Next week is Christmas so I plan to take a bit of a break for the next few weeks so I can focus on the holidays and my kids! HOPEFULLY they will all be here this year. I know many are forgoing family gatherings due to the virus but we have all agreed to tread lightly and carefully for the next few weeks so that we can all be together!

For Christmas this year, I want to give YOU the greatest gift I can give.

Advice. (Course this may be a prime example of “you get what you pay for…” LOL!)

Okay, so obviously we all (me included) fail to take GOOD advice or we would all have dang near perfect lives. Because let’s be honest, throughout our lives those who were older and wiser told us what we needed to do or not do to have a happy life…we just didn’t take it to heart.

But I saw this on Facebook (if its on Facebook it must be true and wise, right?!) and I thought, this…this is a few bits of good advice. MAYBE I should start taking to heart GOOD advice so my life will be better…and happier…and easier.

Of course, I have had to add my two cents…

1) Love your life…and if you don’t, CHANGE IT!!!! Change your circumstances, change who you allow in your life, CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE!!! If you are unhappy, lonely, hurting….you have all the power to CHANGE IT!!!!

2)Take pictures of everything….but don’t get so busy trying to “capture the memory” you forget to put down the camera/phone and take in what is before you…nature, your kids, a pet. Take pictures, but remember pictures go in albums or in the cloud…the “picture” you take with your mind will stay with you forever if you commit it to your memory! On average it takes about 30 seconds to commit a “short term” memory into a “long term memory.” Put down the phone or camera and soak it all in!!!!

3) Tell people you love them. Say “I love you” every opportunity you have…always. One day they may be gone and you don’t want to live with the regret of not telling them how much they mean to you.

When my mother was dying I leaned down and said “I love you Mom.” She was not really coherent at that point but I SWEAR she said “I love you too.” It is a precious moment I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Say “I love you.” Not necessarily for THEM but for YOU!

4) Talk to random strangers. Not hard for me…I’m kind of an extrovert. But this may be tough for some. Step outside of your comfort zone…even if it is just a quick comment on the weather. You would be shocked to know that there are A LOT of lonely people out there who would be touched by the acknowledgement that they exist.

5) Do things you are afraid to do. Fear is a HORRIBLE thing to control your life. As a matter of fact, I would argue that if fear is dictating ANY part of your life. you are not living your best life. A “healthy respect” for things that can harm you (leaving your doors unlocked, not washing your hands religiously) is good…but FEAR is not good. Really evaluate if your fear is RATIONAL! If it is not, work to eliminate that fear hanging over your head!

6) Take your life and make it the best story in the world. Again, make the most of your life…if you are not happy with your life, CHANGE IT! You and you alone are responsible for your happiness. You are responsible for whether your life is the best it can be. Don’t blame your unhappiness on circumstances or on others…regardless of how badly they have hurt you. YOU have the power to to make your life the best it can be…you have the power to “write” your own story. And see #5, because sometimes fear is controlling our ability to make positive changes…both in our circumstances AND our attitude.

Quick side note…I read somewhere that fear, frustration, and hurt are the catalyst for anger. Hum…if you feel “angry, “ something to think about.

7) Don’t waste it. You get one life. Even if you believe in an after life, these few short years is all you are going to get on this earth. This is it. You were born, you will die. Every day you waste being negative and unhappy is a wasted day. What if this were your last day on this earth…do you really want to spend it consumed by negative emotions…. fear, anger, bitterness, hate!

So as we FINALLY put this tough year behind us, let’s all vow to live a better life.

After all, we all have the power within ourselves to do exactly that.

Take lots of pictures, but commit to memory those special people and places.

Challenge yourself to conquer your fears…pet a spider, jump out of a plane, clean out that closet!

Say I love you more to the people we love.

Say hi to a strangers, give them a smile, pay them a compliment…

Say thank you…

Be kind…

Vow to make your life the best it can be….

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!