Do you hear Voices?

I lost my voice! I have to totally rest it so it will come back. While it's lost, so am I. I had really planned to use it today: a meeting, phone calls, errands, playing with grandkids...but it's given me some time to think. My grama had a stroke and couldn't speak for the last 10 years of her life. She couldn't use her hands very well, so she couldn't write either. She sat in her wheelchair and observed, listened and smiled. I wonder what she wanted to say. Did she have good advice crowding her mind? Did she feel frantic about guidance she couldn't give? Did she wish she could tell us how she felt about us?

If my voice never comes back, these are a few things I hope I've communicated:

1. Laugh a lot. If there's nothing funny happening, watch reruns of MASH, Cheers, Seinfeld and Frasier. Learn to laugh at your troubles and you'll never run out of things to laugh at.

2. Read everything that interests you. Nobody can read everything, so choose what you like. That will lead you to more and more subjects and you'll always be interested and interesting. Books provide friends and places to go.

3. Find some little kids to hang out with. Teenagers are awesome, too. It's especially great if they have parents who will take them home later. Kids are always honest, unpredictable and funny.

4. Pray about everything. If you do your best to work things out, and pray with faith that you'll get answers, you will.

5. Count your blessings. A song by Bing Crosby says "When you're worried and you can't sleep, Just count your blessings instead of sheep; And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings." It usually doesn't put me to sleep, but it makes lying awake more enjoyable.

6. Chocolate is a health food. You will feel safer and more secure if you have some handy.

7. Travel, or watch the Travel Channel. Find out that there are good people everywhere. Celebrate the differences.

8. Vote. That's the only way to earn the right to complain.

9. Learn the value of retail therapy.

10. Listen to the Beach Boys in the car. It will remind you that life is fun!

Do you have anything to add? Let your voice be heard!