We guarantee that if you do one or two steps, you'll find you will want to do three or four or more. Soon, your marbles will be back where they belong.

Step One

Simplify, simplify.

As Thoreau put it. Step one is really an overarching step that will carry you through the next 11. It is the foundation on which we find our marbles and gain inner peace.

 Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.
     - Henry David Thoreau

Simplify your stock portfolio. Simplify your 401K distribution. You will sleep better at night and gain a few marbles at the same time.

Simplify your wardrobe. Do you really need 43 skirts, 52 blouses, 37 dresses, umpteen sweaters, god-knows-how-many belts and sashes, and that mountain of color-coordinated shoes on the floor of your closet? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to shut the closet door? And don't even get me started on that sock drawer!

Step Two

Limit your driving.

Drive your car as little as possible, as we at MarbleFree.com have done. I tried to take the bus to work in an attempt to have a relaxing, traffic free experience. But, dag nabbit, after 5 months I lost my marbles waiting for 45 minutes in 100-degree Sacramento heat for a Sacramento Regional Transit bus. Holy Mackerel, I need to go into another MarbleFree 12-step therapy session after that! Those poor souls who have to ride public transit...I pity them. Maybe the SACRT board can order up another $300,000 study to fix it.

Meanwhile, I don't recommend taking the bus in third-world countries or Sacramento. If you want to keep your marbles, I do recommend telecommuting or riding your bike to work if you can. That's what I've done. I ride my bike to work now 8.5 miles each way. I smile every morning as I look back at my Prius parked in the garage. And with gas likely to be going back up for the summer, I really enjoy my bike rides. You can do it, too!

Traffic is one of the main stressors in our everyday lives.

Perceived traffic stress is associated with both general health status and depression in multivariate multilevel models, such that persons reporting traffic stress had lower health status and more depressive symptoms... Persons who lived in areas with greater vehicular burden and who reported the most traffic stress also had the lowest health status and greatest depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that traffic stress may represent an important factor that influences the well-being of urban populations, and that studies which examine factors at only one level (either individual level only or ecological level only) may underestimate the effect of the social environment. -  Soc Sci Med. 2004 Jul;59(2):405-14.
       - Gee GC, Takeuchi DT. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1420 Washington Heights, Room M5224, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA.

Step Three

Turn off your cell phone.

Or, just leave it at home or in your glovebox in the car during your commute, for a better life. Take it out only if needed for emergencies. (I swear, they'll find you at work or at home within the hour!)

July 1, 2008 marked the first day in California that we needed a handsfree device while driving. But, you don't really need one. Just turn off the cell phone and check your messages when you get wherever you are going. Enjoy the quiet, or National Public Radio, or that latest American Idol download on your iPod. Get off that phone!

Cell Phones Raise Stress Levels
In the study, researchers analyzed data from a survey of working couples to determine if increasing spillover between work and home caused by new technology was linked to any changes in psychological distress or family satisfaction over time. The results, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, showed that increasing use of cell phones and pagers was linked to a decrease in family satisfaction and increased stress over a two-year period.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/14/health/webmd/main1125102.shtml

	Wear one of these, if you want to lose some more marbles. We call these "Marble Dispensers". I know, I know ... It's the law in many states that you must use a handsfree device while driving. But do these make our lives simpler? Safer? I think not.
Now this is more like it! I wear this around the grocery store and in meetings or when driving just for fun. Best of all, this handsfree device is really free! I'll just get a new rubber band when this one wears out! It's the law now in California. So if you're willing to give up some marbles, be sure to buy (or make) your own handsfree device.

And again, if you are serious about really wanting to be safe, gaining marbles, and enjoying your drive more, just turn the cell phone off. Just pretend you are back in the olden days ... like the 1980's ... and wait till you get home to check for messages.

Step Four

Write or Read one poem a week.

Swing Cushions

The squeak, and then squeaking of unoiled squeaks
Reminds me of porch swing days of my youth.
I remember worn faded swing cushions on muggy buggy days,
Ice cream leaking on toes and swinging away.

Couldn't hide from the world, I'd spend most the day
Swinging lone, watching cloud actors in a sky play.
On the porch again, grandma to wipe up the leaks,
Between squeak, and then squeaking of unoiled squeaks.

              -  A poem by Jerry Grinstead

Poetry writing: A therapeutic means for a social work doctoral student in the process of study
Journal of Poetry Therapy
Volume 16, Number 1/March 2003
Author: Zenobia C. Y. Chan
Abstract: Poetry writing was found to be therapeutic during my doctoral study by relieving stress, promoting self-understanding and filling my emptiness. Twelve poems are selected and categorized into six thematic areas: the sense of loss and social isolation; the persistent studying; the fantasy world; the mother-son relationship; the bodily symptoms; and the omnipresent gaze. The background of the prewriting experience and the functions of each poem are presented. The paper ends by offering some implications for education and calls for the use of poetry writing as a therapeutic aid for graduate students in the process of their study.

Yes, there really is a Journal of Poetry Therapy. We couldn't make that one up! And we at MarbleFree.com are happy that this journal exists.

As for reading poetry, if you have never read it before, I suggest beginning with a book of great poems to see the many varied styles, and read some of the best poems written. My favorite book of poetry is, The Desk Drawer Anthology, Poems for the American People. Compiled by Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Theodore Roosevelt, 1937. It is out of print, but you can pick up a nice used copy for $20 to $40 online (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or do a Google search). I've been reading that since I was 5 years old ... and I'm almost done! You also can't go wrong with a book of poems by Ted Kooser or Mary Oliver. Peaceful and easy.

Step Five

Paint one painting a month (Or visit a local art gallery)

Water color, oils, acrylic...it does not matter. Painting can be a way to a more civil life.

I think sculpture and painting have an effect to teach us manners, and abolish hurry.
     - Ralph Waldo Emerson

We, at MarbleFree.com, really like that part about abolishing hurry. That is another key to simplifying your life and increasing your marbles deficit.

Abstract 24" x 36", Acrylic on Canvas -  One to go - by Nancy Roycroft, 2007 One to go From blue sky morning into darkness. This dust will never settle; It chokes the souls of those of us Who watch in disbelief — and hope One still stands. Cracked and broken against A blue sky mixing with smoke. Maybe it’s not as bad as it looks. One is down with dust all around. One to go. -  A poem inspired by this painting and 9-11                by Jerry Grinstead

Step Six

Stop and talk with one stranger / aquaintance each week.

You'll find friends and acquaintances in their yards, on a bench downtown or in the park, on a plane, or even in the grocery line. Practice your patience and civility and remember to smile. Civility is becoming a lost social grace. When I was waiting for the tour to begin at the August Schell Brewery in New Ulm Minnesota last year, I sat with and talked with several elderly ladies and gentlemen who were from that area. I enjoyed asking them about living in Minnesota all their lives and hearing about how much they loved it. I could not imagine living anywhere but California, and they could not imagine living anywhere but Minnesota. We really are all the same ... just different!

Friends and acquaintances

Acquaintances I’ve met on planes are not
Unlike shadows of clouds that pass under me.
There but for a moment; then forgot.
But all the same in their odd familiarity. 

Friends at home and friends away are not
Unlike songs I sing to me.
Here for eternity; never forgot.
And all different in their joyful peculiarity.
              -  A poem written on a plane over Kansas
                            by Jerry Grinstead

Step Seven

Join the Slow Food movement.

What is Slow Food?

Slow Food is the opposite of Fast Food. We all know what Fast Food is. The definition of Slow Food, from their website says it best, "Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment."

Learn more about slow food at from Plate to Planet and Good, Clean and Fair

There are Slow Food chapters all over the country. Recently, an article in the Sacramento Bee gave a great account of the movement here in Sacramento, how it started, and how you can get the benefits of Slow Food. Read the article at the Sacramento Chapter's web site.

Be prepared, though, for an influx of Marbles when you abandon fast food for slow food.

Step Eight

Get a library card.

Wow! They are still free and the library is quiet and has these things called books all over the dang place. And they will even let you borrow them !! For Free !! for a few weeks
(who'd a thunk it?).
Or you can read newspapers from all over the country, and magazines too at the library. Did I mention it was Free?

Step Nine

Read to a child.

Nothing fancy. Anything by Shel Silverstein (Where the Sidewalk Ends or The Giving Tree, for example). A Harry Potter book is fun to read to kids, and you may end up still reading after they fall asleep. And, The Night Before Christmas at the holiday or a Dr. Seuss book any time! The Pokey Little Puppy was one of our favorites when the boys were toddlers.

You not only are relieving stress now, you are laying the groundwork for a less stressful time during your kids' teen years. They will remember your having taken the time to read to them. And I'll bet they won't let you give that copy of the The Pokey Little Puppy to Goodwill!

Step Ten

Take a walk.

This is a great way to get some exercise and begin practicing Step #6. A walk during your lunch hour can make the afternoon seem like a new day. Keep a pair of walking or running shoes at your desk and listen to National Public Radio while you enjoy the beautiful day. A volksmarch is a great way to socialize while walking.

Got a favorite route? Map it at www.usatf.com to see how far you've walked, or create a new route! Here are some example walking sites. Google "walking" and your city name to find more.

http://www.californiavolkssportassociation.org/  - Volksmarching in California

http://www.walksacramento.org/

http://www.walkcalifornia.com/

http://walkmn.org/home.htm - Walking in Minnesota

Google "walking" for more links

Step Eleven

Take a vacation...By Yourself!

Sure, we love our significant others, POSSLQs, partners or spouses, girlfriends or boyfriends. But a little time in a new place by yourself where you decide how to spend your time is refreshing. And you should really encourage your significant other to get away and do something they enjoy.

On my last business trip to Minneapolis, I took a couple extra days, renting a car, and driving to Walnut Grove, on the banks of Plum Creek. I visited a sod house along the way, visited the Laura Ingles Wilder museum, and talked to local people in New Ulm about life in Minnesota. The highlight of my trip was a tour of the August Schell Brewery in New Ulm, the 2nd oldest family-run brewery in the United States. I don't expect I'll ever get back there, so I explored some of that part of the world ... now.

On my last business trip to Georgia, I stayed an extra 4 days to see some of that beautiful state. I walked Stone Mountain, walked around Olympic Park, CNN, The Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, and went to an art festival in Roswell. I had only ridden through there as a child on our family vacations from Ohio to Florida and back.

Step Twelve

Smile, be patient and write a Thank You letter!

Email does NOT count! Get some nice writing paper, sit down, and thank that person for what they've done for you. You'll feel better about yourself, and so will they. Try writing one thank you letter a month. You may just find it habit-forming.

Happiness is just a letter of gratitude away
Los Angeles Times - November 27, 2008

If you want to feel more happy — fast — grab a pen and paper.

The secret to happiness may be in expressive writing; specifically, writing letters to people showing gratitude. Steven Toepfer, an assistant professor of family and consumer studies at Kent State University, conducted a study to determine what would make people feel happier, especially in a consumer-oriented culture in which things are supposed to bring us joy.

He had students write one letter every two weeks for a six-week period to people who had had a positive influence on their lives. The letters had to be positive, include some insight and reflection, didn’t venture into trivial waters, and expressed great appreciation. After each letter was written, the students took a survey that gauged their mood, their satisfaction with life, and their feelings of gratitude and happiness.

According to Toepfer, the students’ levels of happiness increased after each letter, and 75% of them said they wanted to keep writing the letters, even when the study was finished.

"The most powerful thing in our lives is our social network," said Toepfer in a news release. "It doesn't have to be large, and you don't always need to be the life of the party, but just having one or two significant connections in your life has shown to have terrific psychological and physical benefits."

He added, "We are all walking around with an amazing resource: gratitude. It helps us express and enjoy, appreciate, be thankful and satisfied with a little effort. We all have it, and we need to use it to improve our quality of life."