Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Stefanie Johnson

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a regular meditation exercise that Make The Days Count will publish.  These are meant as exercises you can do without much preparation and are therefore excellent for home or office.

There are magical places that exist within each one of us, inside our minds, hearts, and souls.  By visiting these places, we can tap into the infinite and bring peace and abundance into our lives.

Each journey will be unique, as we are unique, so you may want to have a notebook and pen nearby to record your experience afterward. You may choose to have another person read the meditation to you so you may experience it more fully.  Find a comfortable place, close your eyes, open your mind, and prepare yourself to travel within.

This week, let’s explore the Ancient Forest.  Inside the Ancient forest, you can be cleansed and replenished, connect with your spirit, and reclaim the abundance that is rightfully yours.

It’s a beautiful, sunlit day.  You are walking on a path through a lush forest … Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Stefanie Johnson

Many different people practice Tai Chi.  If you happen to come across a class and you have never seen it before, stand back and watch them.  You won’t be able to help but notice how beautiful the movements are, especially in a larger, synchronized group.  There is something haunting and elegant about watching Tai Chi.  Sped up, it could cause injury to another.  However, that’s not what Tai Chi is about.

Tai Chi is a non-competitive form of martial arts that was developed in China about 2,000 years ago.  Legend claims that it was begun by a Taoist monk who found inspiration in the lithe, fluid movements of animals, and decided to use these movements to direct the flow of qi - life energy - throughout the body.  It contains 100 different movements. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Blake Cothron

The darkest hour of the black night slowly begins to change … first shades of black become dark blue, and the stars fade from view.  Birds awaken and joyfully sing choruses to the awakening sun, like songs of appreciation and delight.  The glowing moon becomes faint as the great sun slowly rises over the horizon, beaming warmth and light over the landscape … another day has begun! 

In the midst of this epic scenario happening right outside your walls, where are you, and what are you doing?  Are you jolted by a blaring alarm clock, dragging yourself out of bed and wiping the crust out of your eyes, in a hurry to make it to work … did you hear any birds singing today? Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Judy Mosley

So, you’re ready to take the plunge.  You have your tools by your side and you eagerly wait to discover new territory.  These activities are very simple and most of them cost nothing.  Again, enjoy this process and bring others along with you.  Your change might inspire others to do the same.

1. Get a Library Card.

Statistics from the ALA (American Library Association) state that only 68% of Americans have a library card. This is a huge resource that you can use for much of your discovery.  You will have a variety of treasures at your fingertips, from audio books to movies, self-help to fiction.  Whatever you need, more than likely, they will have it.  Start reading books that you normally would pass up. Check out biographies, history, fiction, nonfiction, or philosophy.  Give yourself the grace to take it back, unfinished if you discover you don’t like it.  However, don’t write something off, just because it’s not what you would normally read.

Also, if you have a college or university in your city, most will issue non-students user cards that allow you to use the university library just like your Free Public Library.  Many people are not aware of this service. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Judy Mosley

Who are you really?  No, not what do you do.  Who are you?  What do you like?  What are your thoughts? What makes you tick?  What makes you happy?  What makes you cry?  What are the things that point to who you are as a person?

It’s not about whether or not you’re married, have children, have a big bank account or sing in the choir.  Those are things that you do.  They are roles that you play.  They don’t define who you are.

For many people, it can appear as if they were born knowing who they were.  They seem comfortable in their own skin, make decisions without stressing, and make friends without compromising their own space.  Even if they didn’t have the encouragement at home or with their peers, they still seem to shine when they are themselves. Read More »