Dear Self:

Most importantly, you need to fish more and worry less. In case you need a bit more guidance, here are eight Guideposts to an Even Better Life:

1. Stick to your guns. Don't sit back quietly, wondering if you're really right. Most of the time, you were right.

2. Eat more chocolate and drink more wine. You knew all the time they had to be good for you, even if "antioxidant" wasn't in the dictionary yet.

3. Don't cheat -- ever. Every time you do, you lose a part of yourself that is not recoverable.

4. Laugh a lot, especially at yourself.

5. Walk in someone else's shoes. They may pinch a little, but you'll learn a lot.

6. Walk out of step once in a while. It leads to surprises, many of them pleasant.

7. Do on to others as you wish they had done to you.

8. Above all, be honest with yourself.