| Are you living as a successful single? Or are you | | | | it. Write this all down. |
| single and hating every minute of it? Do you | | | | 4. Fill your calendar with meaningful activities. Now |
| believe that simply being single makes you a loser, | | | | that you have envisioned your ideal life, start to |
| and that having a partner will automatically make | | | | implement it immediately. Join an activist group; |
| your life perfect? While it is true that everyone | | | | help bring about reversal of global warming. |
| longs for a loving relationship, there is no reason | | | | Become politically active; volunteer to get out the |
| to live an unfulfilled life while you are single. And it | | | | vote. Travel to Spain. Get tickets for the |
| is totally possible to live the life you love--even | | | | theatre--or better yet, take an acting class and |
| without a partner. I have identified the following | | | | get involved in community theatre. Volunteer for |
| seven tips that can transform your life. | | | | Meals on Wheels; volunteer to read to children in |
| 1. Adjust your attitude. Attitude is everything. As | | | | the library. You get the picture. Focus on your |
| long as you think that you can't be happy alone, | | | | passion and find a way to become involved in |
| you can't be. And the good news is that the | | | | that. |
| reverse is also true: if you think you can be | | | | 5. Begin an activity that includes being physically |
| happy alone, you can be! This is not to suggest | | | | active. What have you always wanted to do? |
| that the blues will never hit, but when they do, | | | | Dance? Swim? Bike? Bowl? No matter; just |
| you have the choice of how to deal. Okay, if you | | | | choose one. There are many benefits to being |
| must, spend a few minutes crying, but then blow | | | | physically active, the most obvious one that |
| your nose and put on some bouncy music and | | | | physical fitness looks good! And it feels good; just |
| dance! Call a friend and talk only about positive | | | | getting out of the house on a regular basis |
| things. Do some unexpected nice thing for | | | | changes your view of the world; moving produces |
| another person. See what this will do for your | | | | wonderful endorphins that have such a positive |
| attitude. | | | | effect on your entire outlook. And you never |
| 2. Be grateful for every good thing in your life. | | | | know who you might meet at the Sierra Club |
| One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard is | | | | hike! |
| to keep a gratitude journal. I was told that a | | | | 6. Deal with your emotional hangovers. If you are |
| simple listing of five things a day for which I am | | | | still holding anger from previous relationships, now |
| grateful would change my life; and it did! And | | | | is the time to let that anger go. Holding on to |
| here's the great part: it's not necessary to list only | | | | anger only serves to poison your life, making you |
| big things. Being grateful for the smallest of life's | | | | unpleasant to be around. If you are still angry at |
| pleasures, such as petting a purring cat, or a | | | | your former spouse, frequently snarling, "My ex!" |
| sipping cup of hot, fragrant tea, can have such a | | | | you are still locked in a relationship with that |
| positive effect on us that we immediately begin | | | | person--whether you see him or her or not, and |
| to draw more good things to us. It's the gratitude | | | | you are not free to pursue a relationship with |
| that counts. | | | | another person. |
| 3. Vision your ideal life. Find a place where you | | | | 7. Throw a party. Celebrate your life and who |
| love to be--perhaps in your favorite outdoor | | | | you are by inviting friends to party with you--with |
| location--and sit still for a few minutes, just taking | | | | the admission price of bringing at least one other |
| in your surroundings. Then close your eyes and | | | | person with them. Keep the party simple: have |
| take a few deep breaths. When you are in a | | | | some upbeat music and lots of simple, |
| relaxed, receptive state, begin to dream about | | | | inexpensive food. Not only will you have fun |
| what you want your life to look like in twenty | | | | planning the party, you will have fun at the party, |
| years. Where do you want to be living? What kind | | | | and you will enlarge your circle of friends--and no |
| of house do you want to be living in? What work | | | | one ever had too many friends! |
| do you want to be doing? What kind of activities | | | | The best part of all this is that not only will you |
| do you want to be doing when you're not | | | | immediately become a successful single, but with |
| working? Is travel part of your vision? If so, | | | | the change you will experience, you are also far |
| where? White, sandy beaches on the | | | | more likely to attract into your life that partner |
| Mediterranean? Safaris in Africa? Dream really big; | | | | you seek as a single. |
| know that you deserve only the best and dream | | | | |