Life in Japan can be challenging, but also absolutely amazing and wonderful. Having spent two years in the country of the rising sun as a kid I still remember quite a lot of things that kept me thrilled and amazed. Here are ten things about the Japanese lifestyle that you should know before moving in or traveling to this wonderful country!

1. Christmas is a lover’s holiday

Christmas is not a traditional holiday in Japan. Though, in recent decades it became popular to decorate everything with lights and buy fur trees, do not expect a traditional evening meal with a turkey in a family setting. Think of Christmas in Japan more like of Valentines day in the US. On December, the 24th you are expected to ask out your date to a fancy place, think of a unique date idea or some other couple activity and yes, prepare a gift, but a romantic one. In Japan, gifts are rarely exchanged among family members and friends unless that was pre-arranged earlier.

Another peculiar Christmas tradition in Japan is going festive at KFC! It emerged after a surprisingly successful ad campaign in 1974, where a group of foreigners were desperate to find a turkey for Christmas and ended up celebrating at KFC. There’s always a huge queue in front of any KFC at Christmas as everyone are eager to grab a 40$ special meal of chicken, wine, cake and champagne. The tradition is so popular in Tokyo, that you need to pre-order your Christmas-special chicken meal and book a table in advance!

2. Keep your trash with you

One of the first things you notice in Japan – trash cans are impossible to find at public places! Yet, there’s not litter on the streets either and by no means you should become the one who leaves it! So, what are you expected to do with your bento pack or a melon soda can? Put it in your bag and carry it home like all the Japanese people do. Alternatively, veteran expats pointed out there are public trash cans available at McDonald’s and konbini (convenience) stores.

When living in Japan, you will learn a lot about handling trash. As the islands are tiny and densely-populated, it was crucial for the Japanese to focus on recycling and minimizing their impact on the nature around. That’s why one of the first things you receive when moving in your apartment is a gomi guide – an immensely detailed instruction on all-things-trash, from sorting it the right way to days when certain types of waste are collected. Caveat: if you missed throwing the appropriate type of trash on the right day, you will have to wait for another week till you can get rid of it!

3. Driving experience is different

First of all, you need to get used to the fact that your steering wheel is now on the right side of the car and you are obliged to drive on the left side of the road. Also, all the speed limits are listed in kilometers, not in miles. Make sure you can convert them correctly before stepping on that gas pedal. Traffic lights are horizontal and double stacked, so it takes some time to figure out which one is working for you now. While most Japanese drivers are really accurate and attentive, there’s another road hazard – careless cyclists who often pop out unexpectedly on intersections and sometimes ride on the opposite side of the road.

Remember, you are not allowed to drive in Japan with a US-only license. You should either have an International Driving Permit that can be retrieved from American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) back in US. However, those are valid only for short-term stays in Japan (less than 90 days). If you plan to settle in Japan for longer, you should either get driver’s license of the international standard or switch overseas driving license to Japanese ones.

Don’t get upset if the whole thing looks difficult to you, Japan has impeccable train service that will get you to any place at no time.

4. Bowing isn’t as easy as you think

You do know that the Japanese bow at practically any occasion from a greetings to apologizes. Learning to do it the naturally graceful way for a foreigner may be really tricky. Here are three main types of bows:

• eshaku – leaning about 15-degrees in an informal setting and as a greeting.
• keirei – 30-degree bow to show a higher level of respect say to your boss or other people who are higher than you on social scale
• saikeirei – 45-degree bow reserved for major occasions like meeting the emperor or say when you’ve screwed up really big (think destroying someone car).

5. Always carry an umbrella in summer

The rainy season (tsuyu or baiyu) takes place in most parts of Japan from early June till late July and a month earlier at Okinawa. Whereas it does not rain straight for two months in a row, the weather becomes really unexpected. You can leave the house while the sun shines bright to realize it’s raining cat and dogs in a mere hour when you are about to leave the shop. Unless you’d like to spend ¥100 each time it starts raining (or get soaking wet), do carry an umbrella all the time.

Also, do not forget it’s impolite to enter any store or other venue with your dripping umbrella. There are special boxes installed outside where you should place it. They are never stolen, yet if you don’t have a particularly distinctive parasol, it might be accidentally taken by someone else. Surprisingly, you can find it the next day at the same box as that someone returned it for you.

6. Policemen are really friendly and concerned (sometimes even too much)

Japan traditionally tops the list of the safest countries in the world with extremely low crime and murder rates. Hardly anyone actually locks the doors at home and if you lost your phone or wallet at the train station, there are 99.99% chances you’ll get it back the next day with the same amount of cash. Therefore, Japanese police is busy sorting out other issues the citizens have. Say, if you got lost in Tokyo, a policemen will surely guide you back to your home or the nearest metro stations. You can chit chat with them and joke all the way back home. Also, these folks can call you a cab and lend you money if you had a rough drinking night and missed the last train.

However, as Karin Muller pointed out in her book “Japanland: A Year In Search of Wa” sometimes the local police friendly concerns can become too much. The local officers were really concerned about her nightly running habits, numerously talking her out of jogging around the beach after dark for no specific safety reason. But that’s kind of a cute motherly-like concern, right?

7. There’s no need to double-check anything

There are zero chances you will receive the wrong amount of change from a cashier. Not a single chance the item you ordered would be fake or lack any accessories that were sold with it. Japan has no tolerance for scamming or dishonesty. Not only it is highly shameful to trick anyone, but also rather costly with huge fines and legal consequences for those who’ve attempted and got caught.

Also, bargaining isn’t a thing in Japan. All the prices are fixed even at street markets. Do not ask for a discount unless it’s already listed on the product.

8. Night clubs are not for dancing

It is just as odd as it sounds – you are not allowed to dance at a vast majority of night/dance clubs around Japan. Basically, any night venue in Japan has a “Please, no dancing sign” and if you get rebellious after a few shots and still decide to get low on the dance floor, you can get kicked out. According to a law adopted back in 1948 (and never changed since then), clubs with a floor space less than 66 sq/m  (710 sq ft) cannot obtain the proper license and allow customers to dance. A later law adopted in 1984 bans dancing after midnight. Real estate prices in Japan are whooping. Finding and renting a place over 66 sq/m gets extremely expensive and hard to find. Add extra fees for obtaining “dancing license” from the government and we get an absolutely broke club owner who will need to work for decades before he starts earning at least something from the venue.

If you plan to have a night out dancing till dawn, look for clubs based outside the city or in industrial areas like ageHa based in Shin-Kiba (port district) in Tokyo. Free shuttle buses run from/to various parts of town, plus the venue’s open till late with an array of professional dancers to round out the onstage entertainment. However, there’s been a slow shift in the society and the “no dancing” law could be modified by Tokyo’s 2020 Olympics.

9. There are special sleepers to attend the bathroom

First of all, when entering the house you are supposed to take of your shoes and either put on the sleepers proposed by the owners or walk barefoot around cozy tatami floor. Also, there’s a set of special sleepers reserved for walking in the bathroom only. Usually they are left next to the door or right in front of the entrance. You are supposed to wear them only while using the toilet and it’s extremely embarrassing to forget changing them back after you’ve finished all your business there. Also, it’s polite to put them back just the same way they were standing, so that the next person could easily slip into them.

You’ll find the same “bathroom sleepers” in numerous restaurants and venues around Japan. Make sure you do not end up walking in them back to your table. Also, you are required to take your shoes and leave them aside before entering a fitting room at the shop. All of them have special clean podiums where you should stand barefoot.

10. Laundry is usually done every day

Basically, each Japanese family does the laundry every day. By 7 am you can see an array of crispy clean clothes drying outside. Usually, it is considered inappropriate to wear any clothing item twice without washing it first. That’s a crucial point to consider if you plan to share your living space with a Japanese person.

Featured photo credit: Moyan Brenn via flickr.com

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What is the first thing you do when you have a problem? Find solutions?

The first thing you have to do to resolve any problem is not to find solutions. It’s to ask yourself important questions.

Similar to a mathematical problem you had to solve in elementary school, there is always a question at the end of each problem. If there isn’t a specific question at the end of each problem, you won’t know what to solve.

Below are 10 steps you can follow to systematically solve any problem you have. At the end of each step, you’ll find suggested questions that help you solve your problem.

1. Assess if your problem needs to be solved.

Why find solutions to a problem when your problem doesn’t need to be solved in the first place?

Your mind loves to create problems for you to solve. It’s mentally stimulating. But sometimes, if you take a step back and assess your problem, you may find that your problem may not be something you need to solve.

For example, my friend told me that drinking coke is his vice. But his vice isn’t necessary something that needs to be solved. If the benefits he receives from drinking coke outweigh the benefits of not drinking it, why does he need to change his habit? Even if he tries to change, it’s highly likely he would fail because of the benefit he receives from drinking coke.

So whenever you face a new problem, first ask yourself why you want to solve the problem. Assess the cost and benefits of solving and not solving the problem and determine if the problem is still a problem you need to solve.

Suggested Questions:

• Why do you want to solve this problem?
• What are the benefits and costs of solving or not solving this problem?
• Is the benefit of solving this problem more than the benefit of not solving this problem?
• Is the cost of solving this problem more than the cost of not solving this problem?

2. Identify the underlying problem clearly.

Every time you have a problem, go deeper and ask yourself if there is a deeper underlying problem. What you define as the problem may just be a symptom.

For example, you have a constant headache. Taking medicine will only resolve this problem short-term. It will only help you ease your pain for now. Your headache may just be  a symptom of the problem.

The real problem could be a lack of sleep and dehydration. And if you go deeper and understand why you allow yourself so little sleep, you may find that the bigger problem you have is poor time management or work stress.

Identifying the underlying problem helps you get to the root of the issue. Solving it helps you remove all the small, recurring symptoms that it creates.

If your problem isn’t clearly defined, then there is no point in finding solutions to it. Because you will end up solving the wrong problem or a problem that is of little value to you.

Suggested Questions:

• What is the underlying problem here?
• Is the problem you have defined a symptom instead?
• What could be causing your current problem now?

3. Define specific and measurable objectives.

Now that you have defined your problems clearly, you can start to develop a strategic plan to tackle your problem.

But before you think of solutions, think of the objectives you are trying to achieve first. Because your problem will never be resolved if you do not have specific and measurable objectives to tell you that your problem has been resolved.

For example, you have identified that your problem is not having enough money to support yourself.

Finding more ways to earn money is good but without a clear objective you can’t check at any point in time if you have resolved your problem or not.

However, if you have determined your objective is to earn $5,000 each month in order to solve a financial problem, you will know that you are beginning to solve your problem when you do earn $5,000 in a month.

Moreover, it’s easier to come up with strategies and test their effectiveness when you have specific and measurable objectives defined.

Suggested Questions:

• What are your objectives?
• What are you trying to achieve by resolving this problem?
• Are your objectives specific and measurable?
• Does your objectives let you know your progress at any point in time?
• Does your objectives help you determine if you have solved your problem or not?

4. Come up with as many solutions as you can.

The key to this step is to not filter any ideas you have.

No matter how crazy or how impossible your ideas may sound at first, write them down. Think about the constraints later (discussed in next step.) For now, just let your mind think freely and come up with as many solutions as possible.

For example, if you want to spend 2 hours more each week with your family, think of all the things you are willing to give up for your family. It could be spending less time watching TV, cutting down your commute time or spending less time at work. Even if they don’t seem possible at first, don’t dismiss them yet.

If you are lost, look for other people who have the same problem as you and understand how they have solved their problem. Their experience will give you great insights into how to solve your problem.

Suggested Questions:

• What can you do to reach your objectives?
• What do you think is impossible to do but could help you achieve your objectives?
• How can you achieve your objectives if you aren’t limited by any constraints?
• Who has the same problem as you?
• How did they solve their problem?

5. Determine your constraints and refine your solutions.

Now that you have come up with solutions, it’s time to determine your constraints. Your constraints could be time, deadlines, money, resources or even fears that are blocking you from reaching your objectives.

Using the same example above, you have identified that to have more time for your family the solution is to spend less time at work. However, you feel that it’s not possible to knock off work time because you have so many things to do.

Determine if your constraints are true or just assumptions. Can you eliminate your constraints? Perhaps some of your work doesn’t need to be completed urgently.

Even if your constraints are true and you can’t eliminate them, use them to help you come up with better solutions. Combine your constraints with your initial solution and ask yourself a better question.

So for the example above, ask yourself questions such as:

• How do I knock off work time while completing the work I need to produce? (Maybe I can trade tasks with my colleagues and do the work that I can do more efficiently.)
• How can I do my work faster and produce the same outcome? (Maybe I can improve my personal workflow or change the existing way of doing things.)

Suggested Questions:

• What constraints do you have that prevent you from solving your problem?
• Is your constraint true or just an assumption?
• Can you eliminate the constraints you have?
• What questions can you ask yourself to come up with a better solution?
• How can you do things differently but yet produce the same results?

6. Pick the best solution.

Having many solutions is good, but it’s important to pick one solution and focus on it.

To pick the best solution, go through your list of solutions and identify the solution that will give you the most results but takes the least time, effort and resources.

Why should you do this?

Implementing the solution that produce the most results will be fine if your solution works out. But what if it doesn’t? You need to think about what you will lose if your solution fails completely. Is it something you can live with?

Choose a solution which you can implement quickly and test if it works or not.

However, bear in mind, don’t pick the solution that is quick to implement but doesn’t produce the result you want. Always think of the results a solution can potentially provide, then implement the solution.

Suggested Questions:

• How well can this solution solve your problem and meet your objectives?
• How much time, effort and resources do you need to implement this solution?
• Which solutions give you the most results but takes the least time, effort and resources?
• If this solution fails, can you live with it?
• Will this solution provide the results you desire?

7. Break the solution down into small action steps.

If you don’t make your solution actionable and easy for you to do, you won’t do it.

Let’s say you have a messy home and your solution is to clean it up. But cleaning it up seems like a lot of work. So what do you do?

You break it into smaller tasks that you can do within 5 – 30 minutes. For example:

• Put the books on the table back into the cupboard.
• Empty the trash.

Instead of tackling your problem or implementing your solution fully, chunk it down to bite size so that you can do a bit each day without overwhelming yourself.

Suggested Questions:

• What do you need to do to implement this solution?
• How can you break the solution down into small action steps?
• What can you do within 5 to 30 minutes?
• Are the action steps manageable or still too overwhelming?
• How can you break your action steps even further?

8. Ask for help.

You don’t have to solve your problem alone. But you also don’t want to turn your problem into other people’s problem.

After you break down your solution into small actionable steps, it’ll be easier for you to ask others for help, and others are more likely to help you because you will have made it simple for them to help you.

Go through your list of action steps, pick tasks that you think others can do better and faster than you. And simply ask others for help. It doesn’t have to be restricted to friends and family. You can hire a virtual assistant online or someone professional to help you implement your strategy.

Apart from helping you with action steps, you can also ask or hire someone to be your accountability partner. For example, hiring a trainer to help you lose weight.

You will report your progress to that person every week and tell him or her what you are going to do next week. Having someone holding you accountable will keep you on track.

Suggested Questions:

• What action steps are easy enough that others are willing to help you?
• What action steps can others do better and faster than you?
• Who will be suitable to help you with these tasks?
• Do you need someone professional to help you with some of the action steps?
• Who can you seek or hire to be your accountability partner?

9. Prioritize, schedule and follow up.

For the remaining action steps, prioritize them according to importance. Similar to step #6, pick the action steps that take the less time and effort to do but give you the most results.

You want to start off with some easy tasks to get your momentum going and let them build up your confidence.

Pick a few action steps that you think you can complete in a week and schedule them. Then, find a time each week to schedule your next action steps for the week.

For those action steps that you have outsourced to others in step #8, you also need to schedule a time to follow up with the other party and check their progress.

This step is crucial because it minimizes procrastination. If you don’t put your action steps on your calendar, you most likely won’t do it.

Suggested Questions:

• What are three to five action steps that you can complete this week?
• When would you be doing these action steps?
• What actions do you need to take next week?
• When would you be following up on the action steps that you have outsourced?
• Have you scheduled these action steps on your calendar?

10. Take action and go back to the previous steps if necessary.

After you have scheduled your action steps, take action accordingly. If you are stuck, go back to any of the previous steps and revise your strategy.

Don’t be afraid to start all over again. You have already gained knowledge and experience in solving the problem from this process.

Even if you are not stuck, it’s good to take a step back and see if you are solving the correct problem, using the most effective strategies and making progress.

Also, check if you have already resolved the problem with the objectives you established in step #3. If you have resolved your problem, there’s no need to carry out the other miscellaneous action steps. Just celebrate what you have achieved so far and congratulate yourself for a job well done.

Suggested Questions:

• Are the actions that you have taken producing any results?
• Are you feeling stuck or not seeing any progress?
• Which step do you need to go back to and revise your strategy?
• Have your objectives in step #3 been met?
• If so, do you still need to carry out the other miscellaneous action steps?

Featured photo credit: Worried!/Alon via flickr.com

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If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders.

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Success can be defined differently for everyone but the fact is some people achieve it and some people don’t. What is it that successful people do or have to find success that others don’t? There has been a lot written about the skills and habits needed to live a successful life and I think most of us know the things we could work on like building confidence or overcoming fears to be more successful in areas we want to. There are people that have a higher likelihood for success than most. Frequent travellers, people constantly on the move learn many life skills exploring our world. Here are 15 reasons why frequent travellers are more likely to be successful because of that:

1. They Know how to Thrive Outside their Comfort Zone

Frequent travellers are in unfamiliar situations regularly. They must work through the unknown because of necessity. Faced with countless new experiences they learn valuable coping strategies that help them shoulder uncertainty and remain calm and effective. This is a key skill for success in both business and leading people.  

2. They Welcome and Embrace Change 

Travellers invite novelty. People constantly surrounded by new and different things avoid boredom and learn to focus better. This way of thinking inspires innovation and creativity.

3. They Know how to Manage their Emotions 

Frequent travellers experience varying levels of stress routinely; tight flight connections, interrogations by border guards, and rude hotel staff can all cause ones nerves to fray. Travellers hone the ability to manage emotions and remain calm under pressure developing keen self-awareness. Being self-aware increases productivity and helps people find what makes them happy in life, the ultimate success.

4. They Trust and don’t Always Need to be in Control

Travellers have to rely on people they don’t know all the time. They deal with language barriers, cab drivers in strange cities and are often dependent on the kindness of strangers. Accepting the fact they can’t always be in control helps them build new relationships. They develop confidence in their ability to choose friends and acquaintances that are genuine and trustworthy.

5. They Manage Fear and move Past it

The key to success is taking action. When you travel a lot you put yourself in situations where there is no turning back.This makes people face fears head on and develop coping skills to take action despite the fear.

6. They Recognize and Seize Opportunities 

Travellers have a wider breadth of experience and knowledge about the world. They learn new and better ways of doing things being exposed to different customs and cultures. This knowledge  helps them recognize opportunities to improve and innovate at home and in the places they visit.

7. They Know how to Negotiate to get What they Want 

Travellers negotiate to avoid being taken advantage of. Good negotiating skills are needed to get what you want or need without becoming pushy or aggressive. This skill is important in influencing others and helping them understand and accept your ideas in business and as a leader.

8. They see Beauty Where Most don’t 

Frequent travellers see many different types of things and train their brains to focus on the beautiful. Constant novelty keeps the mind and the eyes sharp. People who travel see beauty where others see the ordinary. This skill belongs to great photographers, poetic writers and fertilizes the garden where inspiration grows.

9. They are More Confident and Know how to Fake Confidence when Vulnerable

People who travel a lot learn to rely on themselves and are confident that they can accomplish what they want to. This belief helps them to be persistent in the face of obstacles and recover better after failure because of that.

10. They Better Understand Differences in People and are More Accepting 

Travellers are always meeting new people. They become good at asking questions to learn about the people they meet and what their opinions are on their city and culture. The questions come naturally because of travellers curiosity and desire to learn about the places they visit. This inspires great conversations that help travellers understand and accept the person and their views on a deeper level. They make friends easily and are loved by many because of this.

11. They Know When to live in the Moment 

Learning to live in the moment has many mental and physical benefits. Frequent travellers know their time in a place is fleeting. This helps them think to live in the moment more than average.

12. They Smile More and feel Happiness More Often 

Studies show travel makes us happy. Frequent travellers smile more than average because they explore new places regularly. They feel happy because they get to meet different people, see incredible sights, eat new and delicious food. That living in the moment skill helps with happiness to.

13.They Understand the Importance of Listening 

This is a life skill that a lot of people struggle with. Learning to focus and really listen to what people tell us is so important to success in life. Achieving success is about building relationships and you build strong relationships understanding people. People who travel a lot know you really need to listen to have good understanding.

14. They are Less Judgmental and More Empathetic 

Great leaders know the ability to relate to others gains loyalty and moves business forward. Frequent travellers learn to show empathy and avoid being judgmental because of that. Empathy comes from a willingness to understand, people who travel come by that willingness naturally

15. They may not be Rich but they Know how to Save and Spend Wisely 

Frequent travellers know where their money goes farther. Making the world your home you can choose places based on cost of living. People who travel and work can make less and live well in a lot of countries.

Travel inspires and educates in a ways that build character and develop skills naturally. Frequent travellers learn these skills and are more likely to be a success as a result. 

Featured photo credit: el Buho nº30 via flickr.com

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Train yourself to find the blessing in everything.

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In a world of hustle and bustle, it’s sad that we have to wait for the harsher realities in life to jolt us awake.  In the end, all the worldly possessions we strive for or the status we all reach for mean nothing.  Have you loved and did you love?  That’s all that matters in the end. Here are 14 inspiring quotes  about life from Mitch Albom’s beloved book Tuesdays with Morrie.

1.  “Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hold on too long.”

Mourning has to happen, we have to honor those that we lose by really sinking into that feeling of loss.  But we are amiss when we spend too much time there. Use pain and heartache to catapult you to new purposes and look around at what’s left of living. Look at it with a new-found perspective.  Don’t be defined by your losses.  Let your losses define your motivation.

2.  “Love each other or perish.”

A life without love is like a plant without water, it slowly deteriorates.  Love brings life, it brings motivation and inspiration.  Love brings with it confidence and adventure.  Love makes life come alive and without it we are wilting away day by day.  Start planting the seeds by putting love out there and watch how the more love you share, the more comes back to you.

3.  “What if today were my last day on earth?”

Nothing teaches gratitude as much as thoughts about how precious time is.  Truly the best way to go forth in life is to appreciate how precious it is to be alive.  When we think of it this way, we are more purposeful with how we spend our time and what goals we give ourselves.

4.   “Love is the only rational act.”

We try to fight love but fighting for make believe walls and holding on to insecurities.  Let it all go and just let love out.   Stop letting your life be ruled by anything more than what’s in your heart.

5.   “Love always wins.”

Resistance and friction happens when we’re fighting to protect the little bubble of a world we live in, we’re hoarding all the wrong things in this bubble.  We want to be right.  We want to have pride.  We want the wrong things.  Love is the only solution to conflict. Love heals all wounds.

6.   “Find someone to share your heart, give to your community, be at peace with yourself, try to be as human as you can be.”

Don’t isolate.  Get in the world and interact with it.   When it seems that nothing is going your way think about what vibes you give out to the universe.  Usually what you send out is what comes back to you.  Get comfortable with people and with giving of your heart.  The art of a big heart takes practice.  The more you share your heart, the more you feel it will be reciprocated.  Then you start to get the confidence to tr harder.  Soon you become good at it with practice and more of it comes back to you.

7.   “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”

We all spend so much time with our energies everywhere but in our hearts.  All of searching for happiness and acceptance when it’s within us, right with us all along.  Isn’t it funny that when we figure this out, everything else seems to fall into place?

8.   “If you really want it, then you’ll make your dream happen.”

Sometimes we don’t know what we really want.  Sometimes pain finally forces us to look inside and figure it out.  In pain, good things happen, if you let it.  Find out who you are and start crafting the dream that’s inside of you.  The better person you’re meant to become.  Once you know what you want and it’s clear it and you can see it, you can move mountains to make things happen.

9.    “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”

Everyone needs to find something inside that drives them, that they’re willing to push themselves through tough times.  Don’t wait for a tragedy to happen or a tragic loss to happen for you to realize that you need to find your purpose.  Take the time to find out what it is, do the work to find out who you are and what you want.

10.  “Don’t cling to things because everything is impermanent.”

Things come and go.  Life seems so much more stressful with more stuff.  Think about how our life has evolved even over the last 10 years.  The rise of consumerism has given way to so much clutter in our lives.  We all each have 10 pairs of shoes for one season. Eight different versions of a jackets for one season.  A raincoat, a workout coat, a nice dressy coat-okay maybe one in black and one in red, a long one, a short one, a leather one.  Remember when it was so easy to keep up with one?  So we’ve created a lot of stress in our lives trying to keep up with our possessions.  This stress takes away from the quality time we can be spending with people.  Life is about relationships, not things.

11.  “Accept who you are; and revel in it.”

The biggest lesson is life is that the sooner you know how to be as authentic to your self as possible is when you really come alive.  Be no one else but you as you can be.

12.  “Everyone knows they’re going to die but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.”

The best thing is to not live life in denial.  There is as bit of pressure in life to make it count.  Don’t be complacent about life.  Be aware and try to make something matter in the time you are here.  If you don’t know where to start, it usually good to start with giving of yourself and finding out where that takes you.

13.  “Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others.”

Don’t live a life of regret.  Don’t linger in the wrongs.  Linger in making things right and moving from there.  Say sorry even when you don’t want to, the act of saying it will release you.  Hanging on to wrongs does nothing for you.  Move forward.

14.  “Without love, we are birds with broken wings.”

In order to fly we need to be intact.  Love is what holds us together and keeps us up in the air soaring with the wind blowing in our faces feeling alive.

Featured photo credit: By Mitch Albom and Jeffrey Hatcher via google.com

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