Handbook for 2012

Today I went to work and after helping a few customers, a man came in to deposit a check. The deposit scanner was acting up, so that prompted small talk which eventually led into a really good conversation.

This customer talked about his experiences and how he has learned and wants others to learn and the ways in which he has been inspired. At the end of the conversation, he handed me two pages of guidelines titled "The Handbook for 2011". They were simple, honest, and small ways in which a person can improve their life physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and I would like to share this "handbook" as the year is just beginning.

Health:

1) Drink plenty of water.

2) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.

3) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.

4) Live with the 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.

5) Make time to pray.

6) Play more games.

7) Read more books than you did last year.

8) Sit in silence for as least 10 minutes each day.

9) Sleep for 7 hours.

10) Take a 10-30 minute walk daily and, while you walk, smile.


Personality:

11) Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12) Don't have negative thoughts over things that you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive, present moment.

13) Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16) Dream more while you are awake.

17) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all that you need.

18) Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes in the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20) Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21) No one is in charge of your happiness except you

22: Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply a part of the curriculum that appear and fade away, but the lessons that you learn along the way will last a lifetime.

23) Smile and laugh more.

24) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.


Society:

25) Call your family often.

26) Each day, give something good to others.

27) Forgive everyone of everything.

28) Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. You will learn so much.

29) Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30) That other people think of you is none of your business.

31) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick, but your friends will. Stay in touch.


Life:

32) Do the right thing!

33) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.

34) God heals everything.

35) However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

36) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

37) The best is yet to come.

38) When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.

39) Your Innermost is always happy, so be happy!

40) Share this with everyone you care about, I just did :)


This list isn't made to be done all at once. Just pick a few and work on them. I certainly see a few that I could really improve upon and use to better myself and my life.

I always makes me so happy to have a really good conversation, especially with a complete stranger. It is refreshing, inspirational, and it often shows some of the good in this world that can be shadowed by the bad.

I hope that you all will take this into some consideration. The parts in which "God" are mentioned don't only imply a Christian God, but whatever deity you may follow (I used "God" because I am Christian).

I feel that this is becoming a very strong and good beginning to the New Year :)