I would highly recommend you read 'Practicing the power of now' - in fact, any Eckhart Tolle book. With you being a reader of my newsletter, I can almost guarantee that any Tolle book will speak to you ;)

For now, here's Autumn already starting in London, and the season confers to the city a peculiar, very 'true-London' character - London as you imagine it, all rainy and foggy and grey; very, very beautiful. Here's for a beautifully surprising season ;)

You may remember that in the previous issue of this newsletter I told you about different ways in which I bring myself into the frequency of Love - Love with a capital letter, the Universal Love that informs everything.

Today I want to tell you about something equally important, and actually conducive to the feeling of joy and Love: having fun :)

Sometimes we make life way too serious. It's work, it's relationships, it's money, it's whatever you want - issues that feel important. And yes, they are important, and if you want your life to 'work' to some extent you've got to invest your energy in them.

But it is equally important to step back every now and then, and to realize that all those important issues take place within one finite life. A life that begins and, as far as we can tell at present, it will also have an end. Everything shall pass.

What I am saying is that it is alright (actually, it is needed!) to go and have lighthearted fun every now and then, even in the midst of a life situation which may be full of serious issues.

For instance, in this past month, and just for lighthearted fun...

• I went to a day party in the woods. Dancing was fun, and it was equally fun to be taken into a tent by a friend when it started raining and the music was cut out, and meet three new people with fresh new viewpoints.

• I took a walk through a beautiful neighbourhood and I went into a second-hand bookshop, and I got myself 5 or 6 books on how to dress nicely (for those in the UK, they are the Trinny and Susannah's books) :)

• I got myself a skipping rope and have started to skip in the mornings after I wake up. I also realized that I've got to make some more space in the back patio, if I'm not to destroy the ivy on the fence with the neighbours... O_o

• I accepted an invitation from a friend to go to an all-night party, without knowing anybody else or even where the party was. It turned out to be a fun experience, I met knew people, and I saw the sun rise behind buildings as I left the party :)

You might have guessed - my invitation to you this month is that you do something just for fun. Lighthearted fun, with no further intention than to enjoy. And then, be open and see what you encounter ;)

This month I'm not bringing you a video or an audio program. This month I'm recommending you take one particular action (and perhaps get out of your comfort zone by doing it) ;)

Go to a comfy café. Order a very nice drink. Sit at a table which is a bit 'in the way' - that is, surrounded by other tables or in a path to other tables. Observe people (discreetly, you don't want to become a stalker).

Feel the energy of the different people around you - does this person looks like he's angry about something, does the other person seem stressed/relaxed/happy...?

Make the intention of connecting with someone - not a particular person, just 'someone'. Then, remain open and alert. The opportunity to talk with somebody may arise - someone on the table next to you sneezes, for instance; it's your opportunity to say 'Bless you' and perhaps engage in conversation.

The goal: to have a conversation with someone, being fully present for them. Because they are a 'stranger' you have nothing to prove; let the conversation be the stage for them. Give them your full attention, as if it was a loved one speaking to you. Be fully interested in what they are saying, even if the topic is not usually of your interest.

Then, when the conversation is over, take a few minutes to notice what you experienced. Perhaps you found that there was a sense of loss of ego; you weren't interested in what *you* had to say, but in what *they* had to say. Perhaps you lost track of time. Maybe you noticed that they seem to actually be an interesting person. Maybe you've just met a new friend :)

Be engaged, be open. Pleasant surprises are in the menu. I would love to hear about your experience!

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... spellcheck! So there you have a 16-page long document which you have to present to someone, you click the Spellcheck function, which in less than minutes tells you about every misspelled word and corrects it for you if you want, and voilà! You are done. How much effort and time spellcheck saves! :)

Thankful for... ready-made food. I'm not a big fan of ready-made food - it usually feels too salty and tends to have lots of ingredients that I cannot even pronounce. But every now and then, when I'm too busy throughout the day and too tired to cook, I make use of the convenience of ready-made food - you just put it in the oven for 30 minutes and you have a full meal. How handy is that :)

What are you thankful for? Share your gratitude on this page and read what others are thankful for!

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