5 indispensable tips for 2013

DATELINE VALRICO - This just in; I miss the little dude. We so enjoyed my grandson David, running around and shedding sunshine all around the house, the first ten days of January. The last five he was here by himself. It was as good a start to 2013 as I could imagine.

Which leads me to think – albeit a few days after the official New Year – about what a toddler like David can teach us about making this the best year ever.

So here are, “FIVE TIPS FROM DAVID.”

1. SMILE: Smiling improves your health. And, interestingly, smiling is not simply an involuntary reflex to external stimuli. We don’t have to wait for something to make us smile; we can in fact choose to smile. Try it sometime when you’re on the phone and the other person can’t see (practice this especially if you’re irritated or annoyed) – it will qualitatively alter the way you feel and it will markedly improve the quality of the conversation.
2. GIGGLE: This is like smiling, only more so. Giggling is the next stage after the smiling takes hold. This is not quite so easy for grownups to pull off, but the practice is recommended nonetheless.
3. HUG: Often, in the middle of trotting around the house, playing, or checking out a “Harry the Bunny” video, David would make his way into the kitchen with a big smile on his face, reach both arms out wide, and offer a huge hug. If you haven’t tried this, you’re missing out big time.
4. SING and DANCE: Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish toddler singing from squealing or laughing, but the dancing part you can’t miss. With David it’s like a scene from “Happy Feet.” Regardless, singing and dancing can be expressions of passion and joy. Lord knows, the world needs a lot more of both.
5. GUSTO: Whatever it is, David throws himself into the opportunity to live with 100% of the resources he has available. Basically, this is the same advice Jesus gave the religious leaders of his day, when he told them to love “With all your heart and withall your soul and with all your mind…”

So give it a try, practice all five if you have the nerve. I’ll happily take (and maybe share) your stories when you report back. And I’ll be sure to tell David he’s already an evangelist for Joy.

In love, and because of love – DEREK

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:35-40)