Deal drama a death blow upfront. If somebody is being unfair to you, it's no good sulking around wondering why life turned them into such a psycho. What a waste. Confront it, live and in person, so you'll know whether you have to move on. Avoid saying things you'll wish you'd never said.

Throw negative people overboard. They want to hurt you because they're hurting themselves. Don't let them. It could turn you into a negative person, too, and then your pain might lead you to hurt somebody else. Break the cycle. You'd be amazed how far a little forgiveness can go to turn an enemy into a friend.

Tell the truth. Be honest in every circumstance. Do it with compassion. If the truth hurts, speak it gently. Speak it lovingly. But speak it.

Spend time with the people you love. It matters. They might go away and leave you regretting all the chances you never took. Or you might go away and leave them with regrets.

Pay attention to how you're making others feel. We know the world around us has an effect on us; we can feel it every day. But sometimes we forget that we also affect the world around us, and the people around us too.

Give generously. Give of your time. It's a good way to connect to the world around you.

Think outside the box. If received wisdom were always right, wouldn't the world be in a better state? Don't be afraid to try something new if you've thought on it deeply, meditated seriously, and really concluded how right it feels. "If it feels good, do it" can be a recipe for selfishness, but "if it feels right, do it" is never going to steer you wrong. Let your conscience be your guide.

Find wisdom in the dumbest of places. There's knowledge to be had everywhere, even if it's only an example of what not to do. If I can find something of value to consider in the pages of the Twilight saga, there's got to be some form of wisdom everywhere. Dig deep. Search yourself. Find the pearls.

Find time for you. It may sound selfish at first glance, but how can you be there for everybody else if you don't have any time for yourself? Make yourself a priority. It's an act of faith. It means you believe God gave you good gifts and a meaningful purpose that you'll need full battery power to fulfill.

Welcome to 2010, Shadow Readers. May it be a wonderful year for you all. Or, failing that (because sometimes it happens that way), may you live and learn in interesting times.