There are perhaps a thousand success advice that we can take from the Internet, books or conferences. We can pick one and put it in our head, but the key is to actually apply it continuously in our lives until it becomes a habit. In 2011, I picked out 10 lessons that I promised myself I will consciously put into practice. I tell you that these work because it did work for me in 2010. So here goes:

1. Practice appreciation. Have a sense of  gratitude for what you already have and you’ll find yourself more at peace. What’s best, more blessings will come into your life!
2. Learn how to accept “what is”. Accept your present situation, limitations, and capabilities. Take the lessons, and learn how let go. I once heard of this saying “A bird once came into my life, my mother said let it go, if it comes back it’s yours. If it doesn’t it was not meant to be.” This is so true in life.
3. Take a stock of life and do what’s most important. Prioritize whatever you believe to be true for you. If today is the last day of your life, what would you prefer you would do and who do you want to be with?
4. Smile though your heart is breaking. At times you will be challenged, your world will seem to be crashing down. Rest if you must, weep to let it out, and then smile. Trust that it will eventually sort itself out and everything will be all right. Nothing is permanent, “everything shall pass.”
5. Have a sense of wonder and adventure like a child. “Unless you become a children of God you will not enter the kingdom of God”. We only live once, do what you want today and do not worry too much about tomorrow.
6. Do what’s hard. Speak your truth and what’s true deep inside your heart. Worry not what others may think and have judgment of you. What they think is their issue not yours. In the end you are the only one who will be accountable to yourself.
7. Be decisive, take action and trust divine intervention. Big things in life happen when we take the plunge and jump over the fence. We only regret the things we did not do, not so much the things we do. Do it now!
8. Nurture yourself and fall in love like never before. “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all” as the song goes. Unless you love yourself you can never love someone else. Savor the miracle of love just like the first time you fell really in love. Everything else are in vibrant colours. So why not color your life now and continue to share with others too?
9. Meditate, be at peace, and live a life of flow and ease. There is nothing like living in love, peace and joy.  Radiate love everywhere you go.
10. Connect to the past, live in the moment and let the event and circumstances unfold. Past is history, future may never happen, you only have this moment. Live the life you imagine now. Live your life today for tomorrow may never come.

So before the first month of 2011 ends, I hope that you will take to heart the importance of giving life the best of you – not tomorrow but today, the here and now.

So what are you going to do to make it happen for you this year? Take your passion and live and create the life you want. If you can imagine it, and believe on it it shall come to pass. We create our own life and that moment is now.

Cheers to the best of 2011! May all your wildest dreams and wishes come true because they do. Sending you my big hugs!

Irreplaceable, indescribable, incredible! The year 2010 saw me hopping around the world, making conversations with the world’s most inspiring minds, and learning valuable lessons that only experience can genuinely teach. I could literally write a book for the past 365 days! But that’s another project. For now allow me to share you the highlights of 2010 which I aptly cut in three parts. And so the Tale of Juliet, my tale, continues:

14 amazing destinations! Exploring the world with deep gratitude and child-like fascination.

1. Went to the land down-under and explored the beautiful places in Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns in Australia. Oh the Great Ocean Road, Great Barrier Reef and the world’s smallest penguins are my favorite!

2. Visited the limitless wonders of Oregon, Arizona and California in the United States of America.

3. Danced to the beat of tango and awakened my senses in the rich and passionate culture of Argentina. (Read blog post here.)

4. Felt the thrilling and sizzling sports, traditions and customs of Rio de Janeiro and Salvador Brazil. (Watch video blog.)

5. Traversed the amazing Amazon jungle, crossed the Amazon river from Brazil to Colombia and trekked in its lost city “Ciudad Perdita.” (Watch video blog.)

6. Fell in love with the beach, the people, and country of the beauty queens Venezuela.

7. Rekindled the fire of love between me and my husband Ted when I surprised him at his birthday party in Holland, his place of birth!

8. Stood in awe at the grand man-made structures in the open city of Dubai.

9. Experienced the heat, the cold, and the calm of the deserts of Abu Dhabi.

10. Overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the second most populous city in the world Mumbai, India.

11. Visited the temples and rode the mighty giant elephant in the striking beach community of Phuket, Thailand.

12. Made a short and sweet visit to the cleanest country in the world, Singapore.

13. Came home to my country of birth, reconnected with family and friends and found time to trek in the majestic 2000+ years old mountain communities of Banaue and Sagada, Philippines.

14. Experienced the cold, snowy winter in Seoul, Korea but the company, the culture, and the great food made my stay all warm and memorable.

Living life to the fullest and enjoying the best of the world. I am truly grateful!

For more photos, you can visit my Facebook page, Juliet van Ruyven.