How to Flourish.

Isn't flourish a lovely word? I wonder how much difference I could find between existing and living, between surviving and flourishing. I suspect that the distance is shorter than it seems, and that though large changes may be necessary, tiny changes can have a major impact. Here are a few ways I've learned to help close the gap.

• Don't just think kind thoughts; speak them! I've been working on this. Gratitude and compliments flow from me more easily. It probably does more good to me than to the listener.
• Don't just read the minimum. Read a little extra--say, a few poems. It's like dessert.
• Don't just read poetry (or fiction, or a sacred text, or anything!) aloud; perform it! I've been trying to read poems more expressively, and I think it helps with my moods.
• Put ice in water. It takes a few seconds, and I think water tastes better cold.
• Dress to express or to shift moods. I know how I feel with certain clothes, colors, and accessories. I can show how I feel or try to influence my mood--green and glitter on a blah day make a difference.
• Take time to touch. Josh and I try to touch often: just something like a hand on a shoulder as we pass each other at home. It's soothing and keeps us close when life is hectic.