100 Ways To Be A Love Letter To The Universe

[ 21 October 2008 ]

Weightless
Photo by yyellowbird.

Do your lips up sticky, sparkly & sweet. Then blow kisses. <3 Say thank you. <3 Allow other people to inspire you. <3 Share your bliss. <3 Smile — even if you’re shy, even if you have bad teeth, even if it scares you. <3 Hold someone’s hand. <3 Be honest. <3 Volunteer your time. <3 Love yourself. <3 Do your best. <3 Learn how to balance having respect for other people’s decisions & being true to yourself. <3 Tell people how much you like them. <3 Send unexpected gifts. <3 Talk to strangers. <3 Do favours. <3 Let go. <3 Be generous. <3 Eat whatever you want without guilt. <3 Don’t think about other people’s definitions of success, beauty or happiness. <3 Make your own rules. <3 Write your own guidebook. <3 Count your blessings. <3 Never stop trying to improve. <3 Be your own superhero. <3 Aim higher. <3 Contribute. <3 Create spaces for other people to enjoy. <3 Sleep in. <3 Let other people sleep in, too. <3 Be compassionate. <3 Listen. <3 Give yourself time off. <3 Be enthusiastic. <3 Choose happiness. <3 Create. <3 Follow your passion. <3 Connect. <3 Compliment people. <3 Spend time with people who make you feel good about yourself. <3 Surprise yourself. <3 Appreciate the people who support you. <3 Take photos; document everything. <3 Have a plan. <3 Know your patterns. <3 Be in the present. <3 Laugh. <3 Get close. <3 Move through your fear. <3 Challenge yourself. <3 Keep it simple. <3 Turn up the music. <3 Realise your own freedom. <3 Relax. <3 Flirt. <3 Dress up in some small way every day. Even if it’s just a good pair of knickers or a coat of death-defying mascara. <3 Be different. <3 Be genuine. <3 Allow yourself to change & evolve. <3 Dream big. <3 Believe that you can manifest anything. <3 Take responsibility. <3 Treat everyone the same way — from your lover to your mother to your postman. <3 Appreciate your past for having made you the person you are. <3 Talk about how you feel. <3 Dance. <3 Sing. <3 Let go of guilt. <3 Treat your lovers with respect. <3 Admit your flaws. <3 ...& come up with a plan to remedy them. <3 Surprise people. <3 Set yourself a really huge goal. <3 Then achieve it & set another one. <3 Kiss. <3 A lot. <3 Remember that trouble doesn’t last. <3 Be still. <3 Look at the stars. <3 Be as ridiculous as you like. <3 Trust that you are loved. <3 Stay curious. <3 Charm people. <3 Give real hugs. <3 Bat your eyelashes. <3 Forget yourself. <3 Reach out. <3 Flatter people. <3 Get drunk on life. <3 Release your expectations of other people. Allow them to be who they are, & appreciate them regardless. <3 Stretch. <3 Listen to your instincts. <3 Make eye contact. <3 Keep your word. <3 Talk about real things. <3 Discover yourself. <3 Speak up. <3 Let life excite you & lead you astray. <3 Delight in every day. <3 Don’t be afraid. <3 Just love.

“It took us so long to realize that a purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.” — Kurt Vonnegut.

Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala <3


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Comment

  1. :)
    This is wicked.

    <3 Amelia · Oct 21, 02:31 PM · #

  2. Amazing. :)
    Thank you gala.

    x

    <3 Lucy · Oct 21, 02:37 PM · #

  3. Lovely. I need to show my partner this, esp the ‘let other people sleep in’, whenever he wakes up early he somehow feels that he just has to wake me up too and does not let me sleep in.

    <3 Gabrielle · Oct 21, 02:41 PM · #

  4. Simply beautiful, Gala – I definitely aim to live my life by each of those! ♥

    <3 x Miss Corrine x · Oct 21, 02:44 PM · #

  5. :)
    this is the stuff i love about your blog miss Gala. I kindda missed it :)! Thanks a lot

    (btw, lots of this things I didn’t do last year I do now, parcially because of you. thanks again)

    <3 fran · Oct 21, 02:44 PM · #

  6. this just made my day alottt better(:
    its goood to see someone who looks on the brightsie.
    beautiful(:

    <3 mere · Oct 21, 02:52 PM · #

  7. oh my God, I love this! (I haven’t yet finished reading but I had to say this RIGHT NOW! )

    <3 Laiba · Oct 21, 02:53 PM · #

  8. I needed this Gala.
    Thank you, you have just made my night.

    This puts things in a new light, I just hope I won’t forget it.

    Thanks again, sweet.

    <3

    <3 Mackenzie · Oct 21, 02:53 PM · #

  9. It’s nice to know that there are other optimists out there, like myself, so thanks for the reassurance :]]

    <3 steph · Oct 21, 02:56 PM · #

  10. Thank you Gala for posting this…. It brightened up my history lesson alot.
    Must remember to practice these 100 ways.
    xoxo

    <3 Posh Totty · Oct 21, 02:56 PM · #

  11. YES!

    Luv
    Poochie

    <3 Poochie · Oct 21, 03:00 PM · #

  12. I love this Gala. Thank you!

    <3 Angela · Oct 21, 03:01 PM · #

  13. Lovely. Mwah!

    <3 Nadine · Oct 21, 03:03 PM · #

  14. Saw this on your Twitter and immediately thought, “Best headline ever!” And now, to read! :D

    <3 Trisha · Oct 21, 03:08 PM · #

  15. Thank you, kittens. (#2!)

    <3 Gala · Oct 21, 03:14 PM · #

  16. This is going on my wall beside my bed! I am starting this right now! Thanks!!

    <3 Allison · Oct 21, 03:17 PM · #

  17. This should so be a poster people can order…(hint, I’d stick it on my wall!)
    Love it – ray of sunshine, Gala
    x

    <3 Jazial · Oct 21, 03:22 PM · #

  18. loove
    reposting in my blog, with credit :)

    <3 Rachel · Oct 21, 03:23 PM · #

  19. I love this! It’s definitely going on my wall. Thanks Gala!

    <3 Leeann · Oct 21, 03:26 PM · #

  20. pure brilliance as allways Gala.

    <3 Bexxx · Oct 21, 03:33 PM · #

  21. “Give real hugs”
    My favorite one :)
    Thanks so much for a really sweet, uplifting post.

    <3 Aurelie · Oct 21, 03:39 PM · #

  22. I love this, thank you.

    <3 emocass · Oct 21, 03:47 PM · #

  23. love this Gala…this blog inspires me daily and it is my “Things I Love Everyday.” thank you!

    <3 ss · Oct 21, 03:55 PM · #

  24. Absolutely lovely. I agree with Jazial- I’d love a poster of this!

    <3 Jennila · Oct 21, 04:00 PM · #

  25. cheers for that – made my day. Some of it i already try and do, like say thank you – but, really, what happened to manners? But its good to be reminded of this stuff. Choice!

    <3 peter mac · Oct 21, 04:07 PM · #

  26. aaaugh!!! I love it!!

    <3 char · Oct 21, 04:13 PM · #

  27. So amazing Gala! I hope you don’t mind if I post these on my blog and link back to you…

    They really lit up my night!

    <3 Ashley · Oct 21, 04:22 PM · #

  28. This is wonderful and just the thing I needed to read right now. Thank you so much!

    <3 orinoco · Oct 21, 04:24 PM · #

  29. thank you Gala! love it!! much needed inspiration, it makes me happy :)

    <3 Indigo Fay · Oct 21, 05:16 PM · #

  30. Everything here has basically been my daily to-do list for the past month. LOVE!

    <3 ansi · Oct 21, 05:32 PM · #

  31. You always, ALWAYS make me feel better when I need to feel better about life. So many of these are relevant to me; I can’t imagine how many lives you are constantly changing and helping.

    <3 Alex · Oct 21, 05:35 PM · #

  32. i always think that kurt vonnegut is one of the most genius geniuses of our lifetime…

    he’s so inspiring and his words are always so genuine and loving. he’s also one of the funniest authors ever.

    <3 :) · Oct 21, 05:51 PM · #

  33. # 101: Nuzzle someone or something.

    Its a personal law of mine.

    <3 rubyfire · Oct 21, 05:57 PM · #

  34. Thank you for this!

    <3 jessica · Oct 21, 06:13 PM · #

  35. This is so inspiring!
    Gotta love it!
    :D

    <3 Dahn · Oct 21, 06:43 PM · #

  36. Gala, this is lovely.

    <3 Rachel · Oct 21, 06:52 PM · #

  37. Thanks Gala, this was an uber help to me today, after writing probably the most depressing blog ever lastnight! I’m quarter-life-crisising in a big way, but this made me smile!

    <3 Em · Oct 21, 06:56 PM · #

  38. I know this will sound corny, but I was almost moved to tears by this!
    I am in one of those moments in life where I’m uncomfortable and lost, but in need and want of getting myself together. This is gonna come in handy, for sure — thank you!
    Oh, and this has made me realize I should let my boyfriend sleep in! It annoys him when I do it, but he’s too polite to say it. I’ll try to play fair from now on, heh.

    <3 Tere · Oct 21, 07:42 PM · #

  39. “Release your expectations of other people. Allow them to be who they are, & appreciate them regardless.”

    I need to do this for myself, I think.
    Wonderful post, Gala, thank you for brightening my day xxx

    <3 shells · Oct 21, 07:45 PM · #

  40. this is wonderful, Gala :) thank you.

    <3 Gem · Oct 21, 08:38 PM · #

  41. I totally miss this stuff man!
    What a pick me up. I’m stuck at my uninspiring job tonight but this made me feel totally inspired =)
    Thanks!
    xo

    <3 Nikkee · Oct 21, 08:58 PM · #

  42. this is the best thing I’ve seen in a long long time.

    THANKS!

    <3 chiara louise · Oct 21, 09:26 PM · #

  43. Miss Darling, you are as always a delight and an inspiration!

    With every gem you send our way I thank the Universe that I stumbled upon iCiNG during a particularly good internet-procrastinating session.

    Cheers!

    <3 Lola · Oct 21, 09:33 PM · #

  44. I want to be a love letter to the universe! :D

    <3 Leanne · Oct 21, 09:37 PM · #

  45. I love those boosting posts of yours ! :o)

    <3 Lilith · Oct 21, 09:52 PM · #

  46. is GOOD!

    <3 curves · Oct 21, 10:23 PM · #

  47. This is so lovely!

    <3 beth · Oct 21, 10:38 PM · #

  48. I love this and I love you, you’re such an inspiration! Thank you.

    <3 Valentina · Oct 21, 11:41 PM · #

  49. I love this!! Thanks for being my rock today:)

    <3 Brenda · Oct 22, 01:24 AM · #

  50. This is a perfect post, I’m bookmarking it :)

    <3 Vixel · Oct 22, 01:31 AM · #

  51. Gala is a rockstar.

    :)

    <3 sparrow · Oct 22, 02:40 AM · #

  52. Lovely post. Simple and inspiring. =)

    <3 eighteeneleven · Oct 22, 02:40 AM · #

  53. 100 is such a round, even number.
    Thanks Gala

    <3 Pretty Girl · Oct 22, 02:48 AM · #

  54. My fav is don’t think about other people’s definition of success, beauty or happiness . So much of my day is spent worrying about this when I could focus on 99 more positive things! O for Orsome :)

    <3 bebe · Oct 22, 02:50 AM · #

  55. This is a really great way to start out a day! I literally woke up and saw this, and now I KNOW I’m going to have a great day, no matter what happens. ^ ^

    Thanks so much.

    <3 Heidi · Oct 22, 03:24 AM · #

  56. This has made my day so much better! Thank you for the much needed positivity.

    <3 Crystal · Oct 22, 03:58 AM · #

  57. this is great, just what I needed on a day like today :( gloomy, and its tuesday…..my turtleneck itches…..ugh….)

    <3 Heather · Oct 22, 04:02 AM · #

  58. agreed, this is a lovely way to start my morning :D

    thanks!
    (formerly nerdyspice)

    <3 yaymaryann · Oct 22, 04:13 AM · #

  59. Not feeling it, sorry. It feels like I’m being told how to live someone else’s life now, and though I know you’ve already addressed the transition away from material how tos and into generic, over reaching aspirational/inspirational stuff that discourages individual identity. Your writing remains good, but I think I stopped being your target market. It’s probably not important because you have a strong fan following, but I miss the nitty gritty cosmetic advice, since I don’t need to be told to “Buy a wonderful bunch of balloons and eat cupcakes!” as the little voice in my head tells me to do that already.

    <3 Phalene · Oct 22, 04:45 AM · #

  60. Phalene — Sorry you feel that way… but it happens! I still do write “material how to’s” — I’m actually writing something about Parisian style right now ;>

    <3 Gala · Oct 22, 04:52 AM · #

  61. I think (and it looks like many other girls think) that the exuberance for life is amazing. Where there are a bazillion fashion blogs telling you what to wear and how to wear it, this one expands on developing inner (personal) style, and what that means.

    Cheers, I say, for thinking outside the style bubble. As the writer grows and changes, the target market grows and changes as well.

    <3 Birdie! · Oct 22, 05:10 AM · #

  62. Love it! Thank you! Am sending this to all my friends. :)

    <3 Tena · Oct 22, 05:10 AM · #

  63. This was exactly what I needed. The perfect start to a day I had low expectations for.

    <3 Ursala · Oct 22, 05:28 AM · #

  64. Thank you. I am somehow much happier now.

    <3 Stephanie · Oct 22, 06:57 AM · #

  65. This is beautiful, and I love it. :)

    <3 Emily · Oct 22, 08:05 AM · #

  66. Thankya kindly Gala. :)

    <3 lyra · Oct 22, 08:39 AM · #

  67. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

    <3 Sal · Oct 22, 08:48 AM · #

  68. Beautiful article Gala; it’s nice to be given injections of inspiration every now and then.

    <3 miss morgan potts · Oct 22, 08:49 AM · #

  69. spoken like a true slinksta-cool goddess, Miss Gala. More of this inspiring stardust please! ; )

    <3 Kate · Oct 22, 08:56 AM · #

  70. I especially like “believe that you can manifest anything.” That’s kind of been my mantra lately!

    Also…could I be my own supervillain instead of superhero?

    <3 Alice · Oct 22, 08:57 AM · #

  71. I’d SO buy a pretty poster of this.

    <3 Jacqueline · Oct 22, 09:40 AM · #

  72. Ive only recently been told of this site… Love it superlots Gala!! Awesome Awesome Awesome :) Muah much love

    <3 Manda · Oct 22, 10:36 AM · #

  73. In concordance with the latest comment from Jacqueline. I’ve actually scrawled the full post into my Moleskine so I can carry it around with me:

    sparklesandcrumbs.blogspot.com…

    Hope Gala doesn’t mind!! xx

    <3 Caz · Oct 22, 10:41 AM · #

  74. I love this, but I have to say I wish it would have said “Admit your flaws . . . and accept them” rather than try to remedy them, since this is all about enjoying the here and now in the universe.

    Otherwise, just love right back at you.

    <3 Freya · Oct 22, 11:54 AM · #

  75. just what i needed!!! :D

    <3 coco · Oct 22, 12:09 PM · #

  76. my favorite kind of post.

    <3 e · Oct 22, 01:29 PM · #

  77. Freya — Well, when I say come up with a plan, that plan could be acceptance, alteration, alternate coping strategies… I left it open on purpose, & hoped that people would take it in the most positive, helpful way possible! xxx

    <3 Gala · Oct 22, 03:41 PM · #

  78. Gala… When I grow up… (I am 17) I want to be a (paid) writer. When my awesome teachers ask me who my favourite writer is… I usually reply with a Tim Winton or John Green. However; since i found Icing, through a magazine I am not too fond off… (Ironic) I reply with a Gala Darling, and direct them to your website. I suppose what I am trying to say is you are amazing and a huge thank- you so much for always brightening my day, and reminding myself to stay true to who I am, What I stand for and a huge applause for being my constant inspiration… XoXo

    <3 BeKaH · Oct 22, 11:20 PM · #

  79. I havent commented on any of your blogs lately, but you are still my favourite :)

    <3 Jordann · Oct 23, 04:57 AM · #

  80. this was SO inspiring
    similar to your style tips
    which are also SO inspiring
    I have this book where I wrote down my favourite ones
    and Now get my friends to add their own to the list :)
    thank you for inspiring me and continuing to do so
    xxx

    <3 NicoletteNeon · Oct 23, 06:40 AM · #

  81. I agree with Give real hugs I hate when I get a half assed hug. Feels forced.

    Thanks Gala!

    <3 Marisol · Oct 27, 08:08 AM · #

  82. “Discover yourself” is the hardest! (Especially because one is shaping oneself at the same time).

    <3 [a} · Oct 31, 12:44 PM · #

  83. Create is my favourite one! Writing, drawing, painting, dancing, sculpting, ensembling (is that a word? well it should be).

    <3 Caramelmoiselle · Nov 2, 12:22 AM · #

  84. I love this post! Adorable!

    <3 Sassy · Nov 3, 10:49 PM · #

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