Friday, January 11, 2008

Thoughts on Living Well in 2008

I was going through some papers this week, and I ran across a couple of pages of inspiration on how to live one's life. . . .which I'll post here, in case they inspire anyone else. The first one was entitled 'Living Guide for 1997' (yes, I save things for a long time!) but these ideas work just as well in 2008. : )

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Living Guide for 2008

  1. Compliment three people every day.
  2. Watch a sunrise at least once a year.
  3. Be the first to say, "Hello".
  4. Live beneath your means.
  5. Treat everyone like you want to be treated.
  6. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen.
  7. Forget the Joneses.
  8. Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all he/she has.
  9. Pray not for things, but for wisdom and courage.
  10. Be tough-minded but tenderhearted.
  11. Be kinder than necessary.
  12. Don't forget, a person's greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
  13. Keep your promises.
  14. Learn to show cheerfulness, even when you don't feel like it.
  15. Remember that overnight success usually takes about fifteen years.
  16. Leave everything better than you found it.
  17. Remember that winners do what losers don't want to do.
  18. Don't rain on other people's parades.
  19. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

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DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF
. . . .and it's all small stuff

Make peace with perfection.
Develop compassion = open heart.
When you die, your "in basket" will be full.
Don't interrupt people or finish sentences for them.
Do something nice for someone else and don't tell anyone, ever.
Let others have the glory.
Live in the present moment.
Imagine everyone is enlightened --- except you. . . what
are they teaching?
Let others be "right", most of the time.
Become more patient; practice patient periods.
"Will this matter a year from now?"
Surrender to the fact that "Life isn't fair".
Allow yourself to be bored; relax your mind.
Set aside quiet time, every day.
Seek to understand and then to be understood.
Be a better listener; not just waiting for your turn to talk.
Pick your battles wisely; soon you'll pick not to battle at all.
Life doesn't cause problems, moods do.
Life is a test; try your best at this test.
Praise and blame are all the same.
Practice random kindness = better world.
Look beyond people's behavior.
Being kind is better than being right.
Practice being humble.
Don't know if it's your turn? Do it!
Be interested in others.
Develop helping rituals.
Compliment someone every day.
You have no limits; don't fight for them.
Everything has God's fingerprints on it.
Resist criticizing others.
Soften your stubborn positions.
Pretend it's your last day on earth.

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Here's to an inspired 2008!

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