This I Know For Sure... I think.

Every month I get Oprah's "O" magazine in the mail, and after I skim the movie reviews, interviews, and oh-so-profound quotes about the meaning of life and other such things, I get to the one monthly feature that I just can't get excited about. I love the different writers in the magazine, have tried the recipes and genuinely enjoyed them, and have put a lot of stock in the book reviews. However, there is that one darn article that appears month after month that I just can't take seriously. "This I Know For Sure." At the end of each magazine, there is an article about a recent revelation of hers. These musings usually have something to do with the meaning of life (Oprah seems to have this all worked out) or being grateful (apparently Oprah counts her blessings daily... I can only imagine. "#1: Dr. Oz's infinite supply of botox #2. my four personal assistants without whom I would not remember to count my blessings"). The bottom line is, though, that the center of each article is something she knows "for sure." My problem with this--how many things can we really know "for sure" in life? I don't know about you, but I don't have the whole purpose of my life worked out yet. At the ripe old age of 21, I don't have a whole lot figured out "for sure." However, as they say, "don't knock it 'til you try it." And so, in fairness to Oprah, I am hereby making my own list of "Things I Know For Sure."

1. When in doubt, throw it out. This applies to suspicious leftovers in the fridge whose origins are unknown or mascera that may or may not be left over from the 8th grade formal. When it comes to things you eat or wear; moldy eye make up and congealed turkey gravy are not good for you. This I know for sure.

2. Smile. A lot. Those who know me well know I am not Miss Mary Sunshine. I am not a morning person, I get grouchy when I don't have the right amount of coffee in me at any given moment, and am generally more akin to Oscar the Grouch than cheery little Elmo. However, being the grouch gets you no where and nothing. When I can't find any ripe avocados at the grocery store, I smile, almost maniacally at the produce guy, and he is more than happy to look in the back for me. When they don't have my size in the only golf shirt that isn't a hideous pastel color, a smile is usually all it takes to get the guy in the sports store to look in back storage for me. When I'm on the phone with someone trying to get one little question answered and they keep giving me the roundabout, I put on a smile and put on my "patient" voice. People can hear a smile through the phone, I swear it's true. While it is said that flattery gets you everywhere, it's usually obnoxious and reminiscent of used car salesmen; I say, a smile gets you everywhere. And even when it doesn't, it can usually get you the only decently ripe avocado in the whole produce department. This I know for sure.

Ok, I know that's only two things I know for sure, but let's face it, there aren't many sure things in life. I DO know for sure that it is midnight and beyond time for me to get to bed, and that I will finish this list later. Those things I know for sure... I think.