A bit of free advice!

That's right, folks.  We're giving words away for free today, no charge of admission!  Actually, I'm saving up for a trip...  if you could just head on over to Paypal, and send me a bit of cash to pad my wallet, that would be awesome.

You've done that, right?  Perfect.  Let's keep going...

Let's say you have someone in your life who's taken you under their wing. For whatever reason, they like you, seem to care about you, and look out for you a bit.  You're out together somewhere and a plate of cookies is passed.  Really delectable cookies.  The kind where the chocolate chips have melted just so and it looks like you could just lick the oh-so-slightly melted chocolate from its cookie'd home.

You reach for one, but your friend puts a hand on your arm, and says "No, don't take one."

You raise an eyebrow at her and say "But did you see the nuts??  There are so many!"

"I know," she says. "They look delectable, but I've had these before... trust me, you don't want one."

"Oh but I do!!  The sign says they're full of caramel-y goodness!"

"I've seen that sign, too.  But really... you don't want it.  It isn't worth what comes next."

You stomp your feet in a fit of pique.  You really want that cookie!  Sure, she's had one before, and sure she seems to know something you don't about them.  But maybe they won't affect you in the same way?  Maybe she's wrong about THIS cookie.

And so she looks on with resignation to the inevitable as you defy the wisdom handed to you on a silver platter and take the darned cookie anyway.

That's foolishness, my friends.  Take the wisdom.  Listen to those around you.  Even if what they're warning against is something you think you really really really want.  LISTEN.  You'll be glad in the long run.

Or, you know, so I've heard.  I tend to take the cookie.