| Still feeling a pang of guilt because last | | | | primed, a life that exudes love, abundance |
| year's resolutions did not make it past | | | | and joy, draws more of the same qualities. |
| Valentine's Day? | | | | |
| | | | This year, instead of making the same old New |
| Perhaps those resolutions never stood a | | | | Year resolutions, perhaps it would be more |
| chance because you did not prime the pump | | | | meaningful to prime the pump with the very |
| first! Let me explain. | | | | qualities you would like to see more of in |
| | | | your life! |
| Most of us are looking for similar things in | | | | |
| life: more time, love, joy, and quality of | | | | Here are some ideas to get you started. By |
| life. What we sometimes forget, is that we | | | | practicing even just one of these principles |
| first need to prime the pump in order to get | | | | consistently over time, you will find that |
| what we want. | | | | life returns to you a bountiful measure of |
| | | | the same. |
| On my grandfather's farm was a creaky old | | | | |
| water pump. Before it would start drawing | | | | 1. I treat everyone in my life with the love |
| water from the well, it had to be primed with | | | | and respect that I would receive from them. |
| a cup of water. As a child, I used to marvel | | | | |
| at the mystery of it all - first pouring a | | | | 2. I believe it is more important to be |
| cup of water down the pump and then pumping | | | | loving than to be right, and I apply this in |
| the squeaky lever up and down, up and down... | | | | my life daily. |
| until a small stream of water would start | | | | |
| running from the spout. Once the stream | | | | 3. I look for the beauty in every person and |
| started flowing, one could fill up as many | | | | everything that crosses my path. |
| buckets with water as needed, and it all | | | | |
| started with the simple act of priming the | | | | 4. I practice lovingkindness toward all |
| pump with water first. | | | | sentient beings. |
| | | | |
| The water pump would not yield water if I | | | | 5. I take steps to simplify my life so I can |
| primed it with rocks. It needed to be primed | | | | enjoy more with less. |
| with water - the same substance that I | | | | |
| desired from it. In life it works the same | | | | 6. I find time to nurture my body, mind and |
| way: we prime the pump of life with that | | | | soul, even if it is only a few minutes each |
| which we contribute, and we attract that | | | | day. |
| which we emanate. If we emanate lack, we | | | | |
| cannot attract abundance and if we emanate | | | | 7. I focus on what is right rather than what |
| anger, we cannot attract love. Because like | | | | is wrong. |
| attracts like, we therefore need to first | | | | |
| prime the pump by giving of that which we | | | | 8. I forgive those who have hurt me and let |
| desire. | | | | go of old wrongs so there may be peace on |
| | | | earth. 9. I look for solutions, not for |
| In the process, the very quality we focus on | | | | scapegoats. |
| giving becomes an integral part of our being. | | | | |
| Just as that old water pump on the farm | | | | 10. I find and express gratitude in my life |
| yielded as much water as desired after it was | | | | each day. |