I'm literally a sobbing crying mess as I write this. I fell in love with a dying man a few weeks ago when I caught wind of him giving an amazing gift to his students, colleagues, friends and family at Carnegie Mellon University. Randy Pausch, a computer science professor gave his Last Lecture now famous on YouTube, on September 18, 2007. Randy's lecture was called "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams." Now, I have my own spectacular husband, but I imagine anyone who knows, or knows of Randy . . . would love him very much.

For a man whose pancreas is being destroyed by a cancer that could take his life within months . . . he was hysterical, energetic, inspirational, and relentless about the idea that life can be wonderful every day, and that his days still are. He told stories of his childhood and made one of the most insightful statements I've ever heard. "Are you a Tigger or an Eeyore? Choose!"

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I've struggled with sleep problems my whole life, and am certainly no stranger to bouts of insomnia. Not sleeping is more than a nuisance -- it can be overwhelmingly difficult to deal with, and it can impact every aspect of your life. So when it comes to sleep tips, I can assure you, I've tried them all. If you're having trouble getting your zzzs in, consider these steps:

• Eat dinner a few hours before bed, and don't eat too much. It's hard to sleep when you body is digesting and your stomach is uncomfortably full. And eating a nutritious diet never hurt either.
  
• Don't drink caffeine after 3pm.
  
• Don't nap -- go for a walk instead, and go to bed a bit earlier. If you must nap, make sure you nap before 3pm.
  
• Get some sort of exercise every day. This was key for me -- I rarely have trouble sleeping when I work out, but when I don't, I feel like I have extra energy at bed time.

A big part of being healthy and happy in this world is to make sure you're spending your workday doing something you enjoy. Even the best of dream jobs can be stressful and tiring at times, and so if you're like most people and aren't in your dream job then those tiring stressful days are only that much more common. If you're feeling overwhelmed with stress, unhappiness, or even simple boredom in your current work situation it may be worth considering taking a vacation into another vocation. Because stress, unhappiness, and boredom are not healthy.

Well one guy, while sitting in traffic one day on the way to his executive office job in the Midwest, thought pretty much that exact same thought one day -- and an idea was born.

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I think we'd all like to be able to control and "direct" our dreams, especially the fun ones where we're flying or have just won the lottery. Very few people ever get to experience what's called a "lucid dream," but there are some out there who claim it's a skill that can be taught. Although there is some debate on whether people can just interact and change the course of a current dream or if they can custom-design a dream from the ground up, retreats and courses are available across the country for those who want to give it a try. And the phenomenon is even hitting Hollywood, with several hit movies having been inspired by lucid dreams.

I think lucid dreaming is possible, although I'm not so sure about taking courses or classes to learn how. And to me part of what makes a dream a dream is the fact that you can't control it.

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Today on Oprah, new Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson took the spotlight dishing about her victory the night before. She also chatted about her new fitness habits. Since her role in Dreamgirls, Jennifer has lost a considerable amount of weight and admitted to doing it the old fashioned way.

It seems that many Hollywood beauties seem to spend time telling the press how they can eat anything they want, and never gain a pound. Hudson was real, and I think that's great for normal women everywhere. She didn't say exactly how much she has lost, but she did tell how she's doing it. She wakes up at 4:00AM to run for an hour, followed by an hour long workout in the gym with her trainer. She didn't mention it, but I'm positive she is modifying her eating habits as well.

It's nice that Jennifer shared the details of her efforts with the world. Too many people do very little and expect very big results. Knowing that a real woman like Hudson can run for an hour will probably motivate many more to do the same. I care very little about the Oscars, so today I think I'll give Miss Hudson the Fitzness Role Model Award for inspiring others to become more fit. Congratulations on your big win!

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At some point or another you were probably told to stop daydreaming and focus: stop wasting your time. I mean, how easy is it to get wrapped up in your own personal world of thoughts and dreams? What you may not be aware of, however, is that not only does daydreaming take up almost half our day, but it is also highly beneficial!

In those quiet moments of our minds, we can effectively sort out problems or relieve stress. The stimulation we get from drifting out can refresh the imagination and clear your head. In fact, daydreaming can achieve four important things. One activity is relaxation: nothing puts a smile on your face like imagining yourself on a remote beach sipping on a coconut.

Dreaming also gets rid of fear and anxiety. One of the most important things I've heard concerning bad emotions which have taken place in the past is just to have a short memory. Focus on the present and dream about the future: it helps! Dealing with conflict is another aspect of everyday life that daydreaming can help with. Relationships depend on this sort of thing according to psychologists. Read on for more information about the benefits of daydreaming.

[Thanks, Liz!]

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