Perhaps the best advice I’ve ever received was actually not advice, but a license plate frame. When I was just in my twenties, I saw a license plate frame that said, “This is not a rehearsal.” It was like a bolt of lightening hit me. True, there are do-overs in life. But this is a live performance, and you only get one chance to do something right the first time, therefore, you have to do the best you can and not rely on a do-over. The older I get, the more I realize how that saying has impacted me.

Be kind and always look your best.

If you don’t succeed, try, try again.

One quote that’s always stuck with me is from Robin Williams: “There’s no shame in failing. The only shame is in not giving it your best shot.” That really resonated with me, especially in a creative life where rejection is part of the journey. It reminded me to stop worrying about perfection and just dive in, heart first. Whether it’s writing, parenting, or trying something totally new, I try to show up, give it my all, and not be afraid of falling flat. Sometimes, that’s when the magic actually happens!

Long before it became a popular catch phrase my dad would always tell us not to sweat the small stuff. And I did my best to follow that rule.

I have a favorite quote from an unusual person (for me, anyway). “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”—Yogi Berra. This quote is perfect because it’s not so much about which path you take, but how you own your choices and follow-through on them.

Stand up for yourself against the bullies of the world. When you do, you strip them of their power to control you.