My friend Becky sent this to me. I thought it was wonderful and needed to be shared.

George Carlin’s How to Stay Young
1.Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay “them.”

2.Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3.Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s.

4.Enjoy the simple things.

5.Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6.The tears happen.  Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7.Surround yourself with what you love, whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.  Your home is your refuge.

8.Cherish your health:  If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9.Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10.Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but  by the moments that take our breath away.”

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This is week thirteen in my personal “If… Project” in which I answer questions from the book “If… (Questions for the Game of Life)”

There are 125 pages of this book, each with four questions. I plan to take one page each week and answer the questions as thoroughly and honestly as I am able. In addition, I invite you to answer the questions along with me, whether it be in the comments section, your own personal blog, or just within your own thoughts.

Perhaps in doing so, we will get to know each other better, but even more importantly, get to know ourselves better.

This week’s questions:

If you had to name the most terrifying moment of your life so far, what would it be?

I would guess the most terrifying experience would be when I had my tonsils removed. The actual morning surgery was not scary, it was the late night that was.

I woke up that evening feeling horrible and burning up with a fever. My mother came in to help me feel better and sit with me. Out of no where I vomited pure blood. This let me know I was bleeding from my surgery.

We called 9-1-1 and I was rushed to the hospital where they noticed my stitches had all opened up. They tried their best to stop the bleeding while I was awake which consisted of shoving tissues in my throat. Finally, they had no choice but to put me back under.

I was in the hospital for a total of 6 days of which 3 I remember. I lost 10 pounds but I made it through.

I can honestly say I do not remember being scared. It may because of the blood loss or I could have been in shock. Either way, I figure it is one of the most terrifying times in my life because I was the closest to death. then I would like to remember.

If you had to be homeless for one year, where would you want to be?

I would hope I would never be homeless but if I did, I would chose to live in Orlando. I have enough family and friends who would help me out in this situation.

I also know if I was here, I know so much of this town I would have a way better chance at surviving.

If you could have one street or square or park in any city or town renamed after you, which one would you select and exactly what would the name be?

I would love a park named after me. The best park would be located near the Rollins College campus here in Florida when I went to school. I would love to be part of the college I attended and offer a nice place for students, faculty and anyone to just relax and have a good time in the sun.

I wouldn’t mind having another park in Orlando named after me, if there wasn’t anything available at Rollins College. The best park would of course be Lake Eola but do I really want history changed and the park now named after me? SURE why not! That could be very cool.

If you could be guaranteed one thing in life besides money, what would you ask for?

Happiness

Those are my answers to this week’s questions. What are yours?

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I have a vision board (as I encourage all of you to have) and on it is all the things I want in life. They are all goals I am working on achieving. The vision board helps remind every day of my goals and keeps me motivated to work on them.  Well this morning I received an email which was about one of my goals. Opportunity was knocking and I was ready and answered the door. So now I am waiting to hear from this opportunity but when it knocked I did not hesitate, I jumped into action. It is important that when you set goals you work towards them and plan them out. Preparation is so important when working towards your goals. If you have always wanted to be on a singer, you do not want to randomly met the guy who could make your dream come true and when he asks for your demo tape, you respond, “I was going to work on that next week.” Opportunity missed.Think about your goals and what it takes to achieve them. Do the work NOW to get ready for the opportunities. When you hear the knocking, you will be all set to JUMP into action and turn your dream into reality.I am so excited about my opportunity and once I hear more, I will share more with you. Wish me luck and keep your fingers crossed.  

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Lately, my stomach has been bothering. When I stress, worry or have anxiety about anything it goes right to my stomach. PLUS I have a fear of throwing up so that adds to my stomach issues.

A long time ago, I had similar problems with my stomach. I was placed on meds to help settle it and it took a few weeks to heal. I am in the same boat right now. I am taking the meds the Dr gave me to help reduce my upset stomach and reduce the current pain.

I take my health for granted A LOT. Now that I am not feeling well I realize how important it is to take care of yourself so you do not get in this situation in the first place. That is why I am making a lot of changes in the health department. I want to make sure to stay well and feel great because being sick SUCKS!

It has been 2 weeks of feeling sick and it is draining to me. Last night I threw myself a pity party because I was so tired of feeling ill. Then I stopped myself and remembered I am quite lucky.

When my sister went through her mastectomy and chemo for her breast cancer I am sure she felt a lot worse than me and she made it through the months to years of recover. I am sure there were many days when she would have loved to feel better and just be over it. I am sure there were many days where she cried herself to sleep because she was so scared. But, I am also sure said told herself to suck it up because she was going to feel better soon and brighter days were ahead.

Well I am sucking it up and knowing I am going to feel like myself before I know it. It only takes time to heal. The most important part is to commit to my health and keep myself from being here again.

This means I need to stop neglecting the body I have and start taking care of it. I need to invest in myself.

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How many good habits do you have in your life? It is easy to point all the bad ones we have but we do not always think of good habits we do on a regular basis. We put all our energy in stopping the bad habits and stressing out when we do not succeed.

I always work on adding good habits into my life instead. I recently have been getting into the good habit of flossing. Just like most people out there, I hate flossing but there is so many great benefits for an activity which will take me no more than 5 minutes a day before bed.

My yearly physical and my dentist appointment are coming up so they pushed me into action. When they ask if I floss, I want to be able to say “Yes I do!”

I have been doing very well in the last few weeks and only skipped 2 days! It is becoming a new good habit. I am excited to now look at bringing another good habit into my life. I am going to meditate for at least 15 minutes a day to clear my head and relax.

Meditating also has great health benefits and I so need to learn the skill of having a quiet mind. My brain is always racing full of thoughts even when I am laying in bed. I am hoping this habit won’t only help that but just give me a better feeling of well being.

I bought myself an ocean wave CD and a nice pillow and I am ready to start my new habit this weekend.

I am working on flossing and meditating, what new good habit could you add to your life? Let me know when you start and lets cheer each other on!

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A friend sent this to me. I thought this was so simple and I love it. I wanted to share it with you:Harvey Fierstein’s 12 Step Program to Change Your Life

1. Never lie, and never let anyone cause you to lie. Truth, or the pursuit of it, is all we have.
2. Never do anything you are ashamed of. If you’re ashamed that means somewhere inside you think it’s wrong; and if you think it’s wrong, you shouldn’t be doing it.
3. Take full responsibility for yourself. You are the only one who can say what goes into or comes out of your body.
4. Always admit when you’re wrong. You’ll save thousands in therapy later — and a few friendships too.
5. Change your mind as often as possible. Just because you thought something yesterday doesn’t mean you have to think it today. Don’t ever become a prisoner of your own opinion.
6. Beware of anyone who says they know. Trust me, they don’t, or they wouldn’t have to say they did.
7. Take care of yourself first, then your family, then your friends. And if you have anything left over, share it.
8. Do something, anything, every day to change the world. It doesn’t have to be big, it could be giving a dime to a street person, planting a flower, picking up litter. Anything will change the world.
9. When you have nothing better to do, smile. You’ll have to trust me on the miracle this step brings.
10. Make a bit of time every day to be alone and think. Five or ten minutes is enough. It will keep you sane.
11. Have all the sex you want — safe sex. Get lust out of your way. It’s the only way I know to make sure you fall in love for the right reasons. And I want you all to find true love.
12. Learn something new every day. Read a newspaper article that you wouldn’t normally read. Open a dictionary to a word you never heard, or never understood.

Taken from Harvey Fierstein’s Commencement Address to the 1992 class at Bennington.
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Justin and I went to the butterfly conservatory here in Orlando. It is a natural environment full of butterflies flying from plant to plant. We spend an hour walking around and enjoying the wonderful garden filled with some many types of butterflies.

The quote at the beginning is a great way I like to think about life. Whenever I think I am done with a project, stuck in a rut or find myself not happy I am given the opportunity to reinvent myself once again.

No one knocks on my door with the opportunity but I keep my eyes and ears open and I seek it. When I find it, I jump and take the risk and find myself born anew.

I look at my life and realize how much I have grown and accomplished through taking risks and reinventing who I was.

Of course it was not like Madonna with a whole new outfit and look. It was about changing the a few things in my life that was keeping me from being who I truly wanted to be.

It is not easier realizing what once made you happy is not who you are anymore and you have no choice but to change.

I know that even now when I feel so secure in my life, I will still have to change some things about me to be happier in life. I also know that down the road (months, years, and decades) my values will change again and again and I will once again reinvent who I am to truly embrace the new me.

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Songs can really get me thinking about life. I have found a new one recently and I thought it has been a long time since I saved a song with. It is a remake and it was in the Sex and the City movie. India Arie sings this version and I love it.

Take some time to listen to the lyrics:

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This is week twelve in my personal “If… Project” in which I answer questions from the book “If… (Questions for the Game of Life)”

There are 125 pages of this book, each with four questions. I plan to take one page each week and answer the questions as thoroughly and honestly as I am able. In addition, I invite you to answer the questions along with me, whether it be in the comments section, your own personal blog, or just within your own thoughts.

Perhaps in doing so, we will get to know each other better, but even more importantly, get to know ourselves better.

This week’s questions:

If you had to choose one color that describes you most accurately, which color would it be?

I am going to say red. I think most people who know me would agree. I tend to be an out there person. I am outgoing, love to laugh and always smiling. I am almost always happy and positive every day. I really believe in people and have hope that things will always change.

I am bold and dramatic in life so the color represents that daring side of me. I think it also plays well to pay attention to me quality I have.

It also stands for love. I am a very loving person. I will hug anyone and I really care for my friends and family. I make a lot of my decisions based on my heart and truly allow it to guide me through life. If something doesn’t feel right then I am not sure I want to do it.

Plus I love the color red so I want to pick something I wouldn’t mind seeing around.

If you had to convert to a different religion, which would you choose?

I do not really feel I am part of any organized religion. I never was raised going to church or following any beliefs. I was taught to do what was right. I believe in karma and I kinda believe in reincarnation. I really just believe that is it important to believe in yourself and the people you surround yourself with.

If you were to drown in a liquid other than water, which would you want it to be?

Do I have to even drown? I do not think there is any liquid I want to fall into and then die because I couldn’t get out. That is just horrible.

If I had to pick I would say Dr Pepper. I gave up soda about 2 years ago and I really miss Dr Pepper. It was my favorite!! So if I am going to drown at least let it be something I want to taste.

If you could reverse one sports call in history, which one would it be?

I have not one thought on this subject. I do not follow any sports. Sorry.

Those are my answers to this week’s questions. What are yours?

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It is time to end a relationship when:

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