15 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist

As Jack London once said, “The proper function of man is to live, not to exist.”  Far too often we travel through life on autopilot, going through the motions, accepting what is, and having every day pass like the one before it.  Everything seems relatively normal and comfortable, except that constant twitch in the back of your mind that’s saying, “It’s time to make some changes.”

Here are 15 simple suggestions for those who want to break free from the mold and truly live more of their life – to experience it and enjoy it to the fullest, instead of settling for a mere existence.

1. Appreciate the great people and things in your life. – Sometimes we don’t notice the things others do for us until they stop doing them.  Don’t be like that.  Be grateful for what you have, who loves you, and who cares for you.  You’ll never know how much they mean to you until the day they’re no longer beside you.  Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you.  Truly appreciate life, and you’ll find that you have more of it to live. 
2. Ignore other people’s negativity. – If you allow people to make more withdrawals than deposits in your life, you will be out of balance and in the negative before you know it.  Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary.  No one has the right to judge you.  They may have heard your stories, but they didn’t feel what you were going through.  You do not have control over what others say; but you do have control over whether or not you allow them to say these things to you.  You alone can deny their poisonous words from invading your heart and mind.
3. Forgive those who have hurt you. – I forgive people, but that doesn’t mean I trust them.  I just don’t have time to hate people who hurt me, because I’m too busy loving people who love me.  The first to apologize is the bravest.  The first to forgive is the strongest.  The first to move forward is the happiest.  Be brave.  Be strong.  Be happy.  Be free.
4. Be who you really are. – If you’re lucky enough to have something that makes you different from everybody else, don’t change.  Uniqueness is priceless.  In this crazy world that’s trying to make you like everyone else, find the courage to keep being your awesome self.  And when they laugh at you for being different, laugh back at them for being the same.  It takes a lot of courage to stand alone, but it’s worth it.  Being YOU is worth it!
5. Choose to listen to your inner voice. – Life is a courageous journey or nothing at all.  We cannot become who we want to be by continuing to do exactly what we’ve been doing.  Choose to listen to your inner voice, not the jumbled opinions of everyone else.  Do what you know in your heart is right for YOU.  It’s your road, and yours alone.  Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.  And be sure to appreciate every day of your life.  Good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience, and the worst days give you the best lessons.  
6. Embrace change and enjoy your life as it unfolds. – The hardest part about growing is letting go of what you were used to, and moving on with something you’re not.  Sometimes you have to stop worrying, wondering, and doubting, and have faith that things will work out.  Laugh at the confusion, live consciously in the moment, and enjoy your life as it unfolds.  You might not end up exactly where you intended to go, but eventually you will arrive precisely where you need to be.
7. Choose your relationships wisely. – The best relationships are not just about the good times you share, they’re also about the obstacles you go through together, and the fact that you still say “I love you” in the end.  And loving someone isn’t just about saying it every day, it’s showing it every day in every way.  Relationships must be chosen wisely.  Don’t rush love.  Wait until you truly find it.  Don’t let loneliness drive you back into the arms of someone you know you don’t belong with.  Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.  A great relationship is worth waiting for.
8. Recognize those who love you. – The most memorable people in your life will be the ones who loved you when you weren’t very loveable.  Pay attention to who these people are in your life, and love them back, even when they aren’t acting loveable.
9. Love yourself too. – If you can love children, in spite of the messes they make; your mother, in spite of her tendency to nag; your father, even though he’s too opinionated; your sibling, even though she’s always late; your friend, even though he often forgets to return what he borrows, then you know how to love imperfect people, and can surely love yourself.
10. Do things your future self will thank you for. – What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while.  What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  Make sure it’s worthwhile.
11. Be thankful for all the troubles you don’t have. – There are two ways of being rich: One is to have all you want, the other is to be satisfied with what you have.  Accept and appreciate things now, and you’ll find more happiness in every moment you live.  Happiness comes when we stop complaining about the troubles we have and offer thanks for all the troubles we don’t have.  And remember, you have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.  
12. Leave enough time for fun. – Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see things clearly.  Never let your life become so filled with work, your mind become so crammed with worry, or your heart become so jammed with old hurts or anger, that there’s no room left in them for fun, for awe, or for joy.
13. Enjoy the little things in life. – The best things in life are free.  There is absolute joy and wonder to be had in the simplest of moments.  Watching the sunset over the horizon or spending time with a family member. Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things.
14. Accept the fact that the past in not today. – Don’t let the past steal your present and future from you.  You might not be proud of all the things you’ve done in the past, but that’s okay.  The past is not today.  The past cannot be changed, forgotten, or erased.  It can only be accepted.  We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past.  But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future.
15. Let go when you must. – It’s not always about trying to fix something that’s broken.  Some relationships and situations just can’t be fixed.  If you try to force them back together, things will only get worse.  Sometimes it’s about starting over and creating something better.  Strength shows not only in the ability to persist, but in the ability to start over again with a smile on your face and passion in your heart.

Try This Easy Move to Help Your Body Detox

Good things in, bad things out! That's the idea behind this fitness move that's designed to help your body detox, naturally...

The move to help your body detox? Whole Living says it's the standing twist, which helps your body stimulate elimination in the liver and kidneys and helps release toxins. Here's how to do it:
"Start in a runner's lunge with your right leg bent at a 90-degree angle and your left leg extending straight back behind you, hands on either side of your right foot. Lower your left knee to the floor, and bring your hands into prayer position (palms touching). Take a breath, then exhale, rotating your upper body to the right and bringing your left elbow to the outside edge of your right knee. Stay here for 5 breaths, then repeat on the other side."


I love this, and it's so easy to do and surprisingly energizing.

Massage ... What? New Study Suggests Rubbing This Body Part Increases Health

The #1 most neglected body part? Experts say it needs a little love too! In fact, if you rub it with this, you may even be healthier...

The thing you're not doing for good health? Rubbing your gums--preferably, with a bit of toothpaste.

Huh?

A new Swedish study found that people who gave themselves daily gum massages using a bit of toothpaste (and clean fingers!) increased the fluoride absorption in their teeth/mouth by as much as 400 percent and reduced cavity formation. The key here, though, was leaving the toothpaste on your teeth (and not rinsing) after the gum-and-tooth rubdown.

5 Amusingly Mundane Avengers Behind-The-Scenes Photos

Entertainment Weekly just released this set of exclusive new Avengers stills. While most of them are your standard run-of-the-mill ‘Captain America standing there’ photos, a handful take place behind the scenes, and it’s actually really amusing to see Joss Whedon interacting very mundanely with serious-looking actors in full-on superhero costumes.

Here’s 5 Amusingly Mundane Avengers Behind-The-Scenes Photos:

1. Iron Man Clapper

2. “Your primary superobjective in this scene, Thor, is…”

3. Joss Whedon Doesn’t Need Stand-Ins

4. “In this scene, try to imagine that Nick Fury isn’t 63 years old…”

5. RDJ Relaxes Between Takes

Alright, last one might’ve been a meaningless Photoshop, but a four-item list just doesn’t feel right. Like if there were Six Commandments or something (which is why they padded that list with all those dumb ones).

Either way, these stills should really help the Avengers be a successful movie.

Alicia Silverstone Is Just Practicing What She Preached In Clueless

Alicia Silverstone has been the subject of much ridicule this week after posting a video of herself chewing up food and feeding it to her baby mouth-to-mouth.

Personally, I don’t understand the confused backlash – she’s merely practicing exactly what she preached in Clueless more than a decade ago:



So now we’re supposed to act shocked when a celebrity merely stands behind their characters’ convictions??? You make me sick, internet. Though that might also be because I’m watching the feeding video right now on the internet.

Now let’s see if she’s committed enough to have her baby send itself flowers and ‘show a little skin.’

Here’s A Quick Way To Make Hugh Jackman As Jean Valjean Even Better

Hugh Jackman tweeted this “official” first look as Jean Valjean in the Les Miserables movie musical today. 

Here he is in prisoner mode, or, as my ancestors would call it, going to tuck a note into the Wailing Wall mode:



MMM if we’re going to rate the success of the film on how intensely Hugh Jackman can furrow his brows, producers better prep for millions of dirty, TB-ridden francs so start rollin in. The only… only… way we could possibly see Jackman upping the authenticity of the character? 

STEP 1: Add Wolverine Claws.

He doesn’t even need to lift the runaway cart, he could just tear that sh*t up with his claws you guys.

MAD MEN PREMIERE PHOTO RECAP: A Little Kiss And A Lot Of Racism

THE OPENING CREDITS: IT’S BACK 



OHHH, WHO ARE THESE CUTE NEW GUYS?


GIANT RACIST PR*CKS? PERFECT.


I DARE GERALDO TO TWEET ABOUT THIS. I. DARE. HIM.


HAIR DRAPER: OUR FIRST SHOT OF DON IS SHIRTLESS.


ALSO NEVER FORGET THAT HIS CHEST HAIR IS SHAPED IN THE EXACT SIZE, SHAPE AND FORM OF E.T.

MEANWHILE MY HOW SALLY HAS GROWN!! (INTO GWYNETH PALTROW FROM THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS.)
Keep a box of issues handy.
FIRST ASS-CRACK SIGHTING OF THE EPISODE:


WHO… THE HELL… ARE THESE KIDS???
Sally I recognize. But who is that other boy? And the little one??? I’m going to assume Jason Sudeikis is the father. No, no, no facts necessary. I know what I know.
OK KIDS! FUN TIME IS OVER. TIME TO TAKE YOU BACK TO YOUR MOM’S HOUSE. AT THE BATES MOTEL


“DADDY, HOW MANY EPISODES WILL I LAST FOR?” ” MAAAAAYBE TWO.”
Bobby is the Roseanne’s Becky of Mad Men.
LOOKS LIKE BERT COOPER STILL HASN’T BEEN BLANKENSHIP’D


BEST INTEROFFICE GAME SHOW HOST: Roger Sterling


SECOND ASS-CRACK SIGHTING OF THE NIGHT:
With a side of some infant testicles. Not close enough says local pedophile!
JOANIE’S BABY LOOKS JUST LIKE HER


WHEN BERT COOPER SAYS NATURE CALLS


HE IS BEING ABSOLUTELY LITERAL.



HI PEGGY! IT’S ME, MEGAN. FROM SEASON 4? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE IDEAS I WORKED REALLY HARD ON?


THEY’RE GREAT. *SLOWLY DRAWS LINE THROUGH IDEA*


GREAT. SO I WANT TO THROW A SURPRISE PARTY FOR DON.


HERE’S THE GUEST LIST:


THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I LOOK LIKE WHEN WRITING THESE RECAPS GENTLEMENNNN:


PRESENTING THE BEAN BALLET


STAN IS NOW MY FAVORITE CHARACTER ON MAD MEN AND ALSO MY FAVORITE EMINEM SONG
“My bean’s gone cold I’m wondering why… got out of bed at all.” I would pay money to once again see him save Brittany Murphy’s life at the mall like that one time in Clueless.


BY FAR THE BEST BEAN SCENE IN LAST NIGHT’S PREMIERE:


I EVEN LIKE HIM WHEN THE CURTAINS ARE GOING UP ON HIS BEAN BALLET:


PILLAR WHO MOST LIKELY RENTED A COPY OF J-LO’S ENOUGH The pillar that kicked Pete’s ass.
I LOVE THIS FABULOUS BITCH
Sure, people back in the late 60s were very, very racist, but I’m happy that didn’t stop Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner from casting the long lost ghost of deceased actor jk Meshach Taylor in the role of “Random guy who tells everyone to Shhhh! but in a really gay way.” He’s the tops.


“GOD I HATE YOU SO MUCH. I WISH I HAD NEVER MARRIED YOU. THE MERE SIGHT OF YOU MAKES ME FEEL SICK TO MY STOMAAAH GOD SURRPRIIIIISE!”


THERE WERE EVEN JEWS THERE!
I haven’t felt this proud to be Jewish since I was Bat Mitzvah’d at the age of 28 when I finally had enough friends to get a party together.


COOL, ALL THAT AMBIEN I TOOK IS MAKING ME THINK ALEX MAC IS KEN COSGROVE’S FIANCEE DEAD.
WHAT’S NEXT? Is the Dad from Clarissa Explains It All going to make a special guest appeara–
Oh, Trudy’s Dad, You’re the 90s-Nickelodeoniest!
ABE’S URGE TO TAKE HIS PANTS OFF AND DRAG HIS ASS ACROSS THE CARPET…


…CLEARLY THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS AD:
AND NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS KIDS…. ZOO BEE ZOO BE ZOO TIME! CLICK PLAY AND SCROLL


AND A DON EMBARRASSMENT REACTION GIF WALL!


MICROPHONE MOST LIKELY TO GET SOME TONIGHT


“AS A WISE MAN ONCE SAID…. I HATE MY WIFE” — ROGER, SPEECH GENIUS


I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS MEANS…


ENCORE!!!


OH LOOK. A WALLET. FULL OF MONEY. NO, NO, THAT’S FINE, I’LL TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS SHOW DOES TAKE PLACE AFTER 9/11 RIGHT?


“SIR, THIS IS AN OLD RUSTY MOLAR. THANK YOU!” — THAT IS HOW BAD THINGS WERE


SCREENGRAB I JUST PRINTED OUT ON FOAM BOARD AND TURNED INTO A CRIB BUMPER ON MY BED


Morning Baaaaaaabe
HERE WE SEE DON DRAPER GETTING READY…


FOR HIS UNSCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH MRS. SELLNER
ONE LUMP OR TWO?? (HIS TESTICLES ARE OUT.)

WOW, DID THIS WALLET-LOSER STRIKE THE LOTTERY IN EASY-TO-REMEMBER SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS!!


GUESSING THIS GUY REALLY WANTS HIS WALLET BACK


HELLO MURSE: THEY NEED TO FIND A PERMANENT ROLL FOR THIS HUMAN DRAIN CLOG OF A MAN


BEFORE I EVEN SAY ANYTHING SEXUAL SHE’S STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME ISN’T SHE? GREAT. NOW THAT THAT’S OUT OF THE WAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE HEELS ON MY SHOULDERS… 


“YES, I’M LANE PRYCE. I HAVE YOUR HUSBAND’S WALLET.”


“OH WONDERFUL. WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU IN A BIG FANCY OFFICE BUILDING?”


“YES. DESCRIBE THE PANTIES YOU’RE WEARING.”


THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE YOUR LACY UNDERTHINGS


MOST ACCURATE IMPRESSION OF MEGAN
ROGER STERLING HAS TURNED INTO A WHITER MAN’S WAYNE BRADY
“Does anyone haaaave a bigger office in their purse? $1100 for a bigger office? You sir?”  JOANSMARY’S BABY TIME!


“LOOKS NOTHING LIKE ME”


“OH LOOK A BABY NOT MY BABY WHOSE BABY IS THAT REMEMBER WHEN WE DID IT ON MY COUCH HI EVERYONE”
– Pete Moonwalks Out Of Room 


THE SAND IN MY JOAN-SHAPED HOURGLASS WAITING FOR THESE TWO SAD ASSH*LES TO DO IT ALREADY IS RUNNING LOW 


WILL THIS BITCH EVER STOP BLINKING??? No. Also first Colin Firth in Bridge Jones’ Diary and now Lane??? She must be stopped.
BEST CAMEO: NICELY NICELY FROM GUYS & DOLLS


NOTE THAT I ALSO CLEAN MY HOME THIS WAY, ONLY WEARING A DISPOSABLE SCRUBBING BUBBLES BRA AND A SWIFFER 360 THONG


NEW COSMOPOLITAN SEX GAME: WATCHING ME CLEAN ON ALL FOURS


LOOKS LIKE DON ENDED UP CLEANING THE FLOOR WITH HER


BEST PREVIEW FOR THE UPCOMING AMC DREW PETERSON MOVIE


NEXT WEEK: TYLER PERRY PRESENTS “MAD MEN”


AKA HOW LANEY GOT HIS GROOVE BACK HEYYYYYY
 
To be continued..