“We are all making much too much of all of this. Much too much. Life is supposed to be good. It’s supposed to feel fun. People are supposed to be your friends. They’re supposed to evoke from you good things. You’re supposed to evoke from them good things. You are not supposed to all want the same things. You have come with great variety.It’s not virtuous to be the same. It’s not inappropriate to be different. In other words, all of it’s all right. Just make a decision that no matter what, you’re going to feel good and you’re not gonna let all these petty little things that have been worrisome for so long, that you’ve been taught by so many who are around you, you’re just not going to play that game any more. Next time somebody puts you in a position where you feel that way just a little bit, stop and say, ‘Oh, yeah - I promised myself I wasn’t going to do that any more.” And they say, ‘Do what?’ And you say, ‘Worry about what you think.’ (Laughter from audience.) ‘I promised myself I wasn’t going to do that any more. I promised myself I wasgoing to give myself the benefit of the doubt and give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you love me.” And we don’t think one of them will say, ‘Well, you’re wrong — Idon’t.’”
- Abe - Atlanta, GA, 5/4/02