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Twenty Eight Secrets to Happiness

© Janet Luhrs.

These "secrets", from The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs, contain a healthy dose of common sense and can help to keep us on the path of living simply.

Live beneath your means and within your seams.

Return everything you borrow.

Donate blood.

Stop blaming other people.

Admit it when you make a mistake.

Give all the clothes you haven't worn in the past three years to charity.

Every day do something nice for someone and try not to get caught.

Listen more; talk less.

Every day take a 30-minute walk in your neighborhood.

Skip two meals a week and give the money to the homeless.

Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Be on time.

Don't make excuses.

Don't argue.

Get organized.

Be kind to kind people.

Be even kinder to unkind people.

Let someone cut ahead of you in line.

Take time to be alone.

Reread a favorite book.

Cultivate good manners.

Be humble.

Understand and accept that life isn't always fair.

Know when to say something.

Know when to keep your mouth shut.

Don't criticize anyone for 24 hours.

Learn from the past, plan for the future, and live in the present.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Editor's note: I would love to hear what you think about these twenty eight secrets. How do you feel about them? Are there some that don't resonate with you? What would you add to this list? I look forward to hearing your views.

The copyright of the article Twenty Eight Secrets to Happiness in Living Simply is owned by Janet Luhrs.. Permission to republish Twenty Eight Secrets to Happiness in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.