something new: freedom to marry week blog carnival

in celebration of freedom to marry week, i'm participating in the other mother's blog carnival. day 2 post is "something new."

today is a new day. every morning i wake up, i am grateful for the new day and i ask the universe to help me guide me today and to help me be more loving. to be more loving towards everyone i encounter and to start my day from a loving place. each day is new and so every morning, i repeat the same ritual. it helps me stay centered throughout my day and to be more loving to everyone--including the person driving the car that cuts me off on the way to work, or the guy in line who is rude to me.

freedom to marry is ultimately freedom to love. and for me, that's loving not just my spouse, patty, but everyone i encounter. and to love those who don't want to allow me to have the freedom to marry.

each new day, there are several things i read and meditate on. i don't know who wrote this, so unfortunately i can't give them credit. someone sent it to me in one of those email chains, but i love it. it sums up my philosophy in life, the things i try to do to remain {steady happy} and loving every new day. i thought i'd share with you:

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. talk to god about what is going on in your life. buy a lock if you have to.

3. when you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement: "my purpose is to ___ today. i am thankful for ___.

4. eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. drink green tea and plenty of water. eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. life isn't fair, but it's still good.

10. life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. don't take yourself so seriously. no one else does.

12. you are not so important that you have to win every argument. agree to disagree.

13. make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. don't compare your life to others. you have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. no one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. frame every so-called disaster with these words: "in five years, will this matter?"

17. forgive everyone for everything.

18. what other people think of you is none of your business.

19. god heals everything--but you have to ask.

20. however good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. your job won't take care of you when you are in need. your friends will. stay in touch!

22. envy is a waste of time. you already have all you need.

23. each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "i am thankful for ___. today i accomplished ___.

24. remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. when you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. you'll be smiling before you know it.

photo credit here.