"I have a simple philosophy: Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. Scratch where it itches"

Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s reflection encapsulates a pragmatic and deeply human approach to life. “Fill what’s empty” suggests an impulse toward nurturing, replenishing, and responding to lack or need. It may refer to physical needs, a hunger, a thirst, a hollow space in a home, or to emotional ones, like loneliness, longing, or intellectual curiosity. The wisdom lies in the readiness to notice emptiness, wherever it appears, and act with generosity, resourcefulness, or perhaps simple practicality to fill that void.

“Empty what’s full” stands in natural counterpoint. Here, fullness implies excess, burden, or stagnation, whether the clutter of possessions, the noisy worry of one’s mind, or an environment oversaturated with distraction. The call is to let go, to release, to make space again. There's a quiet discipline in recognizing when something has reached its fill, and a sense of courage, sometimes even relief, in being willing to pour out the surplus, whether it’s pent-up emotion, old grievances, or simply material clutter that no longer serves.

Finally, “Scratch where it itches” evokes personal honesty, responsiveness, and a gentle self-indulgence. The phrase suggests that it’s not only permissible, but perhaps essential, to acknowledge your real needs and discomfort. It’s an invitation to address irritations, to be attuned to what bothers or intrigues you, and to act with straightforward common sense rather than ignoring or suppressing what’s felt.

Together, these three instructions compose a guide to living that is neither grandiose nor ascetic, but responsive, balanced, and aware. They represent an embrace of simplicity, not as minimalism alone, but as clarity: recognizing what’s needed, what should be let go, and what requires attention. In essence, the philosophy encourages authentic engagement with life, meeting situations as they are and responding without pretense, striving for balance and presence in the everyday.