How to Revitalize Your Life for Under $20

That famous book says, "It has been the best of times and the worst of times".....that sure describes many people who need to find a way to forget the past and refresh themselves and move on to the future.

The future always looks better than where you are right now - whether it's good or not so good. Why is that? Because you learn something new everyday and as you keep combining the days together, you keep getting better. Most people don't realize this, and they just see themselves getting older, getting fatter, and loosing more hair. But that is not what we should be focusing on.......we are designed to keep looking ahead! Our eyes are in the front of our face, not in the back of our heads! Sometimes we need someone to steer us back into a positive mindset, and then sometimes all we need to do is stir up ourselves and get on with it. Here are some ways to get your mojo back again, turn your self around and take off in a better direction. Check these out!

Change your screensaver. You look at your computer day in and day out, it's time for a change, and that little change will give you a fresh feeling as you start to work or email.

Clean out your car, inside and out. You'd be surprised how much better you'll feel getting into a clean car no matter if the car is 10 years old or a year.

Take an hour or two and go through all the magazines, flyers, and mail that has accumulated. Toss those old magazines if you're not reading them every month, and discontinue them and put the fee into a recycling project in your neighborhood.

Scattered papers and confusion on your desk and tables will lead to confusion in your mind and everyday life. So take time once a week to straighten and throw away all junk and outdated papers. Have your bills sent through online and cancel the paper statement.

Go through your file of "important" papers. You are probably harboring items from 20 years ago! Toss them if the case is already closed, or you don't own the vehicle anymore, etc. FYI - You're only required to keep tax returns for seven years - it won't be a crime to throw them out.

Make a commitment to take a long walk at least once a week in a park or on the beach in your area; choose a nice sunny day. If you can, walk everyday, even just around the block; sooooo good for you!

Get at least some of the sugar-filled, greasy fast food, with preservatives out of your everyday diet. You can cut fried foods to I day a month, read the labels on cans and boxes, and reject 'food' that is full of chemicals and preservatives. You'll be amazed how much lighter you'll feel in even a month or two!

Make a commitment to make a homemade dinner, with the whole family sitting down to eat at one time, at least once a week. You can start out with once and as you see how much fun it is, add on.

If you're a female, take one night a week to pamper yourself, with bath salts and candles, fresh nail polish on fingers and toes, face masks - the works! You deserve to treat yourself and look pretty. You could invite a few girlfriends over and make this a "girl's night" in.

Find a good book and start reading. Go to Books a million or Barnes and Nobles, or the library (even if you never spent 10 minutes in there before) and decide on a section you're interested in and walk out with at least one book. You don't have to sit and read it all at once, but as you find time during the day, maybe in the doctor's waiting room or riding the bus, pull out your treasure and read a few pages. That will stir you on to more, and getting into a wonderful book is Good!

Have an ice cream cone - your fav flavor - and don't feel guilty at all!

This list can go on and on, but you get the point, don't you? Choose some things that make you feel good, quit procrastinating and Just Do 'Em. Your attitude and state of mind is up to you, nobody else. Some pampering and taking care of yourself is necessary too. Take a few minutes everyday and invest in yourself for the long haul - for a better future. When you are fulfilled and satisfied, even in just the little things, God will make it all better for you. Remember the old saying, "it's the little foxes that spoil the vine"......well, that's true, but it's also the "little good" things that we do that strengthen our vine, and keep it happy and healthy. It's about taking care of ourselves and our families, and those we love. So take a walk with a friend this week and look towards a brighter tomorrow! It's on the horizon.