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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

30 Random Thoughts on 1/1/2013


  1. Don't strive for perfection. Don't date it, marry it or want it. It's boring, annoying and unattainable.
  2. Like is more important than love. It's easy to turn like into love, not as easy to turn love into like.
  3. Care for something small, cuddly and furry, preferably at least 4 or 5 years old, maybe a dog or a cat. Your life and your education will be incomplete until you love and are loved unconditionally by a pet.
  4. Instead of using the dishwasher, once a month wash your glasses with a new sponge in hot, soapy water.  The sparkle and shine will put a smile on your face.
  5. Take a little "ME" time each day, it may be only 10 minutes but it should be your 10 minutes.
  6. Walk barefoot in the rain at least once each summer.
  7. Do random acts of kindness frequently. You could give a smile to a stranger or send a note of praise for a teacher, store clerk, or receptionist. You could visit a nursing home, animal shelter or school and volunteer to spend time with a senior, an animal or a child. Maybe you will choose to buy  cup of coffee for the person behind you in the coffee shop or pay for a stranger's groceries.
  8. See a musical at least once a year, more often if you can manage it.
  9. Read a biography, a love story, a mystery and a thriller every year. Books expand your horizon and take you to wondrous places.
  10. Send a favorite author a note and thank them for a great story.
  11. Do something totally out of character at least once every six months - strike up a conversation with a stranger, join the crew of a community theater, try something that scares the bejeebees out of you.
  12. Find a charity that holds the same values as you and give it your support. Donate money (just a touch more than is comfortable) because all good charities need funding and you need to learn to budget. Donate time because devoting time and attention keeps those values in the forefront.
  13. When someone knows they are wrong, they will attack. Stand firm. Don't yell, shout or make a scene. In time they will stop or be exposed. It is not your responsibility to try to change their values, only examine and hold true to your own.
  14. Find something that makes you laugh each day. Watch a pet play, listen to a humorous story, look for the humor in a surprising situation, laugh at the outrageous. Laughter celebrates joy. Laughter should never be mean.
  15. Treat yourself to a manicure, a pedicure or a different hairstyle once in a while just because.
  16. Wear mismatched socks because they are warm and fun and it's important not to take yourself too seriously.
  17. Have a snowball fight on a snowy day. Drink hot chocolate on the back porch. Sing at the top of your lungs. Don't worry about the neighbors, they'll like it or not. Doesn't matter, do it anyway.
  18. Take your camera to the park, walk 30 feet, turn left and point and snap. Now look up, turn to your right and point and snap. Walk 75 feet, repeat. Discover the wonder in the every day snapshots of your life. Share the photos with others.
  19. Everyone is scared at some point, just keep going, it gets easier.
  20. When you don't feel well, go to a doctor. When it hurts, take pain medication. When it doesn't hurt, don't take pain medication.
  21. Avoid people and groups who use the phrase "I hate. . . .", they love drama, create chaos and drain your energy. They are telling you who they are, believe them.
  22. When you are unsure what to do, take the kindest action.
  23. Giggle. It's good for you.
  24. Silence equals consent. If someone says or does something that goes against your core values, speak up. You probably won't change them but one rational voice in the crowd can make a difference. Be the difference.
  25. When you are unkind, apologize.
  26. Tackle big tasks one step at a time. If you want to quit smoking, just don't smoke that one cigarette. If you need to lose weight, work on losing one pound.Find a way to make it work.
  27. Sometimes you just need to have a good cry, it's okay, cry.
  28. Buy something silly and play with it. A bottle of bubbles, a coloring book and crayons, a jump rope.  Rediscover the kid in you.
  29. Don't beat yourself up. Don't beat others up. Every day each of us are doing the best we can with what we have.
  30. Find someone to love and love them completely. A spouse, a child, a sibling, a cousin, a friend, a pet, yourself. . . . love really does make the world a better place.