74 years old, I try to eat right, a lot of organic, ride my bike, inside, 1 hour 11 minutes most every day. I cut back on watching cable news, I limit myself to Nicolle, Chris, or Rachel, when I watch. I stopped going to my local right wing web site. Breathing right is good. I read a lot, books that are like self help. I read all of Ekhart Tolle's books and I have read a lot of Buddhist books.
As far as thinking, I try to think of nothing. It isn't that easy to do. In a quiet spot I tell myself what is the next thought that is going to come inro my head. I go as long as I can until a thought pops in and then I start over, seeing how long I can go.
I find that when something happens negative, just smiling works, even just smiling more for no reason.
I turn situations that would upset people into a positive. If there is a long line of people and someone is complaining, I let that person ahead of me and just enjoy the moment. If someone cuts me off in traffic or is driving too slow, I just smile.
It's a lot of little things I learned from reading, especially the books I mentioned.
With this GQP hang-up of banning books, I have been reading banned books, my latest which I have to pick up, is the Book of Enoch.
Giving is a tremendous positive thing to do. In winter here in Pa. I take coats and sweatshirts to St. Vincent De Paul and the Salvation Army. Taking food to food pantries, last year I bought a huge cooking pan that I realized I didn't need for just 2 people so I gave it to the Salvation Army. This isn't quite accurate but the Buddhists say that the cause of all misery is wanting.
Had a blast over Christmas playing games with my 8 year old grandson, even though my one knee needs some work done to it one of these days. Teaching my grandson is rewarding. I took him to his 1st wrestling practice and he told me he met a new friend because he did things for me. I told him that is only 1/2 of being a friend. You told me that Jackson is your friend but did Jackson tell his mom that you are his friend? You have to do things for him. His picking up on that warmed my heart.
It's the little things that matter in life, not the complicated big things. Read Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, not one of his well known books but I think it was his best.
Sorry about my carrying on but I use the excuse when I say too much that I am a Leo, and then I smile.
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