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Yesterday, our daughter emailed us this list of 40 ways to live a more fulfilling and less stressed life. My wife read them to me this morning. So I thought I’d share them with you today. Think about it: If you practiced just one of these tips each day, I’d guarantee that the world outlook, global warming, and our economy wouldn’t appear so bad and perhaps even more manageable. Enjoy!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.  It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to__________ today.’
5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation,  and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of  70 and under the age of  6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people  smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk, and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, OR negative thoughts or things you can not control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. at breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. (I don’t quite understand this one.  Must be my blonde hair!)
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the NEGATIVE BLUES away.
18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. REMEMBER GOD heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.  Your friends will.  Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often. (Or email them to death!)
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and  enjoy the ride.
40. May your troubles be less, May your blessings be more, May nothing but happiness come through your door!

Author unknown.

Do you have a tip to add to the list? Please share, and have a great day in the process.

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40 tips for a better life: Can you add to the list? http://tinyurl.com/9qaf6e

11 Comments

1. Wendy says:

   January 7, 2009 at 8:08 am

   #41 – Find joy in other people’s passions for the little things in life. This will allow you to find what YOU are passionate about.

   #42 – Say Hello to a stranger today. You never know how bad they may have it, and one smile and hello could change their life.
2. Brooke says:

   January 7, 2009 at 8:29 am

   #43 – Life is too short to be stressed… Relax!

   #44 – Talk to your parents about their childhood and the lessons they learned while growing up
3. Park says:

   January 7, 2009 at 11:34 am

   Thank you, Wendy & Brooke. Terrific additions to the list!
4. Matt says:

   January 7, 2009 at 12:02 pm

   #45 Become vegetarian.
5. Amy says:

   January 7, 2009 at 5:13 pm

   I need to work on #14 for sure:). #45-Do one thing each day that is just for you (i.e. take a hot bath, read a good book, whatever makes you happy), especially the parents out there:). The happier you are, the happier those around you will be.
6. Park says:

   January 7, 2009 at 5:26 pm

   Amy, a great book about that very item is, “The Four Agreements.” http://tinyurl.com/9ukohc

   I’m just reading it and covered that very topic this morning. I think you’ll enjoy it.
7. Blufrogger says:

   January 9, 2009 at 5:35 pm

   Be courageous…Love without boundary and allow life to unfold.
8. Shady Gardener says:

   January 12, 2009 at 1:23 pm

   I found a link to your place at A Gardener In Progress’ site. In fact, she’s added 11 more tips.

   I really appreciate this list and have copied and printed it, so I can refer to it.

   How about: Lift the spirits of another person. In doing so, yours too are lifted.
9. Butch Clydesdale says:

   January 20, 2009 at 6:12 am

   How about, “Worry less and celebrate more”. I have heard you say this before Park and shared this with a few other people.
10. 21 Ways to Write Green Posts for Your Environmental Blog | ParkHowell.com says:

    January 27, 2009 at 8:17 am

    [...] “40 Tips for a Better Life: Can You Add to the List?” [...]
11. Meg Book says:

    January 5, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    Getting 3 hugs a day is good for the soul.