In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: When your day is filled with work, chores, or activities, you may lose touch with yourself. Through the act of mindfulness, you are making a gentle effort to be continuously present by: Being present "on purpose" through a conscience direction of awareness. Being attentive to the present moment. Your mind may be racing with things to do, and people to see, but instead you focus on the simpler things. Being non-judgmentally aware. By paying more attention to the moment, you experience more about the world around you. You may listen or see more than before, because of your heighten awareness. Studies have shown that being more appreciative about one's life and one's world will lead people to live more fulfilled lives. The act of paying attention to the good things in life, and being appreciative actually makes people happier. Surround yourself with positive people who don't always focus on the negative. Focus on the present moment, and find something in your line of vision that makes you happy. Hold that image in your mind, and focus on it in a positive way. This is a helpful practice for mindfulness, as a way to clear your head of negative or hyperactive thoughts. It can make you feel "centered" in a chaotic world. How we see the world is all a matter of the mind. Our mind can be shaped and changed. One way is through positive rather than negative statements about yourself. Affirmations can build your confidence, and keep you focused on the good things in life. In our daily lives, we are often disconnected with nature, and all its beauty. Our Earth is a reminder of how precious life is. Appreciate the little things, both big and small: Walk along a beach, river, or lake. The sound of water can be calming. Notice the birds in the trees or sky. Watching a large bird migration can be magical. Go star-gazing. The universe is big and beautiful. Take a deep breath and look around you. While there are things that you wish could be better, be grateful for the things that you have, and the beauty of living on this Earth. You only have one life to live, and it is yours. Go into a florist shop, or a garden, or even out in the wild. Flowers are beautiful, and smell oh-so-sweet. The scent of a fresh flower is like nothing else. Sometimes when we see a lot of flowers at once, we forget the beauty that each has. Look at one flower closely. Notice things about it that you never saw before.
Summary: Be mindful about the world around you. Be positive and live happier. Meditate. Use positive affirmations throughout the day. Get in touch with nature. Be thankful. Stop and smell the roses--literally.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Did you like to race bikes with your friends? Were you really into comic books? Did you love to paint or draw? Think about what really got you excited as a kid and what you could spend hours doing. If you rode bikes, try getting a new (adult) bike and exploring your neighborhood. If you loved drawing, take a class at a local community college or art museum. That is, if you loved comic books, try attending a comic book convention (comicon) to find people with similar interests. Maybe you loved board games as a kid. Check out the wide variety of new board games on the market, which offer options in everything from role-playing to cooperative games.
Summary: Think back to what you loved as a kid. Pick up where you left off. Take a class in what you loved. Look at adult versions of what you loved.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Be realistic with yourself while planning to utilize your notebook. If you commit to writing in the notebook everyday, you can fill it up in no time. Think about a time of the day that would be best for writing. If you have a busy morning and afternoon, write each night before going to sleep. Once you block a time during your day for writing, it is important to stick with it. You can better utilize your notebook if you stay committed to your goals. It will feel good to complete something you set out to accomplish. An easy thing to write about is your day and what you accomplished or failed to accomplish. Writing about your day will also challenge your memory and improve it over time. Give yourself a time buffer before reflecting about an event. Say you go to sleep at night, wake up in the morning, and then write about your day. Date each entry as you go for future reference. You might get into a dispute about when you first kissed your girlfriend. By dating an entry, you can easily pick out the exact date something occurred. Your imagination is a great way to utilize your notebook. If you find yourself bored and daydreaming, jot down the scene as best to your abilities. Writing down your fantasies is also a good way to explore your creative side. You don't need to write about dragons, unless you like imagining a world with dragons. If you have a dream about living in South America, explore those thoughts by writing about the details. You don't need to write a structured short story. Focus on the specific details in your head. If you want to develop your entry into a story, you have a series of details to use. Writing oftentimes can relieve a problem you're facing in life. Look at the history of poets and writers, who have explored great pain and pleasure in a beautiful arrangement of words. They're using writing as a form of self therapy by being introspective and in touch with their emotions. You can write about a family member's passing, a break-up, or even unrequited love. Expose your feelings and don't concern yourself with other people reading your thoughts. Writing letters can benefit you in several ways. You can actually write a letter to a friend or family member using your blank notebook paper. Alternatively, you could write a letter to someone you are frustrated with and not send it to them. It may seem old fashioned, but you can still utilize the gratification of writing a letter to someone. People enjoy receiving physical mail that isn't junk mail. You and a good friend or group of friends can take turns writing in the notebook. Hold onto the notebook for a week at a time and then pass it on. You can use the friendship journal to tell your friends thoughts and ideas you experience. This can also be a great way to become closer with your friends. You could even use the friendship notebook to create a story where each of you contributes a chapter at a time. The same idea could even be used to create a comic book. When you wake up each morning, write down the dreams you had right away so you don't forget them! Dreams typically last in your memory during the first ten minutes you wake up. Utilize this time and write out the dream. You will find that over time you will become better and better at remembering your dreams. Some researchers have even concluded that dream journals will increase the amount you dream and remember it.
Summary:
Commit to a daily routine. Write about your day. Write about your fantasies. Explore an issue that's bothering you. Write a letter. Use your notebook as a friendship journal. Use your notebook as a dream journal.