Rules. They really are so passé, aren’t they? Especially when it comes to really and truly living life to its fullest. I love all of the positive beauty spinning around that seems to step it up a notch every single day (yet don’t forget feeling negative or depressed is a necessary part of being human, and is extremely valid – don’t try and push it away). Reminders are a grand thing, especially when they remind you to get just a little bit closer to the value of you. On that note, I thoroughly enjoyed this video about the importance of fun (how dare they!) that a friend recently posted on Facebook. In case you didn’t take notes, I want to quickly outline their eight principles of fun, and add some of my own defining perspectives. This is one of the best video summations of what I have found over the past couple of years to be the necessary “rules” to actually enjoying life, work, and relationships.

Oh, yes, you know what I’m talking about. And not in that, “Curses, foiled again!” kinda way. We’re all bad girls (and boys) deep down. Don’t get me wrong – I think this is a good thing. The only problem is when it becomes a choice between being a bad girl and being healthy. This, in a nutshell, is my continuous problem, challenge, thorn in my side, whathaveyou. Has been (not as in I’m a has-bin…you know what I mean) since about age 24. Ok, it actually was even before then, but that’s when I first began to realize it. Hey, drinking a lot of alcohol isn’t good for my mental stability! Eating a lot of sugar, whether that be cookies and ice cream or lots of yummy fruit, jacks me up and then down! Jazz hands!

Hipsters are apparently on my radar lately. I feel like I’ve heard that word about 18 times in the last two days. What do hipsters have to do with health? Well, nothing really. Other than they make me laugh. Where I’m currently living – Asheville, NC – is flooded with them. And I’m sure I’ve been called one at one point or another.

I’m feeling pretty lazy at the moment, and to the guilt that slowly creeps in every 10 minutes or so, I say “I’m not gonna take it anymore!” This is the point of holidays – setting aside days without a to-do list ruling every moment, days that can mean wonderful conversations with loved ones, or just sitting on the couch, lazily checking emails, E!online, King of Queens in the background.

You know I had to go there. We all need a little reminder here and there about how to take care of ourselves during this jolly, giving season which is truly about…consuming as much alcohol, sugar, and refined goodies as possible. Ow, my pancreas hurts just thinking about it. Don’t worry, I’ll make this short and sweet so that you can head off to your Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Pagan rum-laced and fruitcake-filled party. Hey, HEY – wait! At least take this probiotic before you head out the door, and maybe a shot of some liver-protecting herbs, like Herb Pharm Healthy Liver Tonic, a personal fav. Don’t forget to take some more (most people put it in water, I’m a straight out of the bottle kinda gal) before you go to bed. If you are still listening, here are some other health tips so that January 1 doesn’t feel like a toilet seat imprint on your cheek from sleeping on it ’til six in the morning.