Little ways to spruce up your life. (And the word diet is nowhere to be found)

I found and re-read this article in my January, 2009 Women’s Health magazine and thought we could use some fun things to think about and/or start doing as we head into the holidays:
By an item of clothing that’s so not you. Leather pants, stilettos, bikini

Switch your Swatch – to the other wrist. Any time you make an adjustment, no matter how small your brain has to work a little harder

Stop apologizing already! – Stop apologizing for apologizing.

Read one of those books your English teacher talked about with such peculiar enthusiasm (Anything by Jane Austen or Toni Morrison, War & Peace, Shakespeare, etc).

Give something back. Got 30 seconds? Go to greatergood.com to support sites that help people, pets and the planet. With one click you provide books to literacy programs, food for malnourished kids, or protection for endangered pets.

Add color to your life. Buy a sweater in cerulean. Paint your living room in a dramatic red. Vivid colors can boost your mood.

Stop with the why-ning. Why is a perfectly lovely question coming from a toddler, but not from you? Why am I stuck in this stupid job? Why don’t I have a better boyfriend? A better question: How? How do I get a better job, a better boyfriend?

Learn to say no. Put your tongue against the back of your top teeth, make an oval shape with your mouth, and let go. Feels good, no?

Find a bra that fits. Because right now, we’re guessing that yours doesn’t. (A study showed that eight out of ten women don’t know their correct bra size). To prevent cups runneth over and underwires that dig, get a professional to measure you at a local department store.

Renew a childhood passion. Try skating, pottery, coloring or perfect your Pictionary game. Take your piano skills from Chopsticks to Chopin.

Get healthy for you. Visit your doctor and get a baseline/benchmark reading on your true health. Make changes that will make you better (no starvation diets, just do things that make you feel better). Walking is easy and doesn’t cost a thing.

TRAVEL. My favorite thing to do! Get on a plane, drive to the next state. There are amazing things all over this country and the world. Many may be in the next state and only a few hours away. Plan small get away trips and then save up for a big grand vacation to someplace you always wanted to go.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE TO DO THE THINGS YOU REALLY WANT TO DO!

Please don’t wait until January 1, 2010 to start making new resolutions. Learn to be resolute in your decision making and do things that really bring you or someone else joy.

Peace and love,
Sandals

Real Life, Real Talk, Real Women