THE WISDOM OF THE IVYVERSE

       All of us have talents, and all of us have things we do better than anyone else. “Pride” may be listed as a deadly sin, but it’s only a sin if you overdo it! A little pride is good for the self-esteem, which is part of being an emotionally healthy person.

       You can start by knowing the boundaries and rules. That always helps when you seek to excel:

I couldn’t let him think I was that predictable; it went against all the rules of being a good prankster. The enemy must never suspect an attack. —Ivy, Book 1, Chapter 1

       How about the case of Adele? She knows she knows what she’s talking about, and she knows she’s got a spotless track record:

I quit treating my "bad feelings" with denial when I was about six years old. —Adele, Negative One, 0046

       With a history like that, it’s no wonder that she is sometimes a little, well, cocky about her abilities:

“Would you like to cite for me an instance of my being wrong?” —Adele, Book 0, Chapter 6

       But within the pride she feels over her abilities, Adele does know her rules and limitations:

“It’s not a simple thing to make a prediction, Ivy. Whenever I tell you something I’ve ‘discovered,’ it really is just my logical opinion of an impression I don’t totally understand.” —Adele, Book 4, Chapter 20

       Try to balance confidence in your strengths with a tempered understanding of your weaknesses, and you’ll have a recipe for success.