To have a peaceful and serene day, one does not have to indulge in hours of meditation and mood altering situations.

Sure, every day brings issues to deal with and challenges to meet. Our list of things to do can be almost any size. Some of us work for a living and some do not. But we all have responsibilities.

Many things we have taken for granted the past few years now are a major cause of stress. Today we are in transition politically, economically, and socially, and are forced to make major changes in our lives and attitudes. But there is some good from all the outside chaos.

We are looking for less expensive ways to enjoy our free time. Some of us are starting to use libraries instead of buying new hardback books when they are hot off the press. We are walking and riding bicycles instead of popping into our cars every time we need something from the store. I think this helps us feel more appreciative in general about our lives.

Most of us follow a ritual of daily activity, depending on our lifestyle. If there were a magic wand that could erase problems and difficulties I would gladly wave it in front of you every day.

Today in our current society we are busier than ever just taking care of details. Computers help us pay our bills, emails take the place of hand-written notes, not to mention iPods, Blackberrys, GPS’s. Fax machines and cell phones, once extraordinary inventions, are just old stuff now. And with all these changes, somehow it takes longer to do some of the most mundane activities.

After spending many hours on the telephone pressing buttons to take care of a billing problem, with luck you may reach a real human being. You think the problem is solved until next month when the error appears once again. What about the cancellation notice of your insurance for no reason? What about the faulty merchandise you are trying to return? It is no wonder many of us feel frazzled at the end of the day.

So what is the solution to all this craziness we are experiencing in our lives?

First, give yourself five minutes to meditate. That is all you need; no fancy instructions. Sit quietly and breathe in four counts and out four counts. If there is music in the background, that’s fine but it does not matter. Then take about five minutes to write your intentions for the day. Keep it simple and be sure you can follow them. Then, the most important thing is to write down all the things you are thankful for. This is insulating and reminds you of your wonderful life. If there are some things you wish to happen, write them down too, as if they are already happening.

Wake up and smile, stretch, smell the coffee (or tea), and get out of bed saying to yourself, “Thank you for another wonderful day and opportunity in life.” Finally, remember that when you smile, it takes ten years off your appearance.

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