For the first column of 2010, I feel the time is right to reprint part of an article I originally wrote in 2007. The full article is available at theartoflove.net

Workout: I started working out in high school and will be doing it for the rest of my life. The gym is my second home. The endorphin high relieves stress and alters negative states of mind. Exercise tells your cells that they should grow instead of decay. If you don’t make time for exercise, you must eventually make time for illness.

Diet: How and what we eat affects our bodies (both inside and out), energy and mood. It’s important to stick to a healthy diet most of the time and “cheat” only once in a while. I am currently within five pounds of my high school weight and plan to be in that range for the rest of my life.

Meditation: Once you experience the benefits of meditation, you won’t be able to live without it. You will actually crave it. You become more intuitive and are able to remain calm in stressful situations. If I don’t get a chance to meditate, I’m not as peaceful and grounded as I like to be.

A Passion: I love, love, love my weekly, Latin dance class. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m in a childlike state the entire class – joking around and laughing. You have to have something to look forward to every week that makes your spirit sing. Find your passion.

Music: When you start to take life too seriously, you can change your mood instantly by listening to music that moves you. If you’re feeling down, play something upbeat. I usually have relaxing music playing in the background at home – it instantly changes the whole vibe.

Meaningful Conversations: I have a lot of friends but I’m lucky to have four great friends who I can talk to about anything and they listen actively and give me honest, intelligent feedback. We all need someone to talk to who will listen without judging – it’s a lot less expensive than therapy.



Read an excerpt from Lucia’s Lessons of Love at lessonsoflove.net. Listen to Lucia live every Sunday at 3 p.m. PST on latalkradio.com. Remember: Love inspires, empowers, uplifts and enlightens.