All posts by Sonja Hakala

I have been a professional writer since 1987. I've written for newspapers, magazines, worked in the book publishing industry, and published novels and non-fiction books. In addition, I've guided numerous authors through the process of independent publishing, and offer workshops in that same vein. I'm the founder of the Parkinson's Comfort Project and over the course of six years, we gathered and gave away over 500 handmade quilts to people with Parkinson's disease.
clearly it's Carding Vermont

And Now We Begin

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And now we dive into the first month of the year. We have a lot to do.

  1. Be kind. That is most important. It’s amazing what a soft word or a greeting or a smile can do to lift everyone’s spirits.
  2. Be grateful. I keep a daily journal that includes a recording of the weather, what tasks need to be accomplished, a list of what I created the day before, and five people or things for which I am grateful. My husband and hot tea make frequent appearances on this list. This small action reaffirms the positive in my life.
  3. Be honest, not in a slashing-sword kind of way with your tongue but in the way you live in this world. Honesty has a definite shine to it. People will notice.
  4. Create ~ every day. Doodle. Experiment with a new recipe or make a change to a familiar one. Rearrange the furniture. Get a library card and use it. Clean out a closet or a drawer ~ find new homes for the items you no longer use. Add a new color to your bedroom with a pillow or paint.
  5. Take a hard look at the news feeds that flow into your inbox and unsubscribe until that flow becomes a trickle. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
  6. Turn off your phone for a whole day once a month then once every two weeks and then once a week. Judge for yourself how much technology you actually need in your life. I bet it’s less than what it is now.

    Experiment. Walk instead of ride. Read a book. Read two. Learn a new skill. Join a new group. You get the idea. Each of these minutes are yours. Don’t let anyone else decide how you are going to use your precious life.