At the time of writing, I'm already on holidays from my daily job and I'm enjoying the pleasure of being the owner of my own time. I have been reading a couple of books on yoga and the Alexander technique, and preparing everything for my trip to Spain at the end of the month. It will be nice to see my family again and spend time with them over home-made meals.

The next time that you receive the 'Dare To Play It Big' newsletter will already be 2008. All "new year intentions" and whether you believe in them or not aside, the start of anything has something special and tasty about it. Whatever you do, I wish you an amazing beginning of 2008. May you flow freely.

I read this moving story that shows me that we are not strangers but brothers and sisters, after all.

Ms McKan is a 78-year-old lady who lost her Alaskan cruise after a missed flight. When her story was published (also over the Internet), a number of people offered to contribute with money so that she could take her trip.

Read the full news at washingtonpost.com.

In the issue of November of "Dare To Play It Big" I told you about how positive thinking is a step to a higher awareness, to a feeling of 'connection' with all that is.

I've found that the more comfortable and in peace with ourselves we are, the more we let important events that will lead us in the direction of our dreams take place in our lives.

As an example: the stranger you meet while queuing at the supermarket happens to be a painter who offers the classes you were looking for. If you were in a grumpy mood, too hurried to stop to talk to anybody, the exchange of information may not have happened.

A key point to let life evolve and bring you what you want is letting energy flow.

In an internal or spiritual way, you can let energy flow by accepting all that happens, stop holding on to fixed ideas about how things should be, and letting go of as many attachments as possible. This is just a mental shift, a realization if you like, that we cannot claim ownership of anything or anybody.

You can also let energy flow in a practical level. See all those clothes that you don't use, all the books half-read, all the stuff you've accumulated - and that you use once a year, if so? All that is energy stuck. You can finish and give away all those books, clean the fridge, donate the 'frequently unused' clothes. You will feel lighter in many ways.

If you fancy, do this little experiment for the coming month: uncover the areas of your life in which you're keeping energy stuck (emotional, physical, mental) and start letting go of all you can. As you do, observe how new energy starts flowing into your life: new ideas, new possibilities in your life, new people, closer bonds, different books.

It's a fun game - and the more you play it, the easier it becomes to let energy flow freely through all areas of your life.

I'd love to hear about your experiences - please let me know through the Contact Me form on the web site.

You'll surely be subscribed to a couple dozens Internet newsletters, quotes and thoughts. But I bet you... you've never seen anything like the TUT notes before.

There is a magic, a spark in the Notes from the Universe from Mike Dooley that makes you want to open your email just to get the note of the day.

They are ingenious, fun, positive, uplifting, and omniscient. They feel like a lighthearted child angel blinking an eye at you. Do subscribe - the Notes from the Universe are free and unique.

I believe that being grateful for something is one of the most powerful tools to feel better immediately. Here are the two thanking bits of the month:

Thankful for... our bodies. Yoga and the Alexander technique have shown me a different way to feel my body and being more aware of it. I am thankful for the good functioning of all parts of my body and the activities they let me perform.

Thankful for... breathing. As "The hindu-yogi science of breath" explains, 'Man may exist some time without eating; a shorter time without drinking; but without breathing his existence may be measured by a few minutes'. I am grateful for I'm able to breath, and so I breath slowly and deeply, and find peace.

Download a free copy of "The hindu-yogi science of breath" by Yogi Ramacharaka at manybooks.net.

What are you thankful for? Send me an email trough the Contact Me form and let me know!

Care to send me your thoughts about this issue's topics? Email me and let me know!

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please pass it along to your friends, family and colleagues, or send them to the Dare To Play It Big sign up page. I thank you in advance.

Stay well,

Cristina