Sweetwater Wekiva Springs Magazine is a bi-monthly lifestyle magazine for Sweetwater, Wekiva Springs, Longwood, and Altamonte Springs communities in central Florida. 12,500 copies are mailed to the upper-most income families in the Sweetwater / Wekiva Springs area and an additional 1,000 are distributed by local hotels, Realtors and professional offices. Bring your advertising message to this sought after market in Sweetwater Wekiva Springs Magazine!

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By Kristin Harmel

Want to change your life? Now is the perfect time to do it. Get off the couch. Take a risk, whether it’s smiling at a stranger or zooming on a zipline. Read our guide to seizing the best of the new year.

JANUARY

1. Make a “To Deed” list instead of a “To Do” list. Commit to doing at least one kind deed each day. If we all did that, think how much more compassionate and humane the world would be.
2. Identify your number 1 fear and commit to conquering it.
3. January is National Mentoring Month -- become a Big Brother or Big Sister.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed on Jan. 16. In the spirit of the great civil rights leader, sit down and think about a prejudice you hold and make a commitment to change your point of view.
5. See the world from above. Go ziplining at the ZOOmAir Adventure Park at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford. ZoomAir.us
6. Jan. 26 is Thank Your Mentor Day. Take the time to thank someone who influenced your life.
7. Apologize to someone you’ve wronged in the past. Forgive someone else.
8. Write down three things you’d like to change about your life – then get to work changing them.
9. Be true to who you are. You’re not supposed to be perfect. You’re just supposed to be you.
10. Learn how to shoot better photos: Take a class at Crealde School of the Arts in Winter Park with our own Betsy Hansen. Crealde.org, click on Classes & Workshops, click on Photography.
11. Resolve to write thank-you notes instead of thank-you emails.
12. January is National Blood Donor Month. Donate blood today. Each donation can save up to three lives, according to the American Red Cross.

Skim the treetops of natural Florida on a zipline adventure.

Florida EcoSafaris operates this intrepid escapade at Forever Florida, a 4,700-acre conservation area in St. Cloud. Guests soar on secure ziplines 15 to 20 feet above the treetops, enjoying 360-degree views up to 10 miles in every direction.

“It’s absolutely breathtaking,” says Matt Duda, the organization’s director of sales and marketing. “Being out in real conservation lands is the best part. You get a true adventure and help conserve a vitally important part of Florida’s wilderness.” Plus, because the Zipline Safari is fully guided, it’s safe and fun, even for first-timers.

On Saturday nights, the experience becomes even more magical with Moonlight and Starlight Zipline Safaris. “A lot of people fall into a rut from time to time, living in cities and towns disconnected from nature and just going through the motions,” Duda points out. “The Zipline Safari is a fantastic way to wake up your senses and reconnect with nature.”

See FloridaEcoSafaris.com for more information.

FEBRUARY

1. Fall in love all over again. Make a list of 10 reasons you love your significant other.
2. February is National Heart Month. Have your blood pressure checked today.
3. Buy yourself flowers.
4. Tell the people you love that you love them – as often as possible.
5. The Academy Awards ceremony airs on Feb. 26. Sometime this month, take a trip through classic movie history at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
6. Make it a habit to pack an extra sandwich when you make one for yourself. That way, if someone in need asks you for help, you can give him/her something to eat.
7. Shake up your routine. Have you become a creature of habit? Make small changes to your most ingrained routines and watch your whole life change.
8. Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb. 13-19, by doing as many good deeds as you can.
9. “Work hard, have fun and eat the right thing!” – Ed Nasser, mortgage manager, BB&T, Lake Mary
10. Visit the Morse Museum in Winter Park, which features the world’s most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, an artist and designer best known for his work with stained glass.
11. From Us to You: “Never take anything or anyone for granted. The world gets smaller every day and you never know what type of great friendships can spring from something you least expected.” – Betsy Hansen, photographer, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs
12. Feb. 29 only comes along once every four years. Make the most of Leap Day 2012 by treating yourself and your loved ones to a special evening.

Single and hoping to find love this year?

Consider online dating. It worked for Sabine Kager and Keith Seifert of Longwood. “Love really can happen on Match.com, especially when given a second chance,” Sabine says.

She went online in the spring of 2007 and enjoyed a first date and several telephone conversations with Keith. But she realized she wasn’t ready to get serious. It wasn’t until several months later that she changed her mind.

“Around Thanksgiving, I sent a new email,” she says, but she never heard back. So she tried again. “Being persistent, as I can be, I sent a second email with new energy and hope that he might give me just one more look. It happened! He sent me an email and called the next day.”

The two met for a long-delayed second date in Mount Dora and, by the end of the evening, he’d kissed her for the first time. Four years later, they’re still living happily ever after.

Editor's Note: Sabine and Keith got engaged on Christmas 2011. Congratulations!

MARCH

1. Take a yoga class.
2. Say “thanks” to a higher power.
3. Re-read your favorite book from childhood: March 2 (Dr. Seuss’ birthday) is the National Education Association’s annual Read Across America Day.
4. Instead of regretting something that happened in the past, think constructively of how you can change your behavior in the future.
5. March is National Nutrition Month. Plan your meals around what’s fresh at the farmers market. It’s a great way to make sure you get your fresh fruit and veggies every day.
6. Hike, bike or walk the Seminole Wekiva Trail or one of Seminole County’s other paved recreational trails.
7. Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. March 11. Don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour. And sometime this month, drive west in the afternoon and settle in to watch the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
8. Help a coworker with a tough project, even if it doesn’t directly benefit you.
9. Take advantage of Florida being one of the two Major League Baseball spring-training capitals of America -- head out to a game.
10. Next time you’re in the car, turn the radio up and sing at the top of your lungs.
11. As soon as the weather warms up, have a weekend picnic at Lake Lotus Park, a nature preserve in Altamonte Springs.
12. From Us to You: “Life is short, so make the most of each day by doing what makes you feel happy and surrounding yourself with those who make you smile. Be good to yourself.” – Renée Blair, art director, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs

APRIL

1. April is National Poetry Month -- try your hand at writing a poem!
2. Clean out your closet and donate used clothes to a charity.
3. Find an old friend on Facebook or through your high school’s alumni association.
4. “Update the photos in your photo frames.” – Holly Wilton, Altamonte Springs
5. Write your bucket list, then start planning how to achieve your first goal.
6. If you’re trying to lose weight, eat snacks. It may sound counterintuitive, but eating small meals with small, healthy snacks in between can keep your metabolism performing at its full potential.
7. Make a restaurant server’s day by leaving an extra big tip for good service.
8. If your grocery store is having a two-for-one sale on non-perishables, buy one item for yourself and donate the free item to a local food pantry.
9. Spring clean your social life. Let go of acquaintances who are hurtful, overly negative or overly critical.
10. April 22 is Earth Day. Celebrate nature with a safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
11. Feeling overwhelmed financially? Write a budget and stick to it.
12. Arbor Day is April 27. Plant a tree or make a donation to have a tree planted in a loved one’s honor.

Want to know what it feels like to fly?

Soar over Central Florida with Seminole Lake Gliderport in Clermont (SoarFL.com). “A glider flight can be peaceful and relaxing or thrilling and adrenaline rushing, depending on the way you want to fly it,” says operations manager Andreea Alexandrescu.

Our own Betsy Hansen decided to check out the view from a glider. “The experience of gliding is extremely calming,” she says. “It’s almost completely silent in the glider and you have a 360-degree view from the plane. It was an amazing experience that I recommend for people of any age!”

MAY

1. Smile at a stranger.
2. Be a kid again with a trip to the Magic Kingdom. Can’t afford a ticket? Go for a ride on the monorail instead and grab a bite at one of the hotels.
3. Put $40 in an envelope, seal it and set it aside. The next time you’re having a bad day, use it to treat yourself to something special that will cheer you up.
4. May is the month of music in New Zealand -- put on your favorite song and sing along.
5. “Be good and have fun while doing the right thing. Be honest!” -- Jenna Richman, age 8, Altamonte Springs
6. Enjoy the sunshine – with a little protection. Always wear a face cream with an SPF of 15 or higher, even when you’re just out running errands.
7. Go treasure-hunting at Flea World – the largest flea market in America - -in Sanford. FleaWorld.com
8. Practice empathy. Putting yourself in other people’s shoes helps you live a more well-rounded life.
9. May 31 is the World Health Organization’s World No Tobacco Day. Pick this month to quit smoking. If you’re not a smoker, kick another bad habit.
10. Ready to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of Florida? Grab your friends and spend the afternoon at Wekiva Island. WekivaIsland.com
11. Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 28. “Adopt” a soldier to thank him/her for keeping us safe. AmericasAdoptASoldier.org.
12. From Us to You: “Eat dessert first; life is uncertain.” -- G.K. Sharman, associate editor, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs

JUNE

1. Eat at a locally owned restaurant such as Finesse in Lake Mary or the newly opened Longwood location of 4Rivers Smokehouse.
2. Plan a trip to a town within driving distance that you’ve never been to. Expanding your horizons doesn’t always mean you have to go far.
3. Drink more water. Aim for at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day for optimum health.
4. Resist the urge to gossip.
5. June is national Adopt-a-Cat Month. Find a furry friend among the millions of cats in shelters across the country.
6. “Exercise with your family two to three times a week. Play, walk or engage in a sport together. It’s good for you, for them and the family.”—Mark Kilby, Altamonte Springs
7. Let someone go ahead of you in line at the supermarket.
8. Try paddleboarding. It’s a fun workout and a great way to enjoy the outdoors.
9. Hang with Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.
10. Attend an intimate, invitation-only concert at the Hard Rock Hotel. Check out VelvetSessions.com.
11. June is CPR Awareness Month -- learn CPR at your local Red Cross.
12. Buy a dozen lottery tickets and hand them out to strangers.

Fly through the air with the greatest of ease!

Become that daring figure on a flying trapeze at Orlando Circus School.  Run by Andrei Roublev, who for six years was captain of the flying trapeze team for Cirque de Soleil’s La Nouba, the first circus school in Central Florida offers a taste of life under the big top. A two-hour beginner’s trapeze class for kids and adults starts at just $40.

“Don’t let yourself live 2012 as just the next same ordinary year,” says Roublev. “Treat yourself with new and exciting activities. Fly the trapeze, climb up the silk, spin the hoops and, most important, stay fit and healthy by participating in our extraordinary activities that are unique to Florida.” The school also offers special group programs that can be booked for birthdays or corporate events.

Aerial silk, aerial hoop, aerial hammock, cube, hula hoop, juggling, trampoline and tight wire classes are also among the school’s offerings.

Visit OrlandoCircusSchool.com or call 407-965-1552 for more information.

JULY

1. Learn to surf! Try Cocoa Beach’s Ron Jon Surf School, the largest surf school in Florida. RonJonSurfSchool.com
2. Every day can be the Fourth of July -- watch the fireworks at one of our Central Florida theme parks.
3. July 8 is National Video Game Day. Take a cue from Sam Wilton, 15, of Altamonte Springs, who suggests that the best thing you can do in 2012 is “play more Call of Duty.”
4. Laugh every day. Laughter can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones and even provide a mini-workout for your diaphragm and abdominal muscles.
5. No time for an around-the-world summer vacation? Make your way around the World Showcase at Disney’s Epcot instead.
6. Hold a door or lend a hand to an overwhelmed parent next time you’re at the airport or the mall.
7. Don’t try to change other people. The only person you can change is you.
8. July is National Ice Cream Month -- take your friends out for a cone.
9. Throw a summer dinner party for your friends, even if you’re not a great cook. It’s about the company, not the cuisine.
10. Go fly a kite!
11. Check out the choreographed water fountain show at Cranes Roost at Uptown Altamonte.
12. Make an important promise to someone you love – and keep it.

AUGUST

1. Rent your favorite childhood show on DVD and settle in for an afternoon trip down memory lane.
2. Say “please” and “thank you.”
3. Buy a star for someone through the International Star Registry at StarRegistry.com.
4. Offer to babysit to give a friend, neighbor or relative a night out.
5. Wake up 30 minutes early and do something you love – alone.
6. Use Groupon.com or a similar site to book an inexpensive massage, facial, haircut or other pamper-yourself treat.
7. Pace while you talk on the phone. This helps you exercise without realizing it.
8. Ride the coasters and get to know the sea life at SeaWorld Orlando.
9. Send a random small present, such as a new book, to a friend’s child for no reason – with a note attached explaining that it’s your good deed of the day and that the recipient should do a good deed too.
10. Get schooled. Check out Seminole County Schools’ Student Museum, the fourth-oldest American school in continuous operation, for a reminder of what school was like a century ago.
11. Always strive to be honest.
12. From Us to You: “Eat more peaches! Specifically, peaches grown in or around Gaffney, S.C. Those are, without a doubt, the best peaches in the world.” – Kate Howell, editorial director, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs

Kennedy Space Center

The shuttle program may be over, but that doesn’t mean Kennedy Space Center is shutting down. The KSC Visitor Complex is still a great place to visit, for kids and adults alike, and the admission cost is lower than that of many other Central Florida attractions. Plus, NASA is still lighting up the sky with a regular schedule of rocket launches, which are just as fun to watch (and often less crowded) than shuttle launches were. Find updated launch schedules at Nasa.gov.

SEPTEMBER

1. Volunteer at a local school.
2. Take an afternoon off.
3. National Grandparents Day is Sunday, Sept. 9. Call your grandparents or an elderly family member just to say, “Thanks for being you!”
4. Volunteer for Meals on Wheels to help homebound seniors in the area.
5. Smile at yourself in the mirror each morning – and each time you’re in front of a mirror all day.
6. Accept your mistakes, forgive yourself and try to do better in the future.
7. Throw a birthday surprise party for a friend or coworker.
8. “Make your diet a way of life, not just something you do to lose weight.” – Dr. Lawrence Vallario, The Cardiovascular Center, Lake Mary
9. Hold the door for someone.
10. Make reservations at your favorite restaurant for a special night out – for no particular reason.
11. Go birding on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (FloridaBirdingTrail.com), a 2,000-mile, self-guided highway that connects nearly 500 birding sites throughout Florida.
12. From Us to You: “Food is truly our medicine. We are a direct result of the choices we make every time we sit down to eat.” – Alex Topper, account executive, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs

Is there a better way to start the morning than floating over Central Florida?

Make a commitment in 2012 to take a magical flight aboard a hot-air balloon. We soared with Orlando Balloon Rides, premier hot-air balloon operator and the largest passenger ride operator on the Eastern seaboard. The company also has a 100 percent unblemished safety record.

Shortly before Christmas, the company launched the largest hot-air balloon in the United States, a massive inflatable that stands 112 feet tall, contains 425,000 cubic feet of air when full and carries 24 passengers.

Balloons take off every morning at sunrise, weather permitting. Visit OrlandoBalloonRides.com for more information or call 407-894-5040 to book a flight.

“Taking a hot-air balloon ride has always been on my bucket list, but it was even more spectacular than I imagined! There’s something incredibly peaceful and serene about floating toward the clouds. And because the basket is so large and stable, it never even occurred to me to feel worried about being so high above the ground. We skimmed over trees, saw our reflection in the water below and gazed out over the theme parks and beyond. It was truly breathtaking and it left me with a whole new appreciation of just how beautiful our area is.” – Kristin Harmel, writer

OCTOBER

1. Cook a meal for a friend or neighbor going through a tough time.
2. Spend a Saturday building a home with Habitat for Humanity.
3. October is National Dental Hygiene Month, so take a tip from a Longwood dentist: “You don't have to floss all your teeth -- just the ones you want to keep.” -- Daniel Quevedo, DDS, Sweetwater Smiles
4. Pay at least one genuine compliment to a stranger each day this month.
5. October is national Adopt-a-Dog Month. Visit your local animal shelter and adopt a canine companion.
6. Identify role models. You’re never too old to strive to be a better version of yourself.
7. Call a local school and volunteer to talk to kids about your job on career day.
8. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for all women 40 and over. If you know someone in that age range who isn’t getting regularly screened, help persuade her to get checked. You could save a life.
9. Start each day anew. Had a bad day? Remember that when you get out of bed tomorrow, you’re able to make a fresh start.
10. Pay for the stranger behind you at the toll booth or the drive-through.
11. From Us to You: “Don’t sweat the small stuff. My childhood best friend died in an October car crash when he was just 24, and every time I think of him, I’m reminded how precious life is and how we should do our best to enjoy every moment we’re given.” – Kristin Harmel, writer, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs
12. Shut your blinds and dance all by yourself.

Thank a Teacher!

Oct. 5 is World Teachers’ Day. Write a thank-you note to your child’s teachers or send a thank-you note to a teacher who influenced your life when you were in school. (Many teachers now have email addresses through the school system or can be found on Facebook. Or you could always try the White Pages.)

NOVEMBER

1. Spend a whole day in bed.
2. Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Nov. 4. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour – and sometime this month, drive east in the early morning, grab a coffee and catch the sunrise over the ocean.
3. Make a list of 20 things that you’re thankful for. Keep the list somewhere convenient so you can remind yourself what makes your life great when you’re feeling down.
4. November is National Novel Writing Month. Visit nanowrimo.com to find out how to write yours.
5. Nov. 6 is election day. Educate yourself about the issues and candidates and go vote. Making your voice heard is one of the greatest gifts of our democracy.
6. Spend a day de-cluttering your house before the holidays.
7. Work with your hands and have something to show for it. Paint your own pottery at Hot Pots in Sanford: HotPotsSanford.com
8. “Never let worry and fear steal your joy.” -- Alex Satkowiak, member relations director, Sweetwater Golf and Country Club
9. Volunteer at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter as the weather starts to turn colder.
10. Treat yourself to a subscription to your favorite magazine – and while you’re ordering, buy a subscription for a friend or family member too.
11. November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Visit Families in Transition at SeminoleHomelessKids.com to find out what you can do to help homeless families locally.
12. "Get involved in physical activity, whether it's exercise or a sport, as it relieves tension and stress throughout your everyday life, mentally and physically." -- Mark Pegan, chiropractor, Heathrow Chiropractic

Scared of heights? Or simply opposed to the idea of jumping out of a perfectly good plane?

That doesn’t mean you can’t experience the sensation of skydiving. At iFLY Orlando, just off International Drive, you can suit up and experience flight in a vertical wind tunnel.

With guidance from an instructor, who helps make the experience safe, you’ll defy gravity as you soar on a column of air. It’s the closest thing possible to true human flight. Visit iFLYorlando.com for more information or call 407-903-1150 to book your flight experience.

“I grew up obsessed with Superman and spent two years of my childhood attempting to fly. Better late than never! This is the experience I always dreamed of. The sensation of flight, without wires or cords, is so exhilarating that it’s nearly inexplicable. It’s so safe and easy that kids as young as 3 can go soaring. The instructors are kind, talented and truly helpful. They make the experience fun and completely accessible for novice fliers.” – Kristin Harmel, writer

DECEMBER

1. Take up a new language.
2. Don’t let holiday stress get the best of you. Learn to meditate.
3. But a lottery ticket – and give yourself 30 minutes to dream of what you’d do with the winnings.
4. Dec. 21 is the first day of winter. Although it can be hard to get into the holiday spirit when temperatures are still in the 70s and 80s, head to downtown Celebration for the nightly “snowfalls” in the town center. Or visit ICE!, the enchanting hand-carved ice exhibit at Gaylord Palms, just off I-4 in Kissimmee.
5. Be on time. Keeping people waiting stresses both you and the person who’s waiting for you.
6. Think you know who you are? Write yourself a list of 25 sentences beginning with “I am…” Knowing what defines you helps you be truer to yourself.
7. Attend a service at a house of worship different from your own. Sometimes the key to understanding yourself and life around you is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.
8. Go shopping! According to a study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, a daily shopping trip cuts a woman’s risk of early death by 23 percent.
9. Write out a list of your one-year, five-year and 10-year goals – then start taking steps to make them happen.
10. Write a Dear Future Self letter. Pen a note to be opened one year from now. Talk about what you’ve learned so far and where you hope to be in a year’s time.
11. Don’t settle. Keep striving to be as happy as possible.
12. From Us to You:  “Our bodies are like the houses our souls live in. We have to keep our house clean, which means eating nutritious foods that will keep our bodies running and keeping ourselves clean spiritually by giving back to the community, having a positive attitude and taking the bumps on the road in our lives in stride and learning from them.” – Judith Topper, publisher, Sweetwater Wekiva Springs