Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have never been much of a primp. Things like baubles and bangles are nice, but not a primary focus of mine. However, about 5 years ago, I had a dream about a ring. In my dream, that particular ring was a black onyx-type stone and a silver setting, but that particular ring was meant to be in the far future, after I was living in New Mexico and was a publishing editor, probably in my late 60s (go figure).

In my waking life, I started researching jewelry to find a ring for the current or near-future me.

There are plenty of people who will tell you that the pursuit of your dream is impossible (note to self, re-watch "Man of La Mancha" for "The Impossible Dream"). I am here to tell you that achieving your dream is very possible, and even probable, when you find the right tools and support to help you.

I once had a friend who liked dumping all her troubles on me over lunch. On a daily basis we both left feeling frustrated and worn out. Eventually I decided to try an experiment. Every time my friend said something negative I looked at her blankly, but I gave strong approval to positive comments. Within a week, we were both enjoying our lunch more and leaving refreshed.

So how can we communicate more positively and spread encouragement among our friends and colleagues?

I am always a proponent of upgrading your lifestyle in as many ways as possible. I believe that for the sake of mental health, sanity, and security, we each deserve to follow our intuition, treat ourselves well, and look after our own best interests. If we focus on continuous improvement and do this naturally every day, with the mindset of being grateful and expressing deep respect for the gift of life, we can incrementally  change our living situation.