A few weeks ago, Pinkie Pattie Lee wrote a fabulous letter to her 20 year-old self that inspired many of our writers to chime in and send words of wisdom and guidance to their younger selves as well (check out these fabulous posts from Kim and Leslee!). Today Suzanne joins the bunch with her insightful (and hilarious) advice -- and maybe the next time we're in traffic, we can all learn a little something...

A word of advice to my younger self: Read the bumper stickers. Behind the clichés, and the weird fonts, and the occasional tackiness, there is great wisdom within.

Here are a few to look out for:

• One day at a time. Yes, I know this one has AA connotations and its Gothic script kind of makes you scratch your head. But it turns out to be great advice, especially for a gal who likes to plan as much as you do. Unlike some other bumper stickers (ahem, Carpe Diem), it’s not suggesting you throw all thoughts of the future out the window. It just reminds you of a few important rules of the road: slow down, know where you are right now, and take this journey one turn at a time. If you do this, you’ll get where you really want to go (eventually) without taking too many wrong turns. And you won’t miss all the good stuff there is to see along the way.   

• This too shall pass. This one’s really going to hit home when you have a baby and you discover that every rough night ends, that every tooth eventually breaks through the surface, and that one day does not predict the next. But you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache (and Xanax) if you learn it now. Every heartbreak will heal, every wayward wandering will lead to a clear path, and every disappointment will be followed by more good fortune and joy than you can imagine. And I promise you, it will be so worth the wait. 

• Coexist. It’s easy to be open-minded and tolerant on a political level (you’ve got that one down), but it’s a lot harder on a personal level (you could use some work there). Try not to judge too much, and to utilize your judgments wisely – that is, see them as a guide for your own life but not for others’. If you can follow this one, you’ll avoid losing a few good friends, or you’ll at least give yourself the chance to walk away gracefully. This is the high road, and it’s the only one worth taking. 

• I do what the Rice Krispies tell me. Ok, I don’t actually know what this means. But it’s funny. Quirky, unexpected humor is everywhere if you’re open to it, and it makes everything a lot more bearable (even that weird neighbor and his stickered bumper that always seems to be taking up the best parking spot).

There are a truck load of bumper stickers out there, and not all of them are right. A lot of them are stupid, many are offensive, and some of them are just downright wrong for you. Use your judgment. But keep your eyes and your heart open. Insight and inspiration show up in the most unlikely places.  

And remember that you, too, have the right and the responsibility to share your knowledge and your opinions. But a final word of advice here: when it comes to sharing your truth on the bumper, don’t stick it on. The sticker you’ve got temporarily taped to the inside of the rear window (you know, that one that says “Somebody else for president”), will be blessedly obsolete one day in the not too distant future. The only thing that’s constant is change, for better and for worse. And most of the time, it’s for better.

See you at the next rest stop,