HANDBOOK FOR LIFE

I have been struggling lately with goals. With making goals, but then not following through. This is not awful, but the piece that I have a problem with is this: that I proceed to beat myself up and feel extremely guilty and low. I was reading through some journals from a few months ago, and was frustrated that the goals I have now are the same goals I had then, and I am left wondering, "am I 'progressing' at all?" The answer is yes. I have grown in exponential and unexpected ways. I came across this great list on the prana blog, and thought it would be nice to write, and perhaps use this as a guide as I begin to focus and move through the next few months.

HEALTH
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a [prince], lunch like a [king] and dinner like a beggar (I modified this one).
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in a plant.
4. Live with the three E's-- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to meditate.
6. Breathe.
7. Read more books than [I] did in 2011.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while [I] walk, smile.

PERSONALITY
11. Comparing our lives with others is fruitless. We have no idea what their journey is about.
12. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones especially about things outside of our control. Invest energy in the positive present moment.
13. Try not to over do. Understand limits.
14. Why take ourselves so seriously. No one else does.
15. Gossip drains precious energy.
16. Dream more while we are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. We already have all we need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Let go of our partners mistakes of the past. Focus on our present/future happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Make peace with our past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of our happiness except us.
22. Realize that life is a school and we are here to learn. Problems are simply a part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons we learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. We don't have to win arguments. It's okay to agree to disagree.

SOCIETY
25.Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is insignificant to what you think of yourself.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

LIFE
32. Do the right thing!
33. Keep only things that are useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. Higher powers heal everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how we feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When we awake alive in the morning, be thankful.
39. Our Inner most is always happy. Release your "Inner Happy" on the world every day!


A pretty random list, and I don't love every item. But, fun to read through. Gives one something to think about. Which one struck, good or ill, and perhaps see if you can figure out why and if you should act on it. Onward and upward!

Feast Turned to Massacre

Yesterday, an evening of gluttony turned into a morning of horror and death. Nearly forty mosquitoes met a quick and untimely death. Only one escaped, and relates:

"The night began like any other. Ted and Joe wanted to meet up with Jessica and Florence. After we met up, we began searching for a place for drinks. Heard of a great opportunity, and  followed through, finding a great party... The night was honestly one of the best of my life, though, I don't remember much... I was zoning out, nearly asleep, and then I heard people screaming. We were trapped by a net which previously had been our playground, and those around me were being slaughtered one at a time. But the grace of The Flying Spaghetti Monster, noodled be his name, I was somehow spared. I lay low, and acted dead, and when the net moved I flew away."

Neighbors say they neither heard nor saw anything out of the ordinary. The eyewitness relates that during the night there were two other beings, one human, one canine. They both left, and the human returned, and began this heinous mass-murder. No interviews are currently being granted, but there are rumors of the human ranting, and claiming to have more than 65 bites from the slaughtered mosquitoes.

Blood banks are currently being organized to help support the families which have been left behind. If you have any further information, please contact your local authorities. And may His Meatitude be with those affected by this tragedy. Ramen.