As a child, it seems anything is possible: Wishes can be granted with the wave of a wand or a sprinkle of fairy dust. As adults we hold a more mature, realistic view, based on life experience that reveals wishing does not always make it so.  Here are my keys to living a healthy lifestyle.

Inner Freedom – The #1 key to living a healthy lifestyle. Among the best gifts I can give myself is to be fully aware of my thoughts and feelings. When I’m awake and alert, I can choose how to respond to what is happening around me with grace, instead of reacting to others with sloppy words, impatience or temper. To react or respond: this is the key to inner freedom. We have the power to choose our words and actions, and this is an incredibly powerful gift. I we stop, look, and listen before we do anything, I ensures peace of mind and harmonious relations with others.

Health and Longevity – Another important key to living a healthy lifestyle. Did I save the best wish for last? Perhaps. The older I get, the more I realize that not much in life matters if I don’t have love – love of my partner, of family and friends. Love of work and creative expression. Love of the Earth and her bounty. Love of growth and the opportunity to be all I can be. But to receive this love, I must have an open heart. I must fully give love, too. So my third and final wish is to live with a wide-open heart as best I can; to not close off others; to not judge or discriminate or neglect. I wish to be kind; to extend myself to others as best I can; to live with unconditional friendliness toward all beings – both animal and human. This is a life worth living; a life rooted in love.

Fate is kind, she brings to those who love the sweet fulfillment of their secret longing.  These are my secret longings – inner freedom, health, and love – and because I do love. I hope they will be granted.

What are yours? Perhaps we can meet under the tree and share our gifts. What bounty we would have! Here’s to living a healthy lifestyle!