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Back in May of 1997, the writer, Pamela Redmond Satran, wrote this list.  She had just passed her thirtieth birthday, and wanted to tell younger women things she wished she’d known, by that important milestone.  Surpassing age groups, the list became a phenomenon; posted on hundreds of websites, it was attributed to everyone from Jesse Jackson to Hillary Clinton.  Modified and revamped, over the years, I keep bumping into it on social media sites.  I’ve considered writing my own version, reflecting on my own experiences; but, in the meantime, I'm sharing the infamous piece below … What would you add?

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...one old boyfriend she can imagine going back to and one who reminds her of how far she's come...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a youth she's content to leave behind...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...one friend who always makes her laugh...and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE...a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to fall in love without losing herself...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to quit her job, break up with a lover and confront a friend without ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...when to try harder...and when to walk away...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...that her childhood may not have been perfect...but its over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she would or wouldn't do for money or love...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...how to live alone...even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...where to go...be it to her best friend's kitchen table...or a charming inn in the woods...when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...what she can and can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year...

and yes

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW that men can't wear dresses, but she can wear the PANTS... 

What's your 31st thing? Let me know in the comments.

 

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