Learning from 2009 Do-Overs!

Learning from 2009 Do-Overs!

Before we launch headlong into 2010, let's take a moment to reflect on 2009. No sense in re-inventing the wheel, I always say, so it's worth a few moments to groove the lessons learned this year to clear the way for the inevitable new ones coming our way next year. Here's what I suggest:

First, ask: If I could take a Do-Over! on anything this year, what would it be?

Then, ask: What did I learn from this imaginary Do-Over!?

Here's a sampling of the Do-Over! wisdom my girlfriends shared:

"When writing emotionally charged emails, wait a day before pressing the "Send" button."

"Don't react to a situation. Instead, keep your mouth shut until you have time to think. I lost one of my best friends this year over a misunderstanding."

"I wish I could do-over the way I reacted to a conflict within a group of my friends. I wish I had been more honest, with myself especially, about how the conflict affected me. I acted 'fair' when I was totally pissed off. I tried to be a friend to both sides and it felt increasingly slippery and gross."