Many people are predicting the “End of the World” in 2012.

My initial thought is: “Why are we all of a sudden listening to the ancient Mayans, following what is loosely translated as the END of their calendar, when we have never followed any other aspect of their culture?”

Like the Y2K fears and centuries of religious-based predictions, the continued interest in the End of the World leads me to believe that humans are indeed collectively dissatisfied with HOW we live our lives.  Perhaps deep down we all know we are in need of an EXTREME ORGANIC LIFE-ENHANCING “Make-Over,” one that is actually GOOD for the Earth and all of its inhabitants, culminating NOT in the End of the World, but in a much-desired “End Of The World As We Know It.”

I teach that each inhale is an invitation, each exhale an expression.  We have the power with each and every breath to express ourselves in different ways, to re-invent, to entertain, envision, and ENACT higher levels of choices.  We do have the POWER of CHOICE, and can CHOOSE to take the BRIGHT HIGH ROAD—deeming 2012, THE END OF THE UNHEALTHY WORLD.

So, let’s skip the doom and gloom and simply commit to “Making the World a Better Place”—MORE CONSCIOUS, MORE LOVING, MORE HEALTHY, and a LOT MORE FUN!!!

Here are my Top 12 Wellness Resolutions for 2012:

1) BE GRATEFUL: This is huge, because there is always, always, ALWAYS someone who has it worse, and if we wake up every day, open our arms and just say “Thank you,” we will be starting the day off with a lot of grace.

2) BREATHE THROUGH THE STRESS:  Negative energy gets “stuck” in our bodies when we don’t breathe, so have a little internal mantra “I will breathe my way through” anything.  The situation may not resolve right away, but you won’t be holding that stress in your body.

3) PLAY!!!:  Do a sport, revive or start a new hobby—tennis, bowling, walking, Mahjong, Yahtzee!!!, Tai Chi, Yoga, activate your life with activities!!!

4) HYDRATE: Drink clean pure water, NOT FROM PLASTIC BOTTLES, and send good thoughts into your water as you drink. (and read Dr. Masaru Emoto’s book The Hidden Messages in Water!!!)

5) DITCH the MICROWAVE: People won’t like this one, but food “nuked” in the microwave is not proven to be able to hold its nutritional qualities, so you might as well eat a bunch of slop.  Heat it in the oven, or eat more raw food and bring more consciousness into your meals.

6) EAT ORGANIC HEALTHY REAL FOOD: Source out good REAL food, avoid packaged goop, and avoid ALL FORMS of corn syrup, fake sweeteners, strange dyes, sodas, and if you want to lose weight, eat regular balanced meals.

7) KEEP HEALTHY SNACKS HANDY: Nearby I mean.  Nuts, Carrots, Celery, Fresh Fruit, Avocados (yes, great healthy source of fat which your body needs!!!), and Organic Chocolate.

8) EXERCISE: at least 3 times/week: CARDIO, STRENGTH, and STRETCH: Equal time on these three and your body will really maintain a great balance—walking/running, weightlifting, yoga, martial arts, sports, or any combination of exercise that works for you.

9) COMMUNICATE YOUR FEELINGS: Bringing honesty back into the mix is HUGELY healthy and will make you emotionally feel sooooo much better.

10) CHECK YOUR INTERNAL DIALOGUE: How do you speak to yourself?  Inside.  Be nice, understand that how you speak to yourself will most often tell you what is truly going on, and it will help you be more diplomatic with others.

11) RELAX, MEDITATE, and SLEEP—Listen to your body when it says, “I need quiet time,” “I need to walk amongst the trees,” or “I’m tired.” LISTEN, answers often come through loud and clear in dreams, in a state of quiet, or in silence.

12) LAUGH….a LOT:  For 2012 let’s all just have more fun.  Humor goes a long way, and can lighten up almost any situation, and laughing is truly good for our health!!!

www.scottcole.com

Greetings!  Rather than ask Scott to put up the inaugural posting on his new personal blog, I’m taking a break from helping him create it in order to offer its’ first testimonial to Scott Cole: the man, the instructor, and the leading expert in America on matters relating to wellness, tai chi, yoga, organic living, and general fitness.  As this page evolves, I encourage all of you who have personal Scott ‘tales’ to share to contribute.  We’ll be publishing only the most glowing praise.  [Ed. note-we're joking]  I write this during the second of two prolonged visits to Scott’s home in Palm Springs, California; where I’ve been blessed again with the opportunity to better myself through direct, sustained exposure to the man many only get to know from his excellent personal instruction, or from his bestselling series of DVDs.  Until very recently, I’ll admit to having been a portrait of “unwellness”; a chain-smoker and occasional over-imbiber, a man with a somewhat scattered personal and professional life, and [as millions of others during this trying era] a somewhat displaced lifestyle.  Strangely I feel that this extreme, yin-yang like contrast in our two personalities allows me to take note of many of Scott’s incredible qualities that many of you might be jaded or inured to after reaping the benefits of years of his expert tutelage.  I see Scott’s daily life in his Palm Springs home, and his interaction with the hundreds of people who greet him daily throughout the surrounding towns, as being perfect embodiments of his teachings.  He lives simply, albeit surrounded by a gorgeous aesthetic, prepares foods organically grown from his own grounds, supplicates himself each morning to the beautiful surroundings of the valley, and carries himself through town with grace, compassion, and centeredness.  Much as I feel enriched by the time I’ve spent with him so far, I hope you find the future contents of this blog to be equally beneficial to your own pursuit of wellness and self-improvement.  Namaste!       Dave Hansen