Time Alive: Celebrate Your Life Every Day

228 Pages·2005·3.88 MB·English

by  Alexandra Stoddard

T i m e A l i v e
celebrat e yo ur life ev ery da y
ALEXANDRA STODDARD
To Peter with love

I sincerely acknowledge with admiration and deep
appreciation my literary agent, Carl Brandt; my editor,
Toni Sciarra; and my assistant, Sharon Scarpa; as well as my
family, friends, and readers who have encouraged and
inspired me during my writing of this book.

Real life is found only in the present. If people tell you that you should
live your life preparing for the future, do not believe them. We live in this life,
and we know this life only, and therefore all our efforts should be directed
toward the improvement of this life. Not your life in general, but every
hour of this life should be lived in the best way you know how.
—LEO TOLSTOY


Contents
A Letter to the Reader xi
CHAPTER ONE: Time
1  Now Is the Only Time We Have to Live Fully and Well 3
2  Live Each Day as Your First and Your Last 5
3  Experience Time Alive Moments 7
4  Timing Is Crucial 9
5  Be in the Swing of Time 11
6  What You Don’t Do Is Often More
Important Than What You Do 13
7  Everything Takes Longer Than You Think 16
8  You Have 8,766 Hours a Year to Act Wisely 18
9  Avoiding the Pitfalls of Wasted Time 21
10  Seize and Stretch Time 23
11  Time Is Your Life 26
12  It ’s Later Than You Think 28
CHAPTER TWO: Home
13  Order Precedes Beauty 33
14  Your Bedroom Is Your Sanctuary 36
15  You Create Your Spirit of Place 38
16  The Planet Is Your Home 41
17  Trust Your Eye 44
18  Lower Your Standards 47
19  Light the Lights 49
20  Freshen Up Your Rooms! 52
21  Put Your Rooms to Use 55
22  The Surprise of a Home Vacation 59
23  Be Happy at Home 62
24  Your Home Environment Is Your Life Story 65
CHAPTER THREE: Style
25  Create Your Individual Style for Living 71
26  Understatement Has Power 73
27  It ’s Great to Be Graceful 75
28  Luxuries Matter 77
29  See Yourself Coming and Going 79
30  You’ve Gotta Have a Look 81
31  Beware of Advertisements 84
32  Let Go of What Was Once Wonderful 86
33  You Are Your Best Color Expert 89
34  Eat Beautifully 92
CHAPTER FOUR: Enthusiasm
35  What Excites You Defines You 97
36  All Play Requires Practice, Practice, Practice 99
37  A God Within 102
38  Act on Your Enthusiasms 104
39  Keep Your Flame Alive 106
40  Is Your Inner Dialogue Positive? 109
41  Oh, the Blue Hydrangea! 112
42  All of Us Love Good News 115
43  “Yes,” “No,” and “Wow!” 117
44  Don’t Try to Finish Everything
Before You Start Celebrating Life 119
45  Appreciate Everything Good in Your Life 121
46  Encourage the Child in You to Thrive 122
47  Live Your Autobiography 124
CHAPTER FIVE: Caring
48  You Come First 129
49  Inspire Others with Your Vision 131
50  Nurse, Nurture and Love 133
51  Write the Note Now! 135
52  Honor Nature 137
53  Show Up 139
54  Time Heals 141
55  Your Choice: Carefulness or Carelessness? 144
56  Choose Your Friends Wisely 146
57  Actions Can Be Meditations 148
58  Cope with the Unexpected 151
59  This Too Will Pass 154
CHAPTER SIX: Purpose
60  Write Your Own Purpose Statement 159
61  Act, Don’t React 162
62  You Never Know 164
63  Practice Active Virtue 166
64  What Is Your Deepest Desire? 168
65  Value Your Time from One to Ten 170
66  Love What You Do; Do What You Love 172
67  Choose a Life of Significance 175
68  Balance and Moderation Are Keys to a Purposeful Life 177
CHAPTER SEVEN: Spirit
69  You’re at the Banquet 185
70  Trust Your True Self and Spirit 187