The Goal within Your Control:
Becoming Loving and True

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor

This poem was presented at the 2007 Women's Conference
at the campus of Brigham Young University.
To be read in the style of Dr. Suess:

The Perfect Woman
.by Vickie Gunther.
(gently edited by m.m.).

Look at me, look at me, look at me now.
You can do what I do, if you knew how!

I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake and upholster and scrub, and I pray.

I keep all commandments you see, quite completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

Design all their clothes and sew all they wear,
Drive them to practice and cut all their hair!

I encourage respect for the local authorities;
Order each goal to be done by priorities.

I play the piano, bless all with my talents.
My toilets all sparkle! My check books are balanced.

One day a week every child gets a date;
Attend all my meetings — on time, never late!

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh no, that is not all:

I track my bad habits till each is abolished;
Iron every t-shirt. My toenails are polished!

Our Evenings at home are ever delightful;
The projects I plan are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!

Up early each morning, which isn't a shock;
I know all the names of the youth on my block.

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors.
I bless the community too, with my labors.

I exercise daily, cook menus gourmet;
My taxes are filed on the very first day!

I also file taxes for neighbors in need.
It's the least I can do to show love, word and deed.

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Sunday School roll.

I store home-grown produce in summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh no, that is not all:

I write in my journal and sing in the choir;
Each day, I write "thank you's" to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen.
My kids get straight A's, and their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

At shelters I volunteer one day a week;
I rotate car tires, fix each plumbing leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I rotate and store a large food supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard; it’s good if you do them.
You can if you try. Set your goals and pursue them.

It's easy to do all the things that I do.
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all too!

"It's easy!" she said . . . and then she dropped dead.

*   *   *   *   *   *   *

Dr Matt edited the preceding poem to describe the Perfect Christian Woman.
The orginal poem presented at BYU was written about: The Perfect Mormon Woman

Yet when conceived correctly, perfection is entirely do-able.
Read about a No-Stress Conception of Perfection
line upon line, one step at a time.

The Greatest Prize
for Life's labors isn't
in material possessions
or impressive accomplishments,
but in the progress of personal character.
You labor for your own becoming, this is your richest reward.
Who You Become is your greatest possession,
make it your Masterpiece!
(Changing Your Stripes, 2nd Edition, page 274).

The book, "Changing Your Stripes" presents principles for getting out of
the ditch in which you've been dumped (the difficulties of which you are a victim), and
the ditch in which you've jumped (the difficulties for which you volunteer).

"Mastering a challenging situation
is ultimately a matter of
mastering yourself!"
- Matt Moody 

"Changing Your Stripes," teaches you the principles that lead to lasting change,
making you a new kind of creature capable of communicating
with calm, even as storms of contention swirl.

If these ideas resonate and ring true,
then . . . this book is for you!

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Changing Your Stripes is a
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you understand, . . . and solve all of
Life's ever-appearing problems.
Here are more reasons to buy
Changing Your Stripes

Social Psychologist & Personal Advisor