Smart things to do...

I read this list the other day. It was an answer to the question, "What are the smartest things I can do NOW for my future while I'm still young?" I don't know who the author is, but they're pretty wise. I love this list. 

1. Exercise.
Boy, this changes your life. Making exercise an important part of my life has been instrumental in finding more inner peace, health and happiness. 

2. Save money.
I cannot tell people enough how much debt weighs you down. It is not worth it. Save. Save. Save.

3. Plan for your future. Invest in it.
Tomorrow is not promised but that doesn't mean you may not see it. Failing to plan is planning to fail.

4. Tell everyone how you feel about them because in your future they will all be dead.
So this one is worded a little differently than I would have liked, but it is true. The people who mold who you are often leave you with large holes in your life later on. Cherish them now. 

5. Relax.
Practicing yoga helps with this as does practicing Pilates on the reformer. Lovely. 

6. Be positive. Choose to be happy.
You really do select how you're feeling. You can let things bring you down or you can opt to keep moving. 

7. Surround yourself with positive, caring people that are better than you.
It is amazing how much better life is when you surround yourself with people who are caring and warm.

8. Practice forgiveness and understanding.
I think this goes back to the Golden Rule. We want others to figure us so we have to forgive them.

9. Set goals and put your entire being towards them, whatever they may be.
Whew. I think there is a real power to this method. I've not mastered it yet...

10. Give everything you do in life 100%, regardless of how you feel about it. Success is a choice you make every day; it is not dependent upon results.
You get out what you put in. It is as simple as that. 

11. You're not always right. Always assume you could be wrong. If you are, forgive yourself and move on. Don't dwell. Be thankful to those who corrected you. Ego and pride are roadblocks.

Boy. This one is tough. I'd like to think it is universally difficult, but it might just be me. I've very recently realized that perhaps I'm not always right. It has rocked my world to the core. I wish I could say that I am kidding. I'm not. My reasoning has always been, "if I thought I was wrong, I wouldn't think that way." Which I still say makes sense. I think of this more as being open to other people's opinions...

12. Your entire life is defined more by what you give to others than what you have or receive, whether you want to admit it or not. Every day practice a habit of giving, even if it's something small like a compliment. You always have something to offer others, even if you don't have time or money.I think this is a beautiful thought. I've also realized that there is no greater feeling than giving. Again, it took me some, OK a lot, of time to get to this point. I'm there now, though. Do I still like to get gifts? Sure. I also really, really enjoy giving them.

13. Remember that you, just like everyone else, have the power to change the world profoundly. You matter. You only have one life. Make it count.
This takes me back to my "World Changer" days at Indiana Wesleyan. I think we're all guilty of thinking, "what can I, one person, do to make an impact on the world?" We shouldn't think like that. We can make an impact because all it takes is one life changed to start a chain of loveliness.