Around 2375 BCE in Egypt, the 96-year-old political advisor Ptah-Hotep was ready to retire. With approval from the king, his son was named the successor of the great vizier only on the condition that the senior leave him adequate instructions on living a life according to Maat. Of the many wonderful maxims included within this ancient text, #40 is unquestionably my favorite. As a party girl who is dating another party girl, Ptah-Hotep’s advice always reminds me to listen to the light heart that emerges from such practices of celebratory indulgence — whether that be screaming lyrics front row at my girlfriend’s band (Frost Children) performance, dancing with my sister all night at an I Hate War party, or pulling pranks in the green room at Baby’s All Right with the Kerwin brothers.
