HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Well hello everyone.  I've been a tad preoccupied, and wrapped up in my own world.  I think about you all often so I wanted to post something for the new year while it is still, in fact, new.  Thanks to all of you who have continued to comment both here at Stroke of Living and my other blog Essential Bindi during my blog hiatus.  I APPRECIATE YOU, YOUR KIND WORDS, EMAILS AND GIFTS they encouraged and surprised me greatly.  My blog friends truly make my heart soar.  Kiss, kiss and hug, hug to you all for that.  If I ever go underground again I promise to emerge like a great Phoenix with a story and hopefully words of encouragement.

So without further delay here is my gift to you, a few powerful suggestions, a handbook [if you will] for 2010.

Health

1. Drink plenty of water. I go through several gallons in a few days.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes' walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality

1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control.  Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.  
3. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.  
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present..
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. 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.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win every argument.  Agree to disagree.

Society

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.  
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life

1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. GOD heals everything.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come.
7. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
8. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

So in closing to quote songstress Miss India Arie

"there's hope...it doesn't take a thing to smile, 
you don't have to pay to laugh
you betta thank God for that!!!!!"

*All photos are courtesy of www.veer.com