It’s Sunday night, and I’m in a reflective mood, thinking about recent headlines and looking back on almost three years as a full-time political hack as I transition into a new phase of my life where I get to be my own boss and spend plenty of quality time with the Tiniest Democrat.

As I mull over the ups and downs of the life political, I’m left contemplating a few basic truths that apply to politics and, for the most part, to real life. Here they be:

• If you’re weighing whether or not a particular move is the right one, consider whether you’d be embarrassed if your mother read about it on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.
• Be aware of your enemies, but do not let them define you or the path you follow.
• There’s a lot of truth in this silly adage: The wise old owl sat in the oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?
• It never hurts to set up one of those plastic owls in a nearby oak to ward off the small varmints.
• If you find yourself with an infestation of small varmints on your hands, call Mitt Romney.
• If you work in politics for any extended period of time, you will probably become addicted to it and find yourself unable to leave.
• You should periodically remind yourself that there is a real world out there, and most people in it don’t care nearly as much about this stuff as you do.
• Never, ever hit a police officer.
• If you nonetheless find yourself in an altercation with a police officer, utter something memorable that can get you 15 minutes of fame.
• No matter which side of the aisle you’re on, remember that what you are doing should never be for yourself.
• If you’re going to be childish and petty, strive to be clever.
• Choose your battles wisely.
• Win those battles.
• Know when to quit.