A reader asks Matt what he considers his best and worst attributes as a person.

Matt responds:

Probably the best trait about myself is that I don’t give a shit.  It took me 77 years to get there.

I won’t allow other people to establish my priorities for me in my life.  My life is my life, period.  If I screw up, it’s my fault; if I do it right, it’s my good.

For so much of our lives, we’re always trying to please somebody, impress them, make exceptions to what we want to do and say, and put ourselves in the position to couch and posture.  To get old enough not to have to posture, to me, is a great success.

I have to work at it every day, because I came from a business where you had to be all things to all people.

So that’s what I like best about myself.  What do I like least?

Probably when the intolerant thought enters my mind and I half-accept it.  Then I have to work at going back to my peace, tolerance, and hope.  Probably the person I might think intolerant things about, thinks I’m a complete and utter ass.  So I have to get over it and move on.

Keeping that ability to get over it and move on, especially when you’re an artist, where everybody has a comment, sometimes leaves you in a position of just saying:  “I really don’t give a shit what you think about it, so put it in writing and mail it to the moon.”

One of my favorite sayings is:  Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.  That’s probably good and bad.  I’m always wearing different masks, some angelic and some devilish.  Who the hell is this guy, and what is he doing here?

LAMB