.”
Happy New Year’s Eve, Everyone! Thank you to all my Readers, for reading,
liking, sharing, commenting, entering the contests, and just checking the page
once in a while. It’s been a great 2013,
looking forward to spending 2014 together with you too! Remember to Count Your Blessings, Love You
All! <3 Mrs. Lo
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