BECOMING WHO I AM

When I first started the "50 Pounds to Passion" blog a little over a year ago, I was focusing on all the things weighing me down, and holding me back, and what I needed to give up in order to find my passion. I lost 40 pounds of weight, and began to question if this was the way I wanted to be: always half hunger, struggling, losing and sometimes missing out. Life sort of got boring. It was like, true enlightenment lay just around the corner, after more meditation and yoga and raw foods. Was this who I wanted to be? A health fanatic(!).

Where was the fun and joy of life? I returned to my old and comfortable patterns. It was good to be me again. Like so many other people who had lost weight, the pounds came creeping back. And in a way I welcomed those pounds. There is a certain anesthesia to eating and being comfortably fat. No one sees you. You don't need to "be anybody" or "anything" because no one expects anything. When you are fat, you are invisible. People are comfortable around you because you offer "no threat". When you are fat you are not asked to move to the front of the line, more like you are asked to step to the side as you are somehow in the way. And when others treat you this way, it's really easy to start treating yourself way too. When you are not respected, you begin to disrespect yourself. Then, feeling disrespected, its easy to find comfort in more food. "You might as well your tell yourself", you wont be going back to the misery of starving and being fat too. It's just too much to bear.

Then once the weight is all back, the idea of beginning again is so overwhelming and frustrating that putting a frozen pizza in the oven, or taking a carton out of the fridge seem like a much nicer option. It is around this time that the mind begins its complicated journey of twists and turns in an attempt to re-imagine how and when and where to start again. Navigating the world of diet advice is like unraveling a the mystery of a rubic's cube. And all the while you get fatter, and friends and strangers offer advice designed to enlighten you. The all potato diet, wheat grass, no eating after 3, more water, no sugar, no flour, no meat, raw only, vegan! Oh and lose it slowly! (which means do everything differently for weeks, but see no results, but "know you are changing on the inside".) 

It's all too much. I realized I can't diet. I can't lose anything. It's not in our nature to lose. We live in an an acquire culture. It is our nature to want more and to want what we want now. And so with this in mind, I realized that the only way to get what I want to to have it now, in the present moment.

What does that mean? It means that I have to get into being healthy today, for the purpose of being healthier today (not in some imagined future perfect world). Being healthy today means making choices that reflect my perfect self.
I need to take the action required to be the closest to who I have always envisioned myself to be, the person I was put on this earth to be. I know deep in my heart that that person is not a fat, self loathing, depressed being, but rather an active, fully engaged, happy person. To that end, I can be that person to the best of my ability today. The object of my desire the, is not some distant thing that i will someday be, it is rather who I am becoming in this moment.

The Temple

 

for a long time i thought i needed to lose something. but losing something, operating in the negative, is not how the brain works. the goal is always to attain. to improve, get stronger. so instead of thinking of weight-loss, i decided to focus on building something: a stronger body. 

this is a path that does not require a scale. the change that takes place, evolves from the inside out. when you start to build a stronger body, you will choose the best building materials, not the skimpiest. you will choose vegetables and fruit and nuts- whatever, but not low-cal fast foods and skipping meals. you will exercise your body so that it works better, not because you want to make it less (weigh less). the idea of building is empowering. the idea of losing weight is surrounded by deprivation and lacking. when you choose to drink water over eating a snack, do it because your body needs water more than a candy bar so it can flush out toxins. after you drink your 8 glasses of water a day you can think about other options. but drink the water first.

your body is a temple. an amazing gift. it's the best piece of real estate  you can get. you own it. it is a garden. what do you want to plant there? you are the landlord, you are the gardener. does your house and garden serve you? do you serve it? don't you struggle to HAVE the best? then struggle to EAT the best.

Be grateful for what you have. If you can walk and talk and get out of bed in the morning you are way ahead of a lot of people in this world. Be thankful for that- it will get you a lot farther than hating yourself and feeling sorry for yourself for being overweight. Being overweight is a privilege! Thank your lucky stars! And then know that you also have the privilage to be choosy. 

I have a project! and i get to work on that project 10 times a day. I get to build a better body morning ,noon and night. when i take a break at work, i can work on improving myself by eating something that will nourish and sustain my temple. and i also get the immediate satisfaction of being in a temple that will serve me today  and tomorrow. 

have you ever been in a beautiful temple? a temple that was in your mind perfect? and did you wonder about how much work it took to build such a thing? the time and all the choices and all the materials. It may have taken years to make, and when it was complete there must have been a celebration, and after the celebration the people who built it maintained the temple, with love and devotion. what i am saying is, that it takes a lot of work to build a beautiful temple. but it is a labor of love.

what you possess may not feel like a temple, but it is one. you are one of the lucky ones! you have inherited a "fixer-upper" temple! rejoice at the opportunity and thankful for the challenge. stop saying, "all i got was this lousy temple, i hate it". and for heavens sake, stop throwing gasoline and matches on your "hated temple", because believe me one day it will catch on fire.

i am serious about the language change too. change the way you talk to yourself, whether you are "building temple" or "repairing your vehicle" you have to get it into your head that this is not YOU, but rather the thing you are in. it's a vessel. it's a rocket-ship sailing through space. in this way you begin to change the relationship. instead of saying "i'm sad or mad or glad... i want to (or deserve to) eat a cookie as a reward", say "i feel sad... this is what sadness feels like" and then say "thank god i have my project to work on. what can i eat or drink or do to move my temple project forward?". your project, your temple, your vessel, your vehicle is the one thing in life that you have absolute ownership of. you are the sole proprietor! so work on it! fix it up. make it work better. turn it into a temple!

eating heathy is it's own reward.

 

when re-booting a health program, it is important to NOT FOCUS on losing weight. i know that's what we all want, but it is too often the deal breaker that sends us back to the cycle of fasting, binging, guilting, and then back-petaling which lead to weight loss + gain (aka yo-yoing). don't do this. as hard as it sounds, make small changes to improve your health that will last. 
weight loss WILL follow, but mustn't be the primary goal! here is an excellent blog post from life.gaiam.com that reminds us of the important benefits of healthy eating:

Healthy eating rewards

 

Below you will find seven rewards of eating healthy that you should focus on during your weight loss journey and beyond. These side effects of healthy eating will be felt almost immediately, and, in my opinion, can be just as motivating as the weight loss reflected by your scale. So when you’re feeling down about your progress, or if you've hit a “plateau,” please keep these seven benefits in mind.

 

1. Clearer, brighter skin

 

The pillars of a good weight loss diet, which include drinking lots of water and eating lots of fibrous fruits and vegetables, will do wonders for your skin. Within 48 hours of initiating a healthy eating regimen, you are likely to notice brighter skin and eyes, less puffiness and fewer blemishes. The reason for this is simple: Water flushes toxins from your body while antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties found in fruits and vegetables immediately improve the look of your skin. It is also important to know that high-sugar foods and foods with unhealthy fats (namely trans fats) do immediate damage to your skin. So when tempted to stray from your healthy diet, remember how much you are enjoying your lovely new complexion.

 

2. Increased energy

 

Are you lacking energy? Do you feel as if you could fall asleep every day at 3pm? If you want to get that spring back in your step, be sure to start and stay on your healthy eating regimen. By eliminating sugar and processed carbohydrates (a cornerstone of all good weight loss programs), you will feel more energized within days. It often takes 2-3 days to cleanse your body of sugar, during which time it is possible that you will feel extra tired; however, after you’ve broken the sugar cycle, you’ll never want to go back.

 

3. Improved mood

 

Eating poorly is sure to wreak havoc on your mood and on your emotional state. Sugar highs and lows are most often to blame for this, but even the mere act of overeating can trigger a cascade of hormones that may leave you feeling down in the dumps. If you are a “veteran” dieter, you can probably testify to the fact that when you are losing weight you feel slightly euphoric. I can’t exactly explain the science behind this feeling, but you will likely feel it after a few days of clean eating.

 

4. Better-fitting clothes

 

Even before your scale shows weight loss progress, you will likely notice a difference in how your clothes fit. And isn’t looking trimmer more important than a number on a scale anyway? 

 

5. Finely tuned taste buds

 

Contrary to what you may believe, food actually tastes better when you are watching what you eat. If you are carefully choosing your meals and snacks, you will quickly realize just how delicious an apple can be. On the flip side, if you’ve been bingeing on sugar and chips, that apple may not taste as good anymore, because you’ve blown out your taste buds with excess sodium and sugar. 

 

6. Stronger friendships

 

Be sure to enlist your closest friends in your weight loss journey. Having a support system makes it that much easier to stay on track. And by reaching out, you are sure to make strong bonds with both new and old friends. Many of my closest friends are the people that I call for support when I’m not feeling so nutritionally motivated. 

 

7. A positive attitude

 

As I mentioned above, the hormonal side effect of eating well can do wonders for your mood. But there is yet another reason why you should get back on your nutrition plan: From Day One of your weight loss journey, I can assure you that you will have a better attitude about life. Whether you’re thinking about an impending social engagement or a stressful meeting at work, people tend to feel more in control and more positive in general when they have taken control over their eating habits. Even if you haven’t lost a pound yet, you will find that you feel better after stocking your kitchen with healthy foods.

 

As you can see, the number on the scale is not on the above list. And the reason for this is because the scale is not a good indicator or a good motivator of weight loss success. It is too easily swayed by hormonal shifts and water retention. Instead, focus on the seven positive side effects that you will feel from Day One of your healthy eating plan, so that the next time you feel like giving up, you can remind yourself that healthy eating is about so much more than just weight loss! Learn how to eat healthier with weight loss and nutrition videos on GaiamTV.com!

http://life.gaiam.com/article/7-reasons-get-back-your-healthy-eating-plan

if you want to connect to others you have to show up.

why is this is so important? it's important because you have to show up, you have to do the work, you have to be there winning or losing. it's doesn't matter which, but to learn to be honest with yourself.

it's balancing accepting yourself for who you are with challenging yourself to be who you want to be. putting yourself out there. allowing yourself to be judged by others, knowing that their opinion doesn't matter if they don't have dirt on there face too from the fight of life.

are you an "all-purpose nobody" who sits in the darkness jeering smart remarks at those who are standing naked in the sun to recite a poem they created form their heart? or are you this unique, unspoiled, imperfect flower who is ready to bloom? you choose.

The 5% Statement

this blog is not about losing stuff. it is about gaining stuff, such as purpose and passion. you have to have a compelling purpose to let go of stuff. like if you are about to fall off a high cliff, you would have a strong reason to let go of your favorite tea pot so that you could use that hand to grab the rope which could save your life. no one wants to let go of comfort. even if that comfort comes in the form of being to fat or having too much stuff or even too much money. but when you realize your life depends on it, it makes it a lot easier to make that choice. to make the transition.

if you really want to make lasting change in you life, and have made dramatic resolutions geared to improve it, and yet feel like you have already failed at those new resolutions consider this from zenhabits.net:

Sometimes, the best way to find a purpose in life is to go out there and take action, even if we don’t know what we are doing!

My favorite tool at this stage is the 5% statement, created by Nathaniel Branden, who is widely considered to be the father of the self-esteem movement. It works by allowing you to take steps in small increments. Trying to change completely overnight, as some might suggest, often creates fear, uncertainty, and resistance.

A 5% statement is split into 2 halves. Examples would be:

If I were to be 5% more responsible today, I would ___________.
If I were to be 5% less lazy today, I would ___________.

The first part of the statement doesn’t have to change. But every morning when we wake up, we think of something that fills in blank, and then do it! As you can see, 5% is small and harmless enough to let us overcome our fears and procrastination. Being flexible enough to do different things everyday in pursuit of the same goal also keeps us from boredom and routine. Even better, it encourages us to think of new ideas to try (although we can simply do the same activity 5% more each time).

You can use this for anything you plan to do – begin a new exercise routine, reduce procrastination, improve your workflow, or even your personal relationships. And if 5% seems too little, don’t worry – it builds up rather beautifully.

read the whole article here: http://zenhabits.net/passion-and-purpose-in-life/

The Pursuit

i'm not sure that trying to lose weight is the right idea. this is a daunting task,
an endless, thankless venture. one that often ends in dismal failure.
perhaps the correct approach is "the pursuit of health"! this can be achieved each day. if in the beginning the best i can do is shop right, or just get the juicer on the counter and juice, or take a walk, i have succeeded in my pursuit. 

this "right effort" far exceeds feelings of terminal failure and continued excess. just as the bill of rights guarantees "the pursuit of happiness", you can guarantee yourself the pursuit of health. 

little steps in the right direction, day by day, are their own reward.

The Trouble with Starting Again

the photo here shows a huge ginger root for the juicer, 5 of 10 pounds of carrots, 1 of 2 bunches of spinach (good for juice or smoothy), cilantro, parsley, head of romaine ( i know people frown on ice-burg, but i like it mixed in with other greens- it's a good staple). on the spendy side is the low carb protein powder and almond milk. i find have a protein shake is a good way to keep me from conjuring up a good tasting- "interesting" breakfast. it's quick and easy, and can sometimes get me out of the kitchen before i start "creating" in there.

the trouble with starting again is the fear of failure. the fear of going thru all the hard work, suffering, schlogging, trying and hoping- only to get tried-out after six or seven days, weeks, or months. Exhausting yourself again, then eating wrong and stopping everything, and gaining back the weight and losing all the momentum one more time. it's a trap.

so how about i don't do that again. how about i don't "try so hard", but i try just a little. if i just shop smarter, fill it with veg and expensive stuff that's good for me instead of cheap stuff that's not.

the other thing i have to remember is that "this is me". i have always been a little heavy, and will always be a little heavy. so this isn't a blog about, "look at me struggle and strive to be something i am not", it's a blog about taking responsibility for my own health. being mindful of who i am and what i can do to enjoy the best parts of life.

Read & Walk

Making change is a two part process. Educate yourself and then take action.
I have sometimes found that I read and read, and browse the internet searching for new ways to lose weigh, have personal success, attain enlightenment. But knowing is only half the battle, taking action is the other half. But, having said that I would like to share one of my favorite go-to websites for sensible weight-loss info it is http://www.coachcalorie.com/.


Sign up for the emails, and get the free e-book. This site has a lot of guest bloggers and isn't crammed with creepy ads for "quick-loss diet schemes".

Here's one of the posts that I liked:

http://www.coachcalorie.com/fitness-experts-best-weight-loss-tips/

The Greatest Gift

Taking off into the unknown.

We have all tried and tried to make positive changes that will improve our lives. And we have all succeeded and we have all failed. Succeeding feels better.

So here we are again: Taking off into the unknown.

When I took a look at this blog, with distant eyes, I saw that it was very inspirational. I thought, I want to be like that guy! "He has it all together."
Today, I am starting the blog again. Not to be perfect, not to make money, not to make a career, not even to have a successful blog, but as a part of my own process. I want to be the guy who inspires others. (But not at the cost of sabotaging his own success.)

Welcome to 50PoundsToPassion.

Connect

Hour of Power

For some time now, I have been a fan, well I should say a "sometimes fan", of Anthony Robbins. Robbins is a relatively famous motivational speaker who is most well known for Long weekend intensive workshops where people come to learn how to "get rich". But Robbins throws them a curveball when, basically, he explains that getting rich is wanting what you have and having what you want. The reason I bring Robins up is that recently I listened to one of his  workshops on tape. It was a seven CD set. But somewhere within the first CD Robbins talks about the "hour of power". After he explains what the "hour of power" is, he tells you that if you do this every day, forget everything else that's on the seven CD set, you will be a success. What is the hour of power? The hour of power is the first hour of the day. He suggests you get up get dressed put on your walking shoes grab your CD player or Walkman or iPhone or whatever and get outside and take a walk. For the first five or 10 minutes of the walk is warming up, you do what he describes as your "gratitudes". Think of all the things and people in your life that you are thankful for and reflect upon them. Secondly, focus on your breathing. Breathe in for 10 seconds hold for 10 seconds and breathe out for 20 seconds. This activates all kinds of things within your body including your metabolism. It helps to flush the toxins from the system. Once you get your breathing down and activated continue to breathe deeply but also consider your goals, future wants, needs, hopes and dreams. Visualize yourself already achieving these dreams. Remind yourself of your one-year goal five-year goal and 10 your goal. Ask yourself what you're going to do today to realize those goals. This practice helps you to stay focused. And then it's time to crank up your workout. Pick up the pace. Go little faster and as you move faster do what Robbins calls "incantations". Incantations are not positive state positive thinking statements but rather verbal  manifestations of what you want. If you're overweight or if your goal is to achieve better fitness, he suggests you say something like this, "nothing tastes as good as it feels".  You repeat these incantations for 10 or even 15 minutes as you keep your work out at a level of around seven or eight out of 10. According to Robbins, saying these incantations as you move, as you're physically active, gets the idea "into your blood", actually changes your physiology. 

That's it! that's all you have to do To get your day started right and begin the process of realizing your dreams. 

50 pounds passion is not about losing weight

50 Pounds to Passion is not about losing weight, it's about expressing who you are at your core. It's about self acceptance. It's about learning to become the person you were born to be. 

The more I have delved into the process of losing weight, the more I realized how important it is to transform not only my body but my thinking. This process has not been an easy one. It's a painful process to realize who you are, and who you are not. 

It has occurred to me that writing this blog may not be right for me to be doing at this time. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of blogs out there that are much better at giving advice for weight loss than this one. (Caloriecoach.com is one). And yet, I persist. I persist because I know that there are other people out there like me. People who are searching for clarity and passion. 

Last weekend I gave a workshop based on the book by Seth Godin entitled The Icarus Deception. In his work, Godin challenges the reader to express the artist from within and risk the pain that goes along with it. As the world becomes an increasingly complicated, fast-paced place to live, it is ever more important to step forward and define our roles as leaders and "expressionaries". 

One of the key components of the book is not just to read and understand the thing, but also to take action. 

This is a command that is easier said than done. I am currently in the process of struggling to unfold just exactly what that means for me. These considerations take time and effort. It means brutal honesty. It means trimming off the fat with a sharp knife. All I can say at this point is that I hope there is a happy ending. And I hope you stick around for the ride. Thanks: Timo

a whole new twist.

here i am, (left) after leading a "primal body painting" workshop.

when i started this blog a few months ago, i knew one thing, that i felt weighed down. i wanted to walk on this earth with lighter footsteps and suspected that letting go of the stuff that wasn't serving me would lead to a life filled with more passion. i focused first on my own physical weight. i figured that would be the most obvious place to start. i could see that. i could change that (i thought). so i studied nutrition, walked, exercised, breathed, juiced, dieted and everything else i could think of to "lose something", (weight). and i did lose something, and in the process, gained something. i gained a new way of being that was new and different, and one that i was maybe not ready for. 

changing can be scary. it takes you out of your comfort-zone. and that's great. it's where you need to be. but you also have to be aware of what is happening. the trick is changing on all fronts, all at the same time. not just body, but mind and spirit too. because the more fabulous you become, the more fabulous you have a right to be. 

but just as in the "cargo" poem i posted the other day, there's more to it than letting go of the stuff you don't want. you have to unload the stuff you love too! you have to give your gifts, your cargo, away! because carrying the "good stuff" around with you can weigh you down just as much as the other stuff can. 

this is such an important lesson to learn. one that has had me blocked for weeks. finding your passion means giving it away (as fast as you can). it gives "50 pounds to passion" a whole new twist. It means unload 50 pounds of art every day. It means deliver your cargo! Lighten the vessel so you can fill it up again with something new. 

Yes, the other "to do" list is still there. Of course you are going to care about what you eat, how you think and the daily practices that keep your spirit in tune. But now add those things to the mystery of giving of yourself to others in an unbridled way. Unleash your creativity. Be present. And become the embodiment the best person you can be: vibrant, vital and filled with a passion that only comes through giving.

Cargo

Cargo
A Poem by Greg Kimura (for Malidoma Somé)

You enter life a ship laden with meaning, purpose and gifts
sent to be delivered to this hungry world,
and as much as the world needs your cargo,
you need to give it away.
Everything depends on this.

But the world forgets its needs,
and you forget your mission, and
the ancestral maps used to guide you
have become faded scrawls on the parchment of dead Pharaohs.
The cargo weighs you heavy the longer it is held.
Spoilage becomes a risk.
The ship sputters from port to port and at each you ask:
"Is this the way?"
But the way cannot be found without knowing your cargo,
and the cargo cannot be known without recognizing there is a way.
It is simply this:
You have gifts.
The world needs your gifts.
You must deliver them.

The world may not know it is starving,
but the hungry know,
and they will find you
when you discover your cargo
and start to give it away.

50 Reasons Why Being Fit is Awesome

1. because it gives you back your childhood freedom of being able to run, jump, and PLAY
2. because it gives you confidence
3. because confidence is sexy
4. because exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy
5. because being fit tells the world that you care about yourself
6. because it feels awesome to know you look good in clothes
7. because it feels even more awesome to know you look good naked
8. because it feels damn good to put your mind to something and achieve it
9. because knowing that your body can handle just about anything you throw at it is powerful
10. because you will inspire others
11. to do what others think you can’t
12. to do what YOU think you can’t
13. to feel comfortable in your own skin
14. because exercise helps control stress
15. because healthy is the new skinny
16. because good nutrition will stack the odds in your favor
17. because doing something for your health right now feels better than “someday I will”
18. because you’re worth it just as much as anyone else is
19. because putting the right foods into your body makes you feel amazing
20. because you will have more energy than you ever thought you could
21. to sleep soundly at night
22. to wake up every day ready to face the world head on
23. because becoming fit will give you what it takes to tackle any challenge
24. because your children look up to you and will model what they see
25. because fitness and good nutrition is the ultimate anti-aging treatment
26. because you will be able to keep up with your kids and grandkids
27. because it feels amazing to climb a flight of stairs and barely be out of breath
28. because exercising teaches you to live in the moment
29. because healthy food fights cancer cells from ever forming
30. because your chances for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer will plummet
31. because it feels so good not to have “get in shape” on your New Year’s resolutionlist every. single. year.
32. to feel proud at a doctor’s check-up instead of fearful
33. because healthy food makes you feel energized and satisfied instead of run-down and stuffed
34. because sex is more fun when you’re fit
35. because busting through your own walls and limits feels so good
36. because it makes you feel like a badass.
37. to live a long and fulfilled life
38. to open up a whole new world of experiences
39. because it feels powerful to know that you are in control of your body
40. because you are not sentenced to poor health just because of your genetics
41. to know what the best version of you looks and feels like
42. because having muscles makes you feel strong
43. because you might find a physical activity that brings you great joy
44. because it will teach you to make time for yourself
45. because excuses are just fear
46. because real courage is being afraid of something and doing it anyways
47. to know what it feels like to set your mind to something and achieve it
48. because good nutrition and exercise are natural anti-depressants
49. because it makes you stronger on the inside, too
50. because good health is FREEDOM

Written by Deanna Schober 

Today

cloudy morning reflections.

pay attention to how you feel. notice what works and what doesn't work. stay focused on your goals. drink water. walk. hear the birds and smell the air. make a point to meet new people. spend time doing something ordinary with an old friend. make plans for the future that are fun and challenging. borrow something and then return it. treat yourself from time to time. be content with who you are and what you have, then work to make things better. say thank you for dinner. listen to a child. learn to sing a song. take the long way home. adjust your expectations. be carefully what you wish for. be as generous as you can. don't be afraid to change who you are. change who you are.

we should dance

we should dance, we should travel, we should get out of our comfort-zone and try something new. know what that means? scaring yourself. feeling awkward. moving ahead, into uncharted territories. giving the gift that is you. being creative. taking chances. being dramatic. looking someone in the eyes and smiling. :)

be content.

i have decided that discontentment can be a hazardous mindset. always wanting more (of anything) leads to a feeling of not having enough now. which can lead to hoarding, over-eating and sadness. even wanting more health, lusting for fitness or the body you had in high school can lead to a roller coaster of emotions and set one up for disappointment. setting goals to reach the "perfect weight" is setting the sites too high. take a look around you sometime, look at the people in the store, in line at the dmv or at work. probably every single one of them wants to lose more weight, to improve their health, to look like the people on tv. well guess what. that's not gonna happen.
if they are lucky, and if we are lucky, we will lose 10 or 20 lbs. that's it. (for starters.) take it! be happy with it. congratulate yourself! you win! you've done something most people will never be able to do. don't beat yourself up and be dissatisfied that you haven't lost 40 or 100 pounds. that stuff is for made-for-tv reality shows, not real life. don't be confused. be happy. sit with your success for a while. pat yourself on the back. then just stick with your program, because now you feel better and are a success story. BE CONTENT. live with it. then later, when you are bored and looking for something fun to do, challenge yourself to lose 10 more or to hike to a higher place or learn an instrument. but first and foremost: be content! 

and if you think that that is not enough for you, do something nice for someone else and that will multiply your contentment. and maybe the something nice that you do for someone else is to truly be who are. maybe your gift is yourself, a song you wrote, a flower you picked or grew, a funny hat you wear that makes people smile. do your best to do your duty. and let your duty be to serve your community through self expression and love.. all while being content.

you may not be the beauty queen of the prom, or the movie star on the big screen and the person telling jokes in las vegas or the man walking on the moon. but MOST of us are not that. most of us are the guy at the check-out counter who has a band on the side, or the park ranger who loves to watch good films and may dabble in movie-making on the side. be content with who you are in the place you are. take the "i'm okay and you're okay" approach.

here's some information i found at the mayo clinc on happiness:

people who are happy seem to intuitively know that their happiness is the sum of their life choices, and their lives are built on the following pillars:

• devoting time to family and friends

• appreciating what they have

• maintaining an optimistic outlook

• feeling a sense of purpose

• living in the moment