Simplicity

Keep it simple. The more you say, the less people remember.

How true that what we say is what stays in people's minds. The overcomplication of words is difficult to remember, and it's just better to get back to basics. Say what you need to say--and my boyfriend tends to ramble on--a side effect is that sometimes people tune out if things go on too long, if there's too much talking.

Whatever is worth doing at all, is worth doing well.

As a child, my parents always told me that grades didn't matter, as long as I tried my best. I was an honors student, and while I got paid a few dollars for each "A" that I earned in school, I liked doing well better.

My senior year of high school, I got my first "C" in an academic subject (physics). My parents' reaction was not what I expected. I had expected my parents to be upset (after all, my dad is just fantastic at math and science, and he tried to help me out)--"Did you try?" and I did, even though I was completely confused by the topic and the way the material was taught. My parents told me that it was fine because I worked hard to understand the material and did my best, even if it didn't look that way on my report card.

Service

If a true sense of value is to be yours it must come through service.

On my honor I will try

To serve God and my country

To help people at all times

And to live by the Girl Scout Law

Of course, it's been years since I was a Girl Scout (I made it as far as Cadette), so I had to look up the Girl Scout Law. But I still remember holding up three fingers and reciting this at the beginning of each Troop meeting. As a Girl Scout, we earned badges that we later sewed onto our vests or sashes. I didn't make it very far; I joined Girl Scouts because my friends were in my Troop, and I had a lot of fun.

That changed in my last year of Girl Scouts. Because many girls quit Girl Scouts or found that they wanted to focus their time on other activities, our Troop was much smaller, so we merged with another local Troop. This other Troop had a leader who was all about earning badges and selling many cookies, and at that point when it became work and about the importance of earning badges rather than learning about oneself or spending time doing things that were important to you, Girl Scouts was no longer fun. So I dropped out after that year (must have been 7th or 8th grade).

But here's the thing: after I left Girl Scouts, I was still quite involved in a lot of activities, volunteering my time with different organizations that focused on those in need, and I didn't need a badge to prove that I was worthy of that activity. I felt good about myself and felt that I was doing something worthwhile. For many years, I did volunteer work, and although right now my time has been pretty tied up, I still feel pretty good when I do something for someone else. I feel this way, because I'm doing something because it's important to me, and not because I have to earn a badge or proof to show that I did something.

That feeling is more meaningful than the Girl Scout badges, in my opinion.

Always time for friends

A friend asks only for your time not your money.

Again, no proofreading for the missing comma here...and a very cheerful looking fortune with the two smiley faces!

True, a friend does not ask for money (unless it's for a quick borrowing with a quick repayment--I've done that before where I've conveniently left my money somewhere, and I'm someplace that doesn't take credit cards or something). But more importantly, friends offer time to each other, time to talk, time to laugh, enjoy each other's company.

Now, I must add that I would like to add consideration to this. Be considerate--time is valuable not only for you, but also for your friends...sometimes people are busy...so be aware that sometimes they may not be able to offer up time immediately. I have a friend who is nice and everything, but she often asks me to do things at the last minute (for example, texting me that morning at 11 AM to ask me to lunch on the same day). However, this is more than an occasional occurrence, and it happens quite often. It's a bit frustrating--I'd like to give her my time but I am also busy and am a notorious planner, where I have my life scheduled out a week, if not several weeks, out in advance. Plus, turning down multiple last-minute invitations really makes me feel bad and scummy, because I do not know if it gives off the impression that I don't want to do anything with her.

Delegating

Tension in a partnership? It might be time for you to delegate.

I wonder...what is the tension in the partnership? Is it caused by someone who is doing all the work? Is the tension mine? If it is, delegation to someone who is responsible may help.

If someone is taking all the work, I hope that some of the work gets delegated to me--as long as it's something I don't mind doing at all.

Basically, this fortune seems like one of those that calls to mind the idea of sharing, the idea of collaborating, communicating, and working together toward a mutual goal.

Is it perhaps an unequal partnership? Sometimes I am not sure if simple delegation would answer the question. Sometimes, leaving the partnership is the best solution.

Inner wisdom

Take some time and listen to your own inner wisdom.

H0w often have we done this: We had a nagging thought or instinct--but did something different entirely? Sometimes our first impressions or our first instincts are the right ones. Knowing when to heed that little voice in our head is important. Otherwise, our decisions may not be the right ones.

Brer Rabbit

If you chase two rabbits, both will escape.

Far from being instructions on trapping or hunting, I think of trying to do too much at the same time. For instance, if I am trying to finish two things for a tight deadline (which of course, would be at the same time and date), and trying to complete them well.

In those situations, it's really difficult to do it well. Or in some cases, it's difficult to even complete both tasks, in which case you need to regroup and either focus on one task (or rabbit) so the goal is accomplished.

Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

A gambler not only will lose what he has, but also will lose what he doesn't have.

I think of the lyrics from The Gambler...and also from The Winner Takes It All and I imagine someone desperate, someone on a winning streak--the lucky run. Someone who has brought all he has to the table. "Just a little more, I'll win it back," he thinks to himself. Deeper in debt, another chip to lay on the table. "Just a bit more--my lucky streak will come back."

Said, if you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right

He's convinced himself that he has nothing to lose, but everything to gain. But by betting more than what he has--he's going to lose it all and spend time trying to get himself back in the black. Or perhaps his wife won't be happy and their marriage will disolve. Perhaps he'll file bankruptcy and lose the home that he and his wife have built together.

You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away and know when to run
You never count your money, when you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin', when the dealin's done
Every gambler knows that the secret to survive is
Knowing what to throw away and knowing what to keep
'Cos every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser
And the best that you can hope for is dyin' in your sleep

Knowing when to stop, when to stop taking chances--sometimes that takes real strength and confidence, too. Knowing when to walk away, not to give up--but to keep oneself from losing everything, whether it's money or love. Taking a risk can be worth it. This I know for sure--we've all taken risks, whether it's tossing that last chip on Red 5 on a rouletta in Vegas, falling in love, buying a house...sometimes the risks are worth it.

Maybe that Red 5 was that lucky number. Maybe that was the last of your savings. Perhaps the person you fall for is the one you end up marrying. But maybe it all falls apart and you get your heart broken. Maybe that house was the one of your dreams--or perhaps it turned out to be a money pit and not the right place for you at all. But more importantly, knowing when to take a chance is important, and moreover, it's also important to know when not to risk it all.

Athrilling time

Athrilling time is in your immediate future.

First of all, no proofreaders for this fortune?

Second of all, a thrilling time in my future sounds like a good thing. Hopefully it is a good thrilling time and not one of those miserably thrilling times (i.e., dangerous). I hope the smiley faces on this fortune are a good indication of what sort of thrilling time I am meant to have in the immediate future.

Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.

Charity begins at home, and justice begins next door.

I've been looking at this fortune, wondering how to interpret this. Charity begins at home--the first thing that comes to mind is that we are all taught to do chores. Perhaps we begin by cleaning our rooms for a dollar. Or perhaps washing the dishes for ten cents--or whatever allowance we got from our parents. But rather than doing these chores for monetary reimbursement, we (hopefully) learn to do things like take out the trash so Dad won't have to, or to clean the shower so Mom won't have to. It's the consideration for others that we learn at home.

Now as far as justice--it is a bit of an extension of charity. Instead of doing things for people that we truly know and love at home, we extend our treatment to others. Treat them kindly, treat them with respect, and to be fair to others.