Ask Amy: Exiting with some well-worn wisdom
Identify, develop, or explore your core ethical and/or spiritual beliefs.
Recognize and detach from your own need to control someone else.
Respect boundaries – yours and others’.
Seek the counsel of people who are wiser than you are. Ask their advice, and listen.
I sometimes supply “scripts” for people who have asked me for the right words to say, and so I thought I would boil these down to some of the most important statements I believe anyone can make.
They are:
I need help.
I’m sorry.
I forgive you.
I love you, just as you are.
I’m on your side.
You’re safe.
You are not alone.
Now that I’m near the end of my movie, I hope you’ll pay attention to the end credits.
Many thanks to Chicago friends and colleagues, including Jim Warren, who found me, Ann Marie Lipinski, who hired me, Steve Mandell, who represented me, and editors Mary Elson, Bill O’Connell and Carrie Williams. Thank you to “Gentleman Jack” Barry, who softened my exit.
And especially to Tracy Clark, a talented novelist who has helped to correct my faulty thinking and grammar for many years.
Finally, much gratitude to faithful readers, who can find me on social media and through my regular newsletter.
Onward!
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
©2024 Amy Dickinson. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
