I was recently introduced to a book by Stephen Levine, titled A Year To Live - How To Live This Year As If It Were Your Last. It is a book about living consciously in the present moment and focusing on what it really important. As the author says, “This book was written as a one-year experiment in consciousness renewal, intended to sharpen life … while we still have the chance.” He asks the questions: If you were taken from this earth tomorrow would you be happy with your life? Would you have any regrets? If you were told that you had exactly one year to live, how would you spend the next twelve months?

Thinking about these questions and the premise of the book, I started to visualize a personal course or direction for the New Year. I want to wake up each day excited about what it holds. I want to reach out to loved ones and tell them how much they mean to me, to remember to say thank you for the things I have taken for granted. I want to choose wisely how I spend my time and do things that bring joy to my heart. I want to improve living in the present moment –to realize that it is a gift and that is why it is called the present! I want to give up what’s not really important to make room for what is. I debated about using this topic for a newsletter because I was concerned about what people might think about facing their own mortality- too scary, too morbid? Then I thought –“Wait a minute! What if this was the last newsletter I wrote? What would I really want to share with everyone?”

So here’s my heartfelt recommendations:

• Get out from behind that desk, computer, newspaper, book, vacuum cleaner or TV and go hug a love one. If this was the last time you would see them, what would you want to say to them?
• Stop saying ‘some day’ about your dreams. Go for it now!
• Throw out the ‘To Do List’ and go visit a friend.
• Tell someone everyday how they have made a difference in your life.
• Stop using purchases as a way to happiness. Create happiness through relationship strengthening.
• Stop wasting precious time with worrying, guilt, complaints or fear. Stop trying to control things. As Richard Carlson says: “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” (it’s all small stuff!).
• Be grateful continuously and savor every moment as if it could be the last.
• Be present for everything you do –breathing, loving, eating, listening, and working.
• Share – remember that love is the most valuable gift.
• Forgive
• Find a reason to laugh daily.

Pray, MEDITATE and enjoy nature everyday. Stop making excuses! Take responsibility for being fully alive

Ask yourself each morning, what one action or deed could I do today to end the day contented and at peace? What do you keep saying you will do someday? With over 250,000 people dying everyday, who has time to put life aside? Please make ‘someday’ today!

Your Assignment (Should you choose to take it!)

1. Make a habit of telling everyone close to you how much you appreciate them and why.

2. Make a list of all the things you keep saying that you will do someday. Pick the top 3 things on your list and make them a part of this year.

3. Approach each day as another gift and celebrate it!

-Vicki Miller

www.thrivingthroughchange.com