When I teach martial arts classes or Combat classes I talk to the people about letting their minds travel to different parts of their bodies in order that they can feel and understand what their bodies are going through. It's a great exercise in awareness.

Many people only go through the motions. It really doesn't matter what they are doing whether it's working, playing, working out, walking, or anything at all. It's good to notice what's going on with you and around you. It beats the heck out of just being there and it becomes being.

Being is a whole different ball game. Do you ever allow yourself to be aware of the feeling in your calves when you walk? Do you take time to feel what your body feels like when you take long, slow breaths? Did you know that playing with your dog is a really healthy exercise and do you notice how you feel when you do it.

Wait a minute what's all this feely stuff? Call it what you will but people who take time to notice things tend to be more alert and understanding of the situations and happenings that they experience. A person who is more in tune with his/her body is more apt to be able to perform quicker and more efficiently whenever the opportunity arises.

We have a choice. We can get up in the morning and choose not to be engaged and not aware of the things that we encounter everyday or we can choose to be in the present and experience and feel the energy that makes our lives special. The really exciting thing is that the choice is ours to make.

When a person takes a look at the quality of their lives it becomes quite apparent that many of the things that happen to us are because of the decisions that we make. Do your decisions turn out to be fruitful for you or do they turn out to be frustrating and cause anger? If the latter is the case, it's time to have a good sit down with yourself and tell yourself to wake up and stop being a knucklehead.

It's a fact that you have many things to decide each day. It's all part of the deal. Your decisions affect you and those around you. You'll make better decisions if you make it a habit to take a deep breath before deciding and pay attention to the natural laws. Those laws are:

• Eat foods that are healthy and can provide you with energy throughout your day

• Get a sufficient amount of sleep, exercise, and fresh air each day. Rest, movement, and proper breathing is essential to a healthy body and a clear mind.

• Take time to relax and get away from work. It's a good thing to clear your mind and relax

• Treat others with respect and dignity. It's the right thing to do.

• Spend some time with those you love

• Say thank you on a daily basis

These laws work. Make it a point to have a fair amount of each of them every day.

Fred Nicklaus