The golden rule caused lots of comments. Before I respond, I want to give you an addendum. Don't do anything to yourself that you wouldn't wish on others.

For example, take envy. Do you ever feel envious of others? Think that their lives are easier, they have more money, more time, more of this, less of that? Envy is an unpleasant state; would you wish it on others? No? Don't do anything to yourself you wouldn't wish on others. Let envy go. Replace it with something else, something that you would wish on others. Maybe appreciation. Maybe many other things.

The launch of the Charter for Compassion (http://charterforcompassion.org/) reminds me that impeccability includes practicing the golden rule -- do unto others that which you would have them to do unto you. Don't do anything to anyone else that you wouldn't want them to do to you.

I'm tying a string around my finger to remind me to practice the golden rule this week. This is an exciting challenge. This could make a real difference in the way I experience life. I have to admit that, as well as feeling excited, I feel a bit trepidatious.

A subscriber writes: I can't tie a string on my finger easily, so I am using a magic marker! With emphasis on the magic!

The string worked its magic.

In reminding me to be impeccable, it first reminded me to slow down. It reminded me to wonder if this thing I was about to do -- this action I was about to take, this thought I was about to think, these words I was about to utter, this desire I was about to indulge in, this fantasy I was about to spin -- to wonder if it was impeccable, to wonder if it was my best.

Very often, the answer was no. And what a cause for celebration that was! What a great joy it is to move from not doing my best, to doing my best. String theory rules!

#16

I laughed and laughed after I sent a Note with two typos, saying "be impeccable." Many of you laughed with me. But it got me to wondering, how can one be impeccable? What are the means by which I can do my best in whatever I'm engaged in?

I'm tying another string around my finger. (We tied strings on October 13 to practice having no preferences. Remember? Maybe I'll rename this newsletter String Theory!)

This string will remind me to be impeccable. The string itself will be a means, of course. But the means the string reminds me of one time, and the means the string reminds me of another time, may be very different. We'll see.

When someone asks me about the string, I'll tell them I'm trying to remember to be impeccable in all I do today. And I'll ask them how they practice impeccability.

(Maybe they'll just think I'm a goofy German woman, which people south of Iowa tend to think I am -- German, that is, not necessarily goofy!)