1.  Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, SMILE.  It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
 
  2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God (or a friend) about what is going on in your life.3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 

“My purpose is to__________ today; I am thankful for______________”

  4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

  5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, salmon, spinach, raw almonds & walnuts.

  6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

  7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 

  8. Eat breakfast like a King/Queen, lunch like a Prince/Princess and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

  9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:  “In five years, will this really matter?”

17. Forgive everyone for everything; quickly.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. However good or bad a situation is; it will change. (This too shall pass!)

20. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will. Stay in touch!21. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

22. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 

“I am thankful for__________; Today I accomplished_____________”

23. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings.  You’ll be smiling before you know it. 

I’m really going to stop biting my fingernails and let them grow this year. Oh, yeah and I’m going to try real hard to stick to my 30 minutes a day exercise routine.

Oops, there is one more thing- I’m going to take a class at the local community college, if I can decide between a photography class and a class in interior design. Well, maybe I will start the ritual of sitting down and having a nice hot cup of tea before I go to bed each night.

Isn’t it funny how at the beginning of every year we have our lists of things we’re “going” to accomplish over the next 12 months?

In the past I have started off many a New Year with a list of my goals, my resolutions, only to find myself in December not even being able to find the paper I wrote my goals down on. Have you had that same experience? If you have been able to achieve your goals year after year, be they personal or professional, I am very impressed and you are now officially my idol (smile).

If you struggle like me, I must admit that makes me feel better, but this year is going to be our year-you and I. We are going to let our nails grow, get in that 30 minutes of  daily exercise, be a better friend, eat healthier, laugh a little more, learn a new skill, find a hobby, etc., etc., etc.

So come on, you and I will make 2009 our best year yet!