39 Ways To Live And Not Merely Exist

This first site lists 39 ways you can sort of break out of your routine and grab hold of life. I liked the practicality of it. Here are a few that sprung out at me as things I can do that might really help:
-Try something new, every week. Ask yourself: "What new thing shall I try this week?" Then be sure to do it. You don't have to learn a new language in one week, but seek new experiences. Give it a try. You might decide you want to keep it in your life.
-Get outside. Don't let yourself be shut indoors. Go out when it's raining. Walk on the beach. Hike through the woods. Swim in a freezing lake. Bask in the sun. Play sports, or walk barefoot through grass. Pay close attention to nature.
-Lose control. Not only control over yourself, but control over others. It's a bad habit to try to control others -- it will only lead to stress and unhappiness for yourself and those you try to control. Let others live, and live for yourself. And lose control of yourself now and then too.
-Cry. Men, especially, tend to hold in our tears, but crying is an amazing release. Cry at sad movies. Cry at a funeral. Cry when you are hurt, or when somebody you love is hurt. It releases these emotions and allows us to cleanse ourselves.

Good stuff, huh?

Here's a fun site if you have difficulty with conversation starters:

Unique Conversation Starters
Yeah, I know, it's meant for dating, but all of these are questions anyone could use. Some of these questions are jarringly unusual, so use them wisely in the right setting.. someone asking a stranger what their favorite Cyndi Lauper song is, might not get too far in that conversation. Well, unless you asked me.. mine is "Time after Time".

Next we have :
Seven Ways To Overcome Social Awkwardness
Which presents seven ways we can overcome our awkwardness in social situations. Some of these really do push the boundaries of what is comfortable but in thinking about my past and it's results in my present I have to admit that skating along only in my comfort zone hasn't always served me well. So a little push and pulling of myself is needed.

I saved the best for last.. dessert time!

Finding Your Inner Paul Potts

Never heard of him? I hadn't until recently but I've been fascinated by this guy ever since I did. Here's the basic story , the writer has been mentioning an opera aria called "Nessun Dorma":

"But it has never had so much meaning as it did on a stage in Great Britain, being sung by a mobile phone salesman named Paul Potts.
Potts is an average-looking bloke whose teeth aren’t straight, and he admits to having battled self-confidence issues his whole life. Still, he decided to audition for a television show called “Britain’s Got Talent.”
You’ve seen the American version, I’m sure. Beat box artists, break dancers and jugglers combined with a few people trying to be pop stars.
On his first night, Potts took to the stage and sang that famous aria from “Turnadot,” after telling judge Simon Cowell that he felt he needed to pursue his first love, opera.
You could hear the snickers from the crowd, see Simon’s telltale eye roll, and practically feel the flop sweat rolling down Potts’ brow.
But then he sang.
From the first note floating from his snaggle-toothed beak (ouch - me), it was clear there was no competition for him in that room.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation in what is now one of the Internet’s most popular viral videos. It has been viewed on YouTube alone more than 2.4 million times"

It's an article about finding and pursuing your passion, rekindling your dreams. And, oh yeah, the video is impossible to get through with dry eyes. Just sos you knows.

We meet Paul:

He sings "Time To Say Goodbye" during the semi-finals... whew.

and.... the winner of "Britain's Got Talent" is announced:

Okay, that should be enough for one entry, huh?