Chinese New Year in a nutshell

If only we celebrate each new day with as much joy and enthusiasm as we celebrate the start of each new year, we will have 365 times more chances (every year!) to right our wrongs, to make things better, and to bury our mistakes.

Happy Chinese New Year to all!

Celebrate life!

Take time to smell the roses.
Drink plenty of water.
Sing in the shower. Sing in the car. Sing as if no one else is listening.

Be original. Be spontaneous.
Be passionately romantic.
Be 100% alive.
Never be ashamed of bold ideas, honest tears, a loving heart.
Believe in yourself.

Smile. You never know who is watching.

Complain less. Live more.
Each evening, talk about the funniest thing that happened today.

Don't be afraid to say "I'm sorry". Don't be afraid to say "I'm wrong".
Never go to bed angry.
Say "please" and "thank you" a lot.

Keep things simple. Keep your promises.
Keep good company.
Keep growing. Keep exploring.
Be a good winner, and perhaps more importantly, be a good loser.

Do whatever it takes to make you happy.
Wear something outrageous...under the most formal attire.

Love as if you will live forever.
Work as if you have no need for money.
Dream as if no one can say no.
Have fun as if you never have to grow up.
Care as if everything depends on your caring.

Lead by example.
Be a hero to someone.
Never miss a chance to show someone how much you care.

Never forget that your attitude and feelings always attract exactly what they convey.
Don't interrupt. Don't gossip. Don't nag. Don't tailgate.
Surround yourself with high quality people.
Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Take care of your reputation. It's your most valuable asset.

Loosen up. Lighten up. Keep showing up.
Avoid ruts. Once you're in one, it's hard to get out.

Take charge of your energy.
Sip ice water. Eat snacks. Turn up the lights. Ask questions. Stretch.
Laugh.

Count your blessings...daily.
Be grateful for every act of kindness, every breath, every meal.
Don't take good health for granted.
Don't postpone joy.
Laugh at least a hundred times a day.
Don't wait for things to be funny. Laugh anyway.

Set goals. Reach goals.
Remember you'll never get new results from repeating old habits.
Improve your performance by improving your attitude, by doing more than what is expected, and by always making those around you look good.
Don't let cobwebs form around your big dreams. Make your dreams come true.

Don't confuse time with money, money with success, success with happiness, happiness with contribution to the world.
No matter how much money you earn..spend less.

Stand out from the crowd. Stop competing. Start excelling.
No one has to lose for you to win.
Know when to come up for air.
Challenge the boundaries.
Don't settle for what you used to be or have been. Keep reaching for what you have yet become.

Take good care of those you love.
Marry only for love.
Call home.

Be kinder than necessary.
Perform random acts of kindness.
Yield to merging traffic.
Go the extra mile. Do something nice for someone who'll never know it.
Make a difference in somebody's life.

Remember other people's birthdays.
When other people need you...be there.
Don't rain on other people's parades.
Know who your real friends are.
Learn to forgive yourself and others.

Compliment others.
Honor the greatness and uniqueness in others.
Expect the best in every situation...and in everybody.

Never give up on anyone...they might just surprise you.
Never give up on life's possibilities.
Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have.

Talk to children at eye level. You'll both learn more.
Wave back at children on school busses.
Encourage children to look up at stars, play in the rain, run through puddles. Every once in a while, join them.

Live so that when your children think of fairness, integrity, caring and honesty, they think of you.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

A walk through Hamburg

"No man in the whole world can change the truth. One can only look for the truth, find it and serve it. The truth is in all places."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer