I heard on the radio that Monday, January 6, was deemed the most depressing day of the year. With the holidays over, bills to pay, the cold winter weather ­– and, for some, the thought of going back to work or school after a break – folks can get pretty bummed out. After hearing this depressing news, I immediately launched into my morning mantra ritual, repeating to myself, “Today is going to be the best day of my life.” I’m not about to let the sub-zero weather in Ohio and all the doom and gloom forecasted by weathermen and newscasters get me into a funk.

Thankfully, I have this mantra because I know firsthand that we all can get so weighted down in dealing with the daily grind and stress in our lives that we simply forget to be happy. Each day we have a conscious choice to make: to be happy, or to be miserable. Don’t forget that your joy isn’t controlled by others or outside factors, but from your attitude and a sense of peace and joy that resides deep within each of us.

On New Year’s Eve, and for my classes the few days following the New Year, I spoke about the intentions I’m taking into 2014. I don’t like to set resolutions, but rather bite-sized intentions that seem easier to maintain. I’ve had a few students ask me to post them on the DDD, so here they are:

  •  To be more humble.
  •  To be more compassionate to others.
  •  To be less judgmental.
  •  To love and take care of myself.
  •  To laugh more.
  •  To unplug more often and directly connect with others.

I also shared this quote, which really summed up the message I wanted to convey.

“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” – Mary Radmacher

Wishing all of you a fantastic 2014: Nurture and take care of yourself, practice kindness, be full of wonder and gratitude, and always remember to be happy!

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