September 8, 2013: I love you, world.

For years, I've noticed one of my dearest friends straighten her posture occasionally when deep in conversation with a group. I thought it was just because she's a yoga practitioner with a particular awareness of her spinal alignment. But she told me recently that she does that to remind herself to keep her heart open to others. Here's a similar practice: when you find yourself taking someone for granted -- or your work or home or life -- say to yourself (or out loud if no one's listening): "I love you, C" or "I love you, work, " or "I love you, world." It too opens the heart.