“Just because I’m Native American doesn’t mean I can track furniture through the wilderness.” She deepened her voice: “‘Yes, kemosabe. A three-legged table passed this way an hour ago.’ Heck, I don’t know.”

“Just ’cause I’m the picture of manly perfection doesn’t mean I don’t have a brain.”

“I know she’d get some crazy idea in her head that I’m bad for her. And that’s just not true. In fact, the longer I know her, the more time I spend with her, the more I believe I’m exactly what she needs in her life. She just doesn’t know it yet. But she will.”

“But even though I know my flaws are many (many many many), and there are always ways I could be better, and I should never stop working for that—I also need to give myself a break. I can cut myself some slack sometimes. Because I’m a work in progress. Because nobody is perfect. At least I acknowledge the mistakes I’ve made, and am making. At least I’m trying. That means something, doesn’t it?And just because I have room for improvement doesn’t mean I’m worthless, or that I have nothing to offer to, like, the world.”

“Just because I’m resisting the wine doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the bouquet.”

“Just because I’m human doesn’t mean I’m weak.”