Please pick a number between 1 and 10. 

Really.  Pick it. 

Got it??  Ok, now kindly hold on to it for a moment.  

When I retired from education about a year and a half ago, my tribe of girlfriends threw me a brunch.  It was so kind of them. 

I decided I wanted to bring them something as a little token of my appreciation so I chose some silver fortune cookie paperweights. Those paperweights became my favorite gift to give that retirement season.  I had lots of appreciation to dole out. 

Fortune can be defined as “chance or luck as an external, arbitrary force affecting human affairs…” and there are all kinds of legends about what kinds of messages were first included in the fortune cookies of the 1800s.  

I wanted to include an actual ‘fortune’ in each one of my silver fortune cookie gifts, so I scoured the internet for fortune cookie message ideas.  Ultimately, I used some generic examples and juzzzzed them up with my own ‘optimistic action’ for each of my girlfriends.

Why an optimistic action? Polly Campbell says that “by choosing optimistic actions, [we] create better outcomes that lead to better feelings, resulting in the creation of more things to feel good about.”

Who among us doesn’t need better outcomes, better feelings, and more things to feel good about?

So, in the spirit of starting this new year out with some good fortune, use the number I asked you to think of earlier to give yourself your own fortune and an optimistic action to take!

Ready?

1. A fresh start will put you on your way. Get started on that thing you know you want to do!
2. A light heart carries you through all the hard times. Let your heart be light about that thing that feels so heavy.
3. Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward. Don’t be discouraged in that one area where you feel stuck. 
4. Every wise person started out by asking many questions. Ask the questions you know you need to ask.
5. It is always worth reviewing some old lessons. Review that one lesson that could still have something to teach you!
6. Miles are covered one step at a time. Take the next step in the area where you have miles to cover. 
7. Pick battles big enough to matter, and small enough to win. Go fight that battle that matters to you.
8. Strong reasons make strong actions. Strengthen your reasons and your actions in that area you need will follow!
9. The change you already started has far-reaching effects. Keep going om that change you’re making and get ready for the effects!
10. Your capacity for patience will be rewarded sooner than later. Look for the rewards in that area where your patience seems most thin!

I can’t wait to hear about what kind of fortune awaits you this year.  And if you need help accessing some of that optimistic action, maybe this is the year to work on it – with me!  Happy New Year!!

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