Loretta Laroche - Squeeze the Day

Other Hay House Titles
by Loretta LaRoche

The Best of Loretta LaRoche
(4-CD set)

Kick up Your Heels
Before Youre Too Short to Wear Them
(book, available April 2007)

Life Is ShortWear Your Party Pants
(available as a book, 2-CD set, and a DVD)

The Wise and Witty Stress Solution Kit

All of the above are available at your local bookstore,
or may be ordered by visiting:

Hay House USA: www.hayhouse.com

Hay House Australia: www.hayhouse.com.au

Hay House UK: www.hayhouse.co.uk

Hay House South Africa: orders@psdprom.co.za

Hay House India: www.hayhouseindia.co.in

Copyright 2006 by Loretta LaRoche

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: orders@psdprom.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publications (India) Pvt. Ltd.: www.hayhouseindia.co.in Distributed in India by: Media Star: booksdivision@mediastar.co.in

Editorial supervision: Jill Kramer Design: Amy Gingery

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2005937306

ISBN 13: 978-1-4019-1685-5

ISBN 10: 1-4019-1685-6

09 08 07 06 4 3 2 1

1st printing, April 2006

Printed in the United States of America

Every woman needs some great male friends in her life, and Im lucky enough to have them in Gregg, Ken, and Scott.
To the many laughs weve had, and the loving friendship we share.

A s a stress-management consultant over the last 20 years, Ive seen the levels of stress and anxiety in people escalate to the point where it feels that everything including breathing is now stressful. It has become so much a part of the American culture that a huge industry of products and practitioners has emerged to handle the stress epidemic. We even have experts who work on relieving stress in children and pets.

I appreciate that the traditional models of stress management can be helpfulthings like meditation, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy. But its equally, if not more, important to focus on filling our days with fun, fantasy, and fantastic thoughts that can lift our spirits and bring us joy. When we stop obsessing over whats wrong in our lives and instead pay attention to our strengths, talents, and the wonders around us, everyday stresses become much more manageable. As I always love to remind people: If you think the worst and get the worst, you suffer twice; if you think the best and get the worst, you only suffer once.

In the course of my work, Ive found that its often the quick, funny thoughts that people can easily digest and remember that are the most helpful. So Ive compiled this book of one (hopefully) memorable thought for every day of the year. Read through it with an open mind. You may laugh at some, delight in others, or be stimulated to change some of your irrational behaviors. (And believe me, I know its hard to admit it, but we all have them, including me. How do you think I know so much about this stuff?) Most important, I hope that youll enjoy reading this book as much as I did writing it!

Loretta LaRoche

We live in a world of excess, in which how much we own defines who we are. Id rather be too much than buy too much. Its so much easier. Ill never have to have a yard sale to get rid of myself.

If life hands you lemons, you could become bitter, tooor you could make lemonadebut frankly, Id rather just throw them out and get something I really want instead.

You could torture yourself with an exhausting thousand-mile journey of self-discovery but why not take a jet plane instead and have fun sooner rather than later?

In order to be fully alive, you first have to be awake and aware, otherwise youre simply sleepwalking.

Be fully present with your friends, family, and co-workers. Nobody wants to talk to someone whos mentally practicing for the future while pretending to listen.

When your life begins to resemble a B movie, change direction, and think like a master filmmaker.

You just may win an Oscar.

Keep passion in your life. The fire from it will keep your soul from turning to ashes and your mind from turning to mush.

If youre always trying to be right about everything you do and say, youll soon find that you have no one around you whos interested in how right you are.

Challenge your brain in new and creative ways. It will help stop you from doing the same thing day after day like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day.

Put on some music and dance with wild abandon.

It will free you to become more at ease with your body and all the wonderful movements it can make.

Try to make a difference in the life of someone whos less fortunate than you, because one day you may take their place and they may take yours.

When your mind tries to become your master, realize that you must use your inner power to master your mind.

Every day be grateful for what youre capable of instead of what you cant or didnt do. It will give you much more peace.

Know that if you allow others to be themselves, then you can stop focusing on trying to clone yourself.

Be grateful for breakthroughs.

They can help keep you free from breakdowns, burnouts, and all other types of ups and downs.

Theres nothing like enthusiasm.

It fills the air with bubbles of joy just like the ones we loved as children, streaming out of bottles filled with magical, soapy water.

If you can laugh every day, especially at yourself, youve found the best joke in the world.

Many of us have analyzed our lives to the extent that we begin to display analysis paralysis. Sometimes its better to leave something unexamined. The problem might just go away on its own.

When you thank others for what theyve done on your behalf, youre sending them a blessing and the gift of respect.

Doesnt it seem as if instead of talking to one another, all we do is leave messages for one another to avoid talking? Were so attached to our home answering machines, cell-phone voice mail, and e-mail that nobody actually talks to each other. Why dont we just send ourselves messages and then delete them and get it over with?