Dear Ann Landers,
Like everyone else, I am flat broke from over-spending at Christmas time. But I need to go shopping again soon, be-cause I am completely out of self-respect. I've said some things I wish I could take back and I am not feeling too good about myself. I also want to exchange a load of self-righteousness I picked up dur-ing the year for an equal amount of humility. I hear it is less expensive and wears well. And while I am at it, I am going to check on tolerance and see if there is any available in my size. I must remember to try to match some patience with the little I have left. My neighbor is loaded with it, and it looks awfully good on her. I was told the same department has a repair shop for mending in-tegrity. Mine has become frayed around the edges from too much compromising and not enough self-discipline. If I don't get it refur-bished soon, there won't be any left. I almost forgot the most impor- ANN LANDERS tant thing of all-compassion. If I see some, no matter what the color, size or shape, I'm going to stock up heavily, regardless of the price. I have run out of it so many times and always feel ashamed of myself when it happens. I don't know why it's taken me so long to get around to shopping for these items. They don't cost nearly as much as some of the frivolous things I bought at Christmastime and I'll get a lot more satisfaction from them. Yes-I'm going shopping today, and I can leave my check-book and credit cards at home! -Pueblo, Colo. Dear Pueblo: Thanks for the wonderful idea. I hope you find the store crowded. United Technologies Corp. has from time to time run a series of messages. 1 hesitate to call them ads-they are far too classy. These essays by Harry J. Gray of Hartford, Conn., contain more common sense per square inch than anything I have ever read. The man is a genius. Here's one of my favorites: Do You Remember Who Gave You Your First Break? Someone saw something in you once. That's partly why you are where you are today. It could have been a thoughtful parent, a perceptive teacher, a de-manding drill sergeant, an appreciative employer or just a friend who dug down in his pocket and came up with a few bucks. Whoever it was had the kindness and the foresight to be in on your future. Those are two beautiful qualities that separate the human being from the orangutan. In the next 24 hours, take 10 minutes to write a grateful note to the person who helped you. You'll keep a wonderful friendship alive. Mat-ter of fact, take another 10 minutes to give somebody else a break. Who knows? Someday you might get a nice letter. It could be one of the most gratifying messages you ever read. For All Parents Edgar Guest I'll lend you a little time, a child of mine, He said, For you to love while he lives, and mourn when he is dead. It may be six or seven years, or twenty

,
ear Lord, Thy will be done. For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we'll run. We'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may; And for the happiness we've known, will ever grateful stay. But shall the angels call for him much sooner than we planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.' "