35 Tips To Make It All Better

I’m not much for forwarded emails. But every once in a while, I’ll get a great quote of the day via email.

One I got recently was much more than a quote. It was a nicely done list that got me thinking about the aspects of my life that could use just a little work.

I’m not much for lists either. There are enough people with blogs doing list posts.

I post this not just to share, but to have a reference and a reminder for myself, to do the things I should do to improve my life, as it gets complicated. We all tend to forget some of the little details.

The little details are what create a bigger life than you can imagine. They are the “blocking and tackling” of our years, the very fundamentals we should always pay attention to. I’m no football coach, or life coach either. But, if I were, the list below could qualify to be included in a great halftime speech.

I’m not sure who the original author is, so I can’t give credit as of yet. I have changed and modified some of these “tips” so they would sound like they’re coming from me:

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.
• Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
• Make time to pray.
• Play more games.
• Read more books than you did in 2009.
• Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
• Sleep for 7 hours. At least!
• Exercise daily. If all you can do is walk, then do it.
• Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
• Don’t have negative thoughts about things you cannot control. 
• Don’t over do. Everything in moderation.
• Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
• Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
• Dream more while you are awake.
• Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
• Forget issues and mistakes of the past. They have no bearing on your future.
• Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
• Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
• No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
• Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum. They appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
• Smile and laugh more.
• Call your family often.
• Each day, give something good to others.
• Forgive everyone for everything.
• Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
• What other people think of you is none of your business.
• Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
• Do the right thing!
• Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
• Know that God heals everything.
• However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
• No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
• The best is yet to come.  Sinatra said so.
• When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.

And, as a bonus point, something my grandmother always said:

• Life is precious, so enjoy it!