New Year's Resolutions

As 2012 comes to a close, I would like to encourage everyone to do a few things, as much as possible moving forward into 2013.

1. Hug, kiss, and tell your loved ones that you love them more often. With the horrific events that happened this year that resulted in the senseless murders of so many adults and children. We all know that life is short but as of lately, life is being taken for granted at an alarming rate.

2. Be grateful. It is harder to take things for granted when you are mindful and grateful of what you have and where you are in life. This is a statement that we hear a lot but it is so true: there is someone that is worse off than you, no matter your situation. Hitting zero is different for everyone but don't let truly hitting zero (homeless, no family or friends to turn to, unable to do anything for yourself because you don't have even one penny, digging through the garbage for scraps and materials to use to keep warm and make shelter, feeling more hopeless than a penny with a hole it it) be when you start to appreciate and be grateful for what you once had. And don't just be grateful for the material things because those just go away once you are gone and often times before. If you still have your parents be grateful. So many babies lost their parents in 9/11 before they even had a chance to make a lasting memory of them. Be grateful for family, love, food (in moderation of course). Being grateful keeps you humble and gives you more of an open mind when it comes to helping others.

3. At least once per day, stop whatever you are doing, close your eyes, think of something pleasant (or something that you are grateful for), inhale deeply, slowly exhale, open your eyes, and smile. This little technique takes less than one minute but can be very useful in relieving stress. It refreshes you and slows you down a bit so that you don't just rush through your day and your life.

4. Whenever you see a Veteran or someone currently enlisted in the armed services, thank them. They did not have to make the sacrifice to keep us safe and with the freedoms that we often neglect. They are so under appreciated.

That is all for now loves. Until next time!