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I can think of people who have everything they could ever
want and are still miserable. I can think of people just scraping
by whose joy for life overflows onto everyone around them.
Sometimes we take for granted the great pleasure we can take
from very little things. Sometimes, too, we forget to give our-
selves permission to enjoy over-the-top abundance, as if we
somehow didn't deserve it. Most important, life is best when we
set our judgments aside and savor the moment of whatever it
is that the universe is dishing out, in big or small servings.
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We're surrounded by beauty of all kinds. It can perk us up, calm
us down, and even heal our bodies and souls. Getting attuned
to this splendor is a great way to pass the time. It's time to
shine up your sense of wonder and see the world in a new light.
Make some new discoveries, and don't forget to pass them on
through the magic of your own creativity.
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Stop trying so hard. The harder you try to make yourself happy,
or the more you focus on “being happy” for its own sake, with-
out connecting it to actions in your life, the more it eludes you.
Get out there and do it!
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More Laughing
Somebody told me that an average kindergartner laughs 300
times a day, while an adult averages seventeen times. This
makes me want to be a kindergarten teacher.
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Laughing at Yourself
Persnickety, controlling, stiff. I catch myself in this mode and I
have to laugh. More fun to be the wild, goofy child poking fun
at my uptight self.
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Some people are tough customers, whether they're actual cus-
tomers, bosses, employees, friends, or even family. Don't let
it drain your energy. Figure out the minimum contact you can
have, make it as pleasant as possible, and move on. Don't let
anybody sap your energy.
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Creativity
The spark of creativity is life's first and greatest gift to us; we're
conceived in that spark. And we have the chance to create
every day, even in how we look at the world around us. We also
get to bear witness to that spark in others through literature,
scientific discoveries, music, and painting. If we pay attention,
we can notice it in nature all around us: a perfect spider web,
the formation of ice crystals on the windowpane, even a close
examination of our own animal natures. Creation brings us joy,
awe, and often a much needed new perspective.
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Bugs
Ever bite into an apple with a worm? Make the best of it by
remembering that even things we sometimes think are gross
are really, truly wonderful. Spiders are good luck. Worms help
plants grow. Bugs as part of the ecosystem, bugs making
honey and silk, bugs eating peskier bugs, and so much more.
It's a good exchange for a couple of wormy apples, or for those
twelve mosquito bites I get every summer.
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A Sense of Purpose
You may think that some work is beneath you, or that people
are demeaned by having certain jobs. There are several ways
to look at work you may not be excited about doing. You can
feel demoralized or bitter about doing repetitious work that
does not challenge or excite you, or you can find a sense of
purpose in what you do. You can see your efforts in relation
to the overall effect they are having as an essential part of the
whole. Your sense of worth is in your own hands.
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