Today’s tribute brings me to the time when my mom shared with me this “gossip prevention” technique she used when she was in college. From time to time, she had friends that wanted to share their personal gossip and have her keep their secrets. But before they would even begin she would ask, “Have you told anyone what you are about to tell me?”

If they replied, “no girl, you are the only one,” she quickly responded, “then don’t tell me because if word gets out, you won’t be able to say that I’m the one who told it. If it’s so juicy that you can’t keep it to yourself, why would you want me to?”