4/30/07

1. Do your best not to judge others, especially on the basis of their outward appearances.

There's a story that goes with this. Yesterday, while giving blood, I noticed a young Orthodox Jewish woman on the adjustable cot across from me. A natural beauty, she was reading from a small prayer book. Fine, I thought. That's nice. But I also thought: What a tiny little world she's creating for herself. Her consciousness is stuck in that little siddur while the world is going on around her. Then, one of the technicians came to check up on her, and a dialog ensued. It turned out that she and the technician, a man from Pakistan, had a great deal to talk about. From the snippets of conversation that wafted my way, it was clear that both participants in the discussion were worldly, well-traveled, extremely well-educated and more aware of current events than I am. In short, the woman was not the person I had assumed she was. Lesson learned, hopefully.

2. Think of something you've been holding on to for a long time -- something you'd like to let go of.

3. Let go.

4/29/07

1. Go shopping for cool sunglasses.
2. Spend some time trying to get to the bottom of your obsession with being cool.
3. Get the sunglasses anyway.

4/28/07

1. If at all possible, get out on a bicycle. I guarantee you, you'll see things you never saw before -- even if it's a ride you've done in the past.
2. Given a choice between food that's more alive (i.e., closer to its natural state) and less alive (e.g., a Twinkie), opt for the former as often as you can. Fresh, raw, green things are especially good for you.
3. Do something you've always wanted to do.

4/27/07

Today's first and only suggestion comes from a wonderful friend, who -- trust me on this -- knows whereof she speaks.

Here it is:

"Remember to take a break, slow down and enjoy those that you love. This is the only gift that I can give to you!"

4/26/07

Today...

1. Spend some time in reflective silence.

2. Do you have a hero? Do something he or she would do.

3. Think about this:

In one of my favorite "Peanuts" strips, Snoopy is sitting in a downpour, looking despairingly at the sky. In the second frame, he says, "Boy, it's tough to be a dog when it rains!" In the next, walking along with a thoughtful expression on his face, Snoopy notes, "Of course, I'm luckier than a lot of dogs... At least I have a dog house to come home to..." In the final frame, he has returned home, where he lies on the roof in the pouring rain.

4/25/07

At some point today...

1. Get thee to a library. It's best to go without a purpose in mind. Let the right books find you.
2. Speaking of books, buy yourself a blank one today. In it, write or draw what you will. The only rule: Do not judge.
3. Speaking of blankness, find some time to empty your mind. (Don't worry; it fills up again really fast.)

4/24/07

Today...

1. Do some stretching. Find a yoga class, or a tape, or even an old Richard Hittleman book and just begin.
2. When you're done stretching, do some deep relaxation. If you're not sure how, you can find lots of resources online.
3. After you're done stretching and relaxing, try to stay tuned in to your body for the rest of the day.

4/23/07

Today is a great day to...

1. Hop, skip and jump. You must do all three, or it doesn't count. Just try it - no matter how you're feeling when you start, this will make you feel better.
2. Think of somebody who deserves credit for something and give it to him or her. It doesn't take anything away from you, and it lets him or her know that you appreciate whatever it was he or she did. (I really wish I could bring myself to say "them" or "they," but the grammarian in me won't allow it.)
3. Make note of how incredibly lucky we are to be here.

4/22/07

On this beautiful day (or sometime soon)...

1. Find a waterfall. Hang out there.
2. Imagine a healthy, peaceful, joyous Earth.
3. Sing a happy song.

4/21/07

Make what you will of these three quotations:

1. "There are many people who are always anticipating trouble, and in this way they manage to enjoy many sorrows that never really happen to them." - Nineteenth-century newspaper columnist Josh Billings.

Nice reminder to stay present, found in today's "Writer's Almanac."

2. Billings also said: "Don't take the bull by the horns, take him by the tail; then you can let go when you want to."

He and Lao-Tzu were definitely on the same page.

3. And speaking of Lao-Tzu, consider this: "Nothing in the world is weaker or more yielding than water; yet nothing it its equal in wearing away the hard and strong."

4/20/07

If you're in the mood...

1. Write a song today. Not a musician? I beg to differ. We're all musicians; some of us just don't realize it. Tone deaf? Excellent! We need more songs written by the tone deaf - they use different scales and surprising intervals. Whatever you say, I have an answer. So stop arguing and just write a song already.
2. Come up with a new name for yourself. Don't restrict yourself to ordinary names. Choose something bold - something that really tells the world who you are.
3. Start keeping a dream journal. The more you write down your dreams, the easier they become to remember. And the better you remember your dreams, the easier it is to access the wisdom they offer.

4/19/07

Today...

1. Be aware of the power of your words.
2. Given their power, try to put them to constructive use.
3. Oh, and one more cool thing about smiles. Although smiling is usually considered a result of being happy, the process can work in reverse as well: In the book Blink, Malcolm Gladwell refers to a German study that found that a smile can actually be the cause of happiness in the person doing the smiling. So, if you want to be happier, try smiling more.

4/18/07

Three things to do today:

1. Be nice to yourself.
2. Be nice to other people.
3. Just be nice. Does that sound hard? Okay, then; consider it a workout.

4/17/07

Today, just one thing to do:

1. Be.

Okay, two:

2. Pay attention.

I owe you one.

4/16/07

Three things to do today:

1. Tune in to your intuition. It has been said that the more you listen, the clearer its “voice” becomes.
2. Take time to play, whatever “play” means for you. In other words, set aside your serious business for a while and just have fun.
3. Think of somebody you know who needs healing, and send healing energy their way.

4/15/07

Come here every day for three suggestions in answer to the question "What should I do today?"

1. You will have several really good ideas today. When your inner critic tries to trash them, pay him or her no mind.
2. What haven't you done in a while that you really like doing? Baking bread? Listening to old records? Watching the rain fall? Go ahead. Do it.
3. Hug somebody.

4/14/07

Come here every day for three suggestions in answer to the question "What should I do today?"

1. Think happy thoughts.
2. Eat healthy food.
3. Give thanks.

4/13/07

Come here every day for three suggestions in answer to the question "What should I do today?"

1. Consider establishing an intention for the coming weekend. Nothing heavy. Nothing cast in stone. Just an intention.
2. Have you been keeping a truth from yourself? Stop. Be honest.
3. Spend some time looking at the stars tonight. If it's too cloudy to see the stars, look at the clouds instead.

4/12/07

If you feel like it…

1. Choose a sense on which you do not usually focus and try to tune into it a little more today.
2. About yesterday’s “smile” quote from Mother Teresa: While you’re passing smiles around, remember to put yourself on the “distribution list.” It’s easy: Just go to the mirror whenever it’s possible and give yourself a big, beautiful, loving smile.
3. Breathe deeply. Some people suggest this ratio: Inhale for one count; hold for four counts; exhale for two counts.

Today's Three

To do today:

1. Take a long, leisurely walk.
2. Choose something you’ve always wanted to do, and take a step toward making it a reality.
3. Remember what Mother Teresa said about smiles: “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

Yet Another Three

Here are three more things you might want to try:

1. At some point today (and not while driving or operating heavy machinery, please), close your eyes and take a brief mental vacation. Choose a calm, relaxing place - maybe the beach, maybe a mountaintop, whatever works for you - and just hang out there for a few minutes.
2. If you have a dog, cat or other pet, spend some quality time today with him or her (or them, if there’s more than one). If you don’t have a pet, arrange a visit with someone else’s.
3. Make a mental list of things you like about yourself, and remind yourself about them throughout the day.

Another Three Things

What should you do today? Here are three possibilities:

1. Break up your routine. Nothing radical, and nothing that doesn't feel right. Just something different.
2. Get as close to nature as you possibly can.
3. Choose something or someone you tend to worry about, and visualize a really positive outcome for that thing or person.

Three More Things

Here are three more suggestions:

1. Do something nice for somebody. The magnitude of the nice thing is entirely up to you.
2. Draw something. Don't worry about how good or bad it is. Just grab a pen or pencil and draw it.
3. Gather up some things you don't need anymore and either throw them away or give them away.

The First Three Things

Come here every day for three suggestions in answer to the question "What should I do today?"

Here are the first three:

1. Get in touch with a friend or relative with whom you haven't communicated in a while.
2. Write a short poem about the sky. If you want to write a long poem about the sky, that's okay too.
3. Without making a big deal about it, try to stay positive and upbeat all day.