Address a letter to someone you are grateful for and hand deliver it. Write a letter to someone who has inspired you or pushed you to pursue a goal. Or, write a letter to someone who has been supportive of you or very helpful to you. Choose one person who you feel grateful for yet you haven't told them your gratitude. Write a letter and give it to this person, no matter how much time has elapsed. Express why their actions were meaningful to you and how much you appreciate the gesture and the person. You can say, "Thank you for the support you gave me during a difficult time. It meant a lot to me that you were willing to be there for me at my worst. I won't forget the time you came over, cooked me dinner, and brought a movie. It really cheered me up. Thank you." Learn to appreciate the people in your life by imagining life without them. This is especially good to practice in consideration of your partner, spouse, children, and close friends. Think of one person in your life and imagine life without this individual. For example, think about your best friend and what he or she adds to your life. Now, think what it would be like without that person. How many years would your life be affected? What choices would you have made or not made? Once you've done this exercise, share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with this person and let him or her know how much you appreciate them. For more information, check out How to Write a Letter of Appreciation. Start to savor the things that come into your life that are positive. It can be easy to gloss over things that pass in and out of your day, yet stop and savor feel-good moments, wonderful people, and the beauty around you. If you hear beautiful music, stop and enjoy the sounds. If you see a beautiful flower, stop and admire it. If you notice a beautiful sunset, stop and admire it. Think about how beautiful it is and how much you enjoy it. If you smell an enticing aroma, follow it and see where it takes you. You may find a new favorite restaurant! Fully awaken your senses to begin savoring your surroundings. Share in the experience by inviting someone to come along and enjoy the experience with you. Gratitude encourages you to appreciate what you have, but also to pay it forward. As one sociologist refers to gratitude as "the moral memory of mankind." If you're feeling grateful for something or someone, act on your gratitude and pay it forward. When a thoughtful stranger helps you out, the memory and the feelings last a long time and make you feel good. Give someone you love something to be grateful for, such as a home-cooked meal, a card, a warm hug, or something else thoughtful. If you notice a stranger in need, stop and help. Perhaps this person doesn't have enough money at the check-out counter. Offer to pay the remaining balance. Or you can pay for a stranger's food at a restaurant. These small acts can make a large impact on someone's day.

Summary: Write a personal letter. Practice mental subtraction of relationships. Savor experiences and things. Pay it forward.

Do this among your friends, through social media and perhaps through any airsoft club or game affiliations that you have. Ask friends to bring along their friends too. Or, siblings maybe. Aim to have at least two members and up to six to form your team. These players should be willing to abide by your rules (but don't be bossy). Gather the following information: Your own name. This should be obvious. You need to identify the person whose information is on that sheet of paper. Experience. This comes in handy when you begin to form your squads. You don't want a newcomer commanding six experienced soldiers. Armory. This is helpful in deciding where and with whom to place the person. "To develop discipline and honor through the sport of Airsoft."

Summary: Put out a call for people to join your team. Audition the potential soldiers/ team members. Choose a team name that everyone agrees on. Call up your team. Write down your team's mission statement in one clear and precise sentence, i.e.

Measure out 1 oz (30 ml) of orange juice. If you don't have a way to measure exact amounts, you can use a shot glass and keep the right proportions for each liquid. If you have a shaker with no lid, that's okay, too. You'll just need to use a large glass inverted into the shaker to mix the drink. If you don't have a shaker at all, consider using an empty water bottle to shake up the drink. You can also simply pour the ingredients into a glass and stir them together, but shaken is the preferred method. Measure out 4 oz (120 ml) of pineapple juice. If you aren't measuring exact amounts, then make it 4x the amount of orange juice. Pineapple juice is one of sweeter parts of the cocktail, so for a less sweet taste, reduce the amount. Measure the same amount that you used for the orange juice. Cream of coconut is not the same thing as coconut milk or coconut cream, so make sure you use the right thing. If you need a substitute, you can use coconut syrup or sweetened condensed milk with coconut extract. The Painkiller is trademarked by Pusser's, so if you have to use another brand of rum, it won't technically be a Painkiller, but if you use dark rum the taste should be similar. This recipe calls for 2 oz (60 ml), but for a stronger drink you can add more rum.

Summary: Pour the orange juice into a shaker with a lid. Pour the pineapple juice into the mixing container. Pour in the cream of coconut. Add rum to the desired strength.

Buying used supplies instead of new can save you big bucks in the long run. Purchase your gear from people you know and trust, or go to a reputable second-hand dealer if you can find one. You can also buy online, but make sure to read the seller's reviews. Don't think of used gear as broken or outdated. Many horse owners take very good care of their supplies, as they're an investment. Take advantage of sales and off-season markdowns. By stocking up on cheap necessities, you'll also be saving yourself time, as you won't have to shop for supplies as often. For example, purchase a year's worth of worming medication while it's on sale, or buy snow boots when they go on clearance in the summer. Similarly, buy extra hay for winter in the summer when it's less expensive. Decide if you want your event to be trades only, or if it's okay for people to accept cash for their gear. Then, invite fellow horse owners to bring items they don't want or don't need to offer for trade. Suggest items like riding gear, equipment, and maintenance supplies. This way everyone gets to save money. Clean the items you bring to the swap meet so you can get the best trade for them. Although leather tack is more durable, synthetic tack is much cheaper. Additionally, synthetic tack is easier to secure than leather tack. You will need to replace synthetic tack more often. However, if you take good care of it, the synthetic tack should last you awhile. Retrieving and putting up your supplies can be quite time-demanding, but it's easier if you store it near your stable. That way everything is in one place near your horse. Separate your supplies into categories, giving everything a place. This makes it easier to find what you need. If everything is in one place, you can grab all of your gear at one time rather than making several trips. Unless you transport your horse frequently, don't buy your own trailer. Sharing or renting a trailer will save you money on the cost to buy, maintain, and store a trailer. Check with other local horse owners to see if sharing a trailer is possible. If not, search online for local rental companies.
Summary: Ask other local horse owners if they have used gear to sell. Buy items you know you'll need in the future while they're on special. Organize or attend a swap-meet or trading party. Use synthetic tack for daily use to save time and money. Keep your supplies near the stables to save time. Share or rent a horse trailer if you don't use it often.