Just for today, it's OK to feel much younger than my age. My higher power has blessed me with young women who look up to me as if I were an older sister. Little do they know how much more functional their lives are than mine and that while they think they are asking me for advice and getting good advice, I am secretly garnering words of wisdom from them. While I am technically getting older, it seems that I finally feel young. I remember when I was 19, I felt like an old lady and I looked at 18-year-olds like they were a fresh young crop. Now at 31, I finally feel 19. Unfortunately, I act like I'm 19. However, I am where I am, and just for today I don't have to have shame about feeling so much younger than 31.

Just for today, it's OK to be alone. Tonight I thought about going to the movies alone, but then I got worried. What if I run into someone I know and they think I can't find anyone to go to the movies with?! I can always tell them that I'm on an artist date and, therefore, supposed to be alone. But what if they haven't read the Artist's Way? Well, it's a really great book and I could recommend it. But what if they aren't even artists? I could always tell them that it's a good book for anyone to read. Wait -- it's important for me to remember that what other people think is none of my business. Just for today, it's OK to be alone and not worry about what other people think. Right?

Just for today, I can abstain from caffeine. And if I get cravings for alcohol it's OK to have a couple glasses of wine at Carlos' going away party. After all, God, can't expect me to give up all my addictions at once. While it does feel weird to have a buzz while staring at my computer, I have to remind myself that it's much better than spending three dollars a day for a Thai Iced coffee. Just for today, I can keep my body pure from caffeine.

When people compliment me, it's important for me to learn to take them in and let them nurture me. In the past, I dismissed or argued with anyone who complimented me. But today, when a kind homeless man told me that I looked "gorgeous" I was able to take it in. I didn't focus on the fact that he hadn't showered or had large cataracts in his eyes. In the past, I would have let such things diminish the value of the compliment. But today, I simply said, "Thank you." Just for today, I can learn to receive a compliment.

Just for today, it's OK to have bushy eyebrows. In three days, when I get paid, I will be able to go to my eyebrow lady and she can pluck and shape my eyebrows appropriately. I am not defined by my facial hair. Likewise, it's OK that my pedicure is slightly chipped. My worth is not defined by the eveness of my nailpolish. Nonetheless, I can acknowledge that I feel uncomfortable with this excess hair and chipped polish. While inside I may feel like a scraggly, hairy beast, I know that "scraggly, hairy, beast" is not a feeling. Just for today, I am a spirit inhabiting a body. And if anyone has a problem with ill defined eyebrows, I can tell myself that what other people think is non of my business. Just for today, it's OK to not look together in the city of Los Angeles. God does not judge me by my eyebrows or pedicure.

This past weekend I attended a dating seminar called "Excuse me, You're Doing it Wrong!" and discovered that I have an entitled attitude towards dating. I think that I should just be able to "meet people" in the world without making a great effort, such as, joining an Internet dating site or attending speed dating events. I have never done either of the later and have met guys through friends and work in the past. However, apparently, that's the completely wrong approach. If I'm not engaged in dating like other people are engaged in their careers (I don't have a career), then I can't expect to ever find a relationship. While I understand that relationships take work, now that I've realized that dating takes work, too, I wonder if I even have the energy to do it. I mean I already have a full-time job. I need to get a career. That would make dating a third job! I guess, I need to be unemployed from dating for a while. Just for today, it's OK to be an unemployed date.

Just for today, it's OK to be Catholic for the sake of meeting new people. Yesterday, my friend Tracey brought me to her church. As soon as I walked in I was overcome with the power of my childhood faith, as well as the beauty of the men inside. Perhaps seeing me blush, Tracey informed me that this church welcomes and recruits gays and lesbians and that most of the men she noticed me ogglingwere gay.

Once communion started being served I realized that this would be a great way to scope out the rest of the parishioners. While I understand that I must confess my sins to be ready for communion in a Catholic church and while I realize that I haven't gone to confession since I was ten-years-old (and my only sin then was not listening to my mom), I know that the God of my new understanding would understand my needs. After all, he/she gave them to me. As I solemnly walked up each aisle, I casually glanced at each passing pew. However, I got so distracted staring at nice looking gay men that I failed to notice when it was my turn to receive communion. I was a little flustered, so I raced up in front of the priest and thrust out my palm at which point I knocked over the little cup that holds all the hosts. A slight commotion took place at which point I was shoved off to the right where I found myself staring at a statue of the Virgin Mary. She seemed to stare down at me in pity. Realizing that I had dissappointed her by attempting to receive communion with a less than pure motive, I said a quick penance and walked back to my pew with my head bowed in shame. It wasn't until Tracey drove me home that I told her what happened and she reminded me that I'm only human and it's OK to go to church to meet new people and even check out guys.

It's OK to take care of myself by buying things that I desperately need - like Frida-Kahlo style jewelry, French perfume and some Capri pants. Some people may not call these items "needs," but "wants." Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Sure I also need to pay the rent and buy groceries, but that stuff doesn't make me feel "abundant." Just for today it's OK to shop for items that make me feel "abundant." If I start feeling compulsive, I can always say the serenity prayer in a dressing room and ask for God's help with my shopping purchases. Just for today it's OK to take care of my needs.

Sometimes when I've been staring at the computer for too long I get "bluritis" and everything looks blurry on the screen, and I can't think straight. I wonder what kind of society places people in tiny cubicles in front of these machines made of light particles. As much as I e-mail friends and co-workers and visit my favorite healing sites on the web, it still feels like I am wasting my life in front of a computer. Just for today, I can take my "bluritis" as a sign that it's time to step away from the computer, meet a friend for coffee or go read magazines. Despite the fact that I may have been surfing the Internet looking for a bathing suit is beside the point. Just for today, my "bluritis" is my call to leave the office and take a break.

It's OK to be cranky sometimes. Especially when I have lots of work to do and no love relationship to go home to. While I can learn to love myself more and more everyday, I can also accept that sometimes it would be nice to not have to keep saying affirmations and working to be kind and gentle with myself. It would be nice if there was someone else who could show me how to be kind and gentle with myself. However, this is just my little girl wanting a parent to take care of her. Sometimes the only solution is to get a little cranky and apologize if I'm rude to anyone.

Just for today it's OK to just bring chips and salsa to the office party. Just because Francesca brought homemade ceviche and Edward made stuffed mushrooms and Rachel baked a pie, doesn't diminish the quality of my contribution. I can't always express the maximum amount of energy, effort, creativity and thought into every aspect of my life and still take care of myself. And even if I might feel slightly cheap that I didn't take the time to buy the ingredients to make guacamole (my only specialty), these are only feelings. And even if I enjoy the food other people made more than I enjoy the standard, boring chips and salsa (OK, I'm judging again) that doesn't make me a bad person. Just for today, it's OK to show up for Fred's going away party bringing myself, Tostitos, and Pace Picante sauce. That is more than enough.