Learn

It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician.

Learning to love healthy food at a young age
You may have heard the phrase "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" and it is certainly true. Western culture stresses the importance of regular medical care almost as much as it does a healthy diet for children. But which do we take more seriously? A French fry certainly won't cause obesity as long as it is the exception and not the rule. We can all make better choices for our children's diets. This week, think about substituting a more nutritious food in place of a sugary snack or cereal. Include whole grains and fresh fruit and vegetables in your meals instead of going through a drive-thru. The healthy habits your children learn today come from your example and will impact them for the rest of their lives. Give them the best you can and their bodies will thank you.

Enjoy

You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth.

Enjoying the marathon
Life is like a marathon. We run and run, not knowing where (or how far) the finish line lies. We focus so intensely on prolonging the race but sometimes--despite our best efforts--the race is cut short. Too often we don't relish the path of and enjoy the details instead of just pounding the pavement of life. What personal boundaries can you expand to help you enjoy your life? Today meditate on the simple joys: a warm bath, reading a book to a sleepy toddler, or spending quality time with your family and friends. All of life contains bumps in the road such as losing your job or an unforeseen illness. But it is up to us to determine the quality of our lives. Remember, we don't always determine the distance, but we can determine the path.

Life

It's never too late--in fiction or in life--to revise.

Parting with unforgiving ways
Consider the things in your life that you feel are irreversible or too embarrassing to touch upon. The path of least resistance is often the wrong choice, especially when admitting to someone else that you were wrong. Is there anyone in your life that you need to apologize to? Clearing up disagreements--no matter how far removed--frees both parties to move forward in a more healthy way. Not to mention it improves relationships of all kinds. Pride isn't something that is easy to part with, but being unforgiving can eat away at a friendship or marriage. Good relationships have boundless benefits, so work to make them the best they can be!

Value

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness...never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Valuing time before it is too late
Often our days are busied with worry, stress, complaining, work, and a general wasting of time. Once we finally realize the value of our time, often for many of us it is too late. While your life might seem like a long time in the midst of it, truly it is a blink of an eye. Today, make more time to be present in your life. Even small moments--enjoying a cup of tea, calling a friend, reading a favorite book--should be enjoyed. Restructure your day so that you can get all of your work done, but allow for extra time to be spent on personal matters. Stop procrastinating!

Better

If the world seems cold to you, kindle fire to warm it.

Lighting fires in the cold
It is very easy to complain about the state of the world and point fingers, especially when you're having a bad day. What is not so easy--and yet desperately needed at times--is for people to step up and make a difference. Don't be intimidated by others, wallow in your own negative feelings, or sit back and assume someone will do it when you are capable yourself! Relating to others around you isn't always easy, but lending a helping hand, extending a hand in friendship, or expressing a word of encouragement can make a big difference to someone. The fate of many has been changed by the actions of just one person who has grown tired of "how it's always been done" and instead turns and does something more positive. The world does not demand of you to give your entire life, but we can all be instruments of positive change. What can you do to make this world better?

Dreams

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

Boldly explore your dreams
As we grow older, we reflect upon our lives--the things that we have done and the things we didn't do. Don't let this happen to you! What would you do if you knew you could not fail? Imagine the difference this could make in your life. Imagine how fearlessly you would march across the beach in your bathing suit! Break the habits of fear that are holding you back and forget the hundreds of distractions that seem to justify not trying new things! Achieve your dreams, take risks, build your vision and go boldly towards it.

Remember

Animal crackers, and cocoa to drink. That is the finest of suppers, I think; when I'm grown up and can have what I please I think I shall always insist upon these
The importance of not being too grown up
Children are so convinced of their ways and implicitly trust their own instincts. Clearly if it tastes good, it must be good for you! Delight in the experiences of your youth today. Reflect upon the simple pleasures of carefree living. What can you do to indulge yourself in a healthy way? Put down the bills and laundry and have a tea party or puppet show. Take a spin on the swing set or jump on the bed. Not only will you burn off some energy, but you'll also be taken back to an innocent, worry-free time in your life. A time when you wore pajamas with feet and weren't such a big girl. Remember the importance of an occasional childlike moment