This morning I lay in bed, sun streaming through the windows, caught between "I should get up because it's kind of a working day, but feels like a Sunday..." and read an email a friend sent me. The words resonated with me... gentle reminders of what we all know but forget consistently. I think this is a great handbook for 2011, thanks DC!
Regarding your Health
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar
- Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants
- Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
- Play more games
- Read more books than you did in 2010
- Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
- Sleep for 7 hours
- Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily... and smile while you walk
Personality
- Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about
- Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control; instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment
- Don't waste your precious energy on gossip
- Dream more while you are awake
- Envy is a waste of time; you already have all you need
- Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present
- No one is in charge of your happiness except you
- Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn; problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime
- Smile and laugh more
Society
- Call your family often
- Each day give something good to others
- Forgive everyone for everything
- Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6
- Try to make at least three people smile each day
- What other people think of you is none of your business
Life
- Do the right thing!
- Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change
- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up
- When you awake alive in the morning, be thankful for it
- Your inner most is always happy; so, be happy
And because in my world, everything is better with a photo, here is some of my winter favorites to bring in the New Year! May this year be the best yet...
