1. Start my day right. Establish a morning ritual. Wake and start the day early. Coffee. Newspaper. Walk my dog. Prepare for the day, leisurely.
2. Take time for me. Fill my days with the things I like to do. Row. Bike. Ski. Sail. Kayak. Read. Cook. Get outside.
3. Learn to do new things. Change things up. Spice up life. Try new things. Try new ways. Sew a quilt. Knit a hat. Hang glide. Scuba dive. Bungee Jump. Swim. Fly an airplane.
4. Take chances. Face my fears. Risk. Stop worrying about what might happen and trust that it will work out.
5. Invest in myself. Work to improve myself instead of standing still. Not because I am imperfect but because it is satisfying and fulfilling. Graduate from college. Get a Masters. Investing in myself does not mean being selfish. It means keeping myself, my priorities, who I want to be now and in the future in mind when making decisions.
6. Slow down. Live in the moment. Don’t run from one thing to the next. Sometimes do a little. Sometimes do nothing. It is okay to say no and just be.
7. Explore. Travel near and far. See sights. Visit museums, exhibits, and parks. Connect with people. Discover new places. Turn off the highway and onto the back roads. Go to the beach. Explore the forests. Hike up in the mountains.
8. Exercise. Row. Bike. Run. Do yoga. I want to feel comfortable in my skin, whether I look fabulous or not. Like everyone else I want to lose those extra 15 pounds. Not because I think it will solve all the ills in my world. But because I think I’ve put on the pounds to hide behind. I also feel better mentally and physically when I am regularly working out.
9. Savor food. As much as possible know where my food comes from. Savor each bite, don’t just scarf it down. Eat local and seasonal whenever possible. Eat better. Less salt, carbohydrates, and sugars. More fruits and vegetables. Eat out at really good restaurants. Try things on the menu I’ve never had before and don’t know how to pronounce.
10. Surround myself with nice things. And take care of what I do.
11. Capture the moment. Whether with a journal, photographs, or a blog capture the moment so I can remember the good, the bad, and how far I’ve come.
12. Connect with people. Make new friends. Cherish the friends I have and show them I appreciate them. Spend time with family. Build my own family someday. Adopt. Remember that relationships are our legacy.
13. Take ownership. Release control over those things not in my control. Own what is mine. Be on top of the little things in life. Take care of myself. Put effort into my appearance.
14. Turn off the TV, close the computer. Not that they need to be removed from life completely, but instead turn them on only with a purpose in mind. Visit blogs and watch the movies I want, but turn them off and go live my life.
15. Be well read. Jane Eyre. We are the Living. Half the Sky. Foucault's Discipline and Punish. Insert Author/Book List here.
16. Reconnect with my roots. I come from a family of strong woman who have overcome many obstacles to get where they are today. I am proud of my roots. I want to follow in these women’s footsteps. But I also want to record their footsteps too. I want to remember once they are gone. I want to continue to share their story.
17. Open my heart. I want to fall in love. I have been hurt and burned before. Sometimes I have even wondered if I am capable of loving again. I want to trust enough to open my heart. I want to willing risk a broken heart for the rewards of love.
18. Have a good outlook on life. Follow excitement. Find a passion. Live in the moment. Don’t over analysis. Trust that it will work out. Be positive. Be less judgmental. Don’t beat up on myself. Remember I am human and so is everyone else. Allow myself moments to grieve and suffer, but not sulk. Cry from laughter, happiness, and sorrow.
19. See humanity. Remember that I am one among many. Be humble. Listen. Help where and when I can even if it is only a small gesture like a smile. Give of my time, effort, and money in support of the things I think are important.
20. Eliminate everything else. Yes, there are things one must do. But if I am not committed to doing it and don’t want to do it then eliminate it. Set my priorities and remember it is okay to say no.
