DEAR ABBY: When I was 7, my mother hosted a birthday party for me. When we made out the guest list, there was a girl who wasn't popular who I didn't want to invite. Mom told me to invite her or I wouldn't have a party. I invited her, but she didn't come.
That lesson of inclusiveness made a big impression on me. Later, in school, I became an unpopular girl. I missed many of my classmates' parties because of it, but the lesson stayed with me.
In high school and beyond I have befriended people who were unpopular or who are seen as misfits. And you know what? My life has been richer from these experiences. So I would like to offer a belated thank-you to my mother for making me invite that little girl years ago, because it shaped my life. -- KATHY IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR KATHY: Your mother is a wise and compassionate woman. The lesson here is, popularity can be fleeting. But having compassion for people who need it is forever.