by Ann Marie Dwyer

Created on: February 28, 2007   Last Updated: January 11, 2009

The only way for a one-liner to be thought changing is to provoke thought. While most memorable one-liners are short and pithy, some of them are poignant reminders of how to live our lives with passion.

1. Do not ignore the obvious.

2. I don't accept "I don't know" as an answer.

3. Specificity is the rule.

4. Refuse to be a victim.

5. I did that.

What do they mean? Translations:

1. How many times have you called a friend for advice? The first thing a good friend does is explains the situation back to you from their point of view. You could have done that.

More often than not, the answer is staring you in the face. You cannot see it because of the sequoia bark on your forehead, from where you were banging your head on the tree planted squarely in front of the forest.

Take a step back from your current position and look at your situation from another angle. Inevitably, the red herring will no longer just insult your nostrils, but instead wave a fin at you.

2. Do not give up. If one person does not know, ask someone else. Think of information as life blood. If you asked one person for a pint of blood and he said no, would you stop there? Of course not, you would keep asking.

Then be responsible enough to go back to the person who did not know and share! You already know that his life blood level is a little low.

3. Only in science fiction are there universal communicators. Whether you are asking or answering, unless you are saying exactly what you mean, the person listening will not understand. When you leave out portions, your listener fills them in with whatever notion is handy...even if it doesn't quite fit.

For an example as to how this works, write down the instructions for how to make a peanut butter (no jelly) sandwich. Take it to the most smart Aleck person you know, and ask them to follow the directions *exactly* as they are written. I doubt you would eat it.

4. Those who are treated as doormats are those who lie down before the door. Stand up. If you cannot win the battle alone, recruit. There is strength in numbers.

Don't be afraid to get better armor, either. Proactive self-protection is not necessarily paranoia.

5. Good, bad or indifferent. Take responsibility for your own actions. Yes, even the ones you wish you had not done in the first place.

People respect the fact that you are human, but only if you are willing to admit it.

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