What prevents us from celebrating each and every day? Is it possible to find something special and unique in each twenty-four hours?

This moment in time, this day, will never be here again. This day is unique. There will never be another Wednesday, November 19, 2003, again. You will never live Thursday, November 20, 2003, again. The same combination of your unique body status, weather, people you meet, moods that you and they are in, will never come together in this unique configuration ever again.

Oh, perhaps, you may see same people another day, but they will not be in exactly same mood, news will not be same, your kids will not be same age, you will not be same age. Hopefully, you, your kids, and your friends will all be a bit wiser and emotionally richer.

Many religions, although exhorting individual to look to hereafter, focus on actions and behaviors of here and now. Eastern and Western philosophies emphasize how we act and interact with other human beings here on this planet. It is considered psychologically healthy to be mindful of our emotional and physical condition today.

The teaching of mindfulness enables individual to be in moment; not to live in remorse and regret for past, but to learn from it. Living in moment, in now, (in know?) involves actions of today, being mindful of behaviors of today. Healthy behaviors today will contribute to healthy, satisfying, and fulfilling tomorrows.

There is a familiar phrase in Adidas commercial, "Just do it!" Consider concept, "Just do it now with all your being."

This is not at all to suggest that we act recklessly, dangerously, or with abandonment. It is a proposal that we engage in all our actions, activities, and interpersonal activities, each moment, with all our physical and emotional attention.

How often we find ourselves talking with another person, writing notes about another matter, while looking at our calendar to check on our next scheduled activity?

How often do we drive along, half listening to another person in vehicle with radio on in background, thinking about what we're going to do when we stop and go to store?

It's hard to be fully emotionally and intellectually invested with another human being while other activities are fighting to use same part of our brain. If you thought that this would be last day that you would be seeing a friend that you're having lunch with today, how would you treat him? Is there anything that you would like to have cleared up with him? Would you listen half-heartedly, distracted by some bothersome incident earlier in day, like fact that there was a traffic jam?

If your child started to talk to you when you were trying to read sports page, would you turn off in your head and continue hiding behind newspaper and try to ignore him?

How would you spend tonight with your closest friend or person with whom you live?

When is last time you had a near death experience? Do you know when you will have your next near death experience? It's not necessary to have a terrifying event occur in order to have inspiring, fulfilling, vibrant moments fill each of your days. May you enjoy each today!

You'll be less likely to binge out on food and alcohol.

8. Talk to friends you know who are sober and don't drink, and ask for tips on how they do it.

9. If you live alone, don't keep alcohol in your house.

If alcohol is not in your house, it will be at least harder to get.

10. If you had a favorite chair where you always drank, consider giving yourself a holiday present and replace chair, or change covering.

The same goes if you had a favorite drinking glass. Get rid of old reminders.

Bottom line: Plan for a sober holiday, and follow through with all supports you can get. Remember, there are people who do not drink alcohol at holiday functions -- you probably weren't aware of them! People are more concerned about what's in their glass, than in what's in yours.