Daily Gratitude: Are you struggling with any of your New Year’s resolutions? Many people are. What do you do? Evaluate them and see what your “why” is behind those resolutions. Why are you trying to change? For you or for others? Is this something you’ve tried before? If so, what went wrong then? Or, what went right? If you were successful, then what happened after that? Once you have done that re-evaluation, then realize that today is a brand new day. You can start over. It doesn’t matter that it’s not the 1st of January. What matters is that you’re going to start again and you know why you want to do this. Commitment is essential for you to develop the necessary discipline. Remember, you’re after progress, not perfection. Success comes in tiny blocks. Each block is placed upon another. But, first you have to have a foundation or the entire project will eventually crumble. How is your foundation? What does it consist of? Maybe you should work more on strengthening that foundation before working on these goals. It’s not wise to try to do a marathon 1 month after the first time you run. What are the steps you need to take? Start your new diary page each and every day. What’s the block you want to build today?

Daily Gratitude: It’s so important that each of us follow this rule. When we just “go along” and it doesn’t sit well in our hearts, we end up feeling incomplete or worse. Most of the time we do this to “fit in” so we can feel accepted. But, you can’t control whether or not you’re accepted or liked. That is something outside of your control. Sure, you can influence it by being nice and kind but you all probably know people who have done everything that someone asked of them…and yet, they were never really allowed into the fold. So, why not just do what’s in your heart – as they say “follow your heart” – regardless of whether you’re liked or not. If you look into people of great success, you’ll see that they have been criticized greatly. Much of this criticism is out of jealousy and dislike of people doing something they love. Many people want to do that but they can’t for various reasons. So, envy takes over. Forget trying to be liked. Do what you love and what you feel you need to do. This goes not only for the typical “people pleasers” but for anyone who has a deep passion. Follow that passion. When I was young I was looked upon as misguided because I wanted to be a doctor and not a nurse. That did not dissuade me because I knew my purpose was to become a doctor. If you have that passion in your soul, follow it. The people who matter will support you. The others are of no concern.

Daily Gratitude: How often do you look around you? When you’re stuck in traffic or at a light, why not look at the details surrounding you instead of complaining about the traffic and being late? You’ll be amazed at the little things you may see. Did you ever wonder who came up with the drive through concept? Or how they configure the traffic lights that are causing your current headache? What about the names of products or stores? I enjoy looking at the names and laughing or even being confused. It’s just something small and simple to me but it’s important to that person. On today’s walk I noticed a new bench in the park. I hadn’t been down that route since July or August. I wondered who had put it there. Obviously it was the park people but on whose bequest since there weren’t any others on that route. Then I said my gratitudes for it because there isn’t anywhere else to sit comfortably for at least a mile in either direction. This will help many older people who are out trying to be healthy. When I concentrate on these things that are cute and helpful, it raises the vibration in my body and makes me feel so much better. Maybe it’s because I’m little that I say there’s magic in little things. Who knows?