New Years' Resolution Time Again? What you really need to do!

"In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves … self discipline with all of them came first." - Harry Truman.  

Great quote, don't you think?  And how pertinent to New Year's Resolutions. Yes, here we go again...but will 2010 be different?  Whether your resolution involves a habit (kicking a bad one or developing a good one), money, health, getting organized or anything else...there is one commonality. Harry nailed it, self discipline. It's not cool, sexy or fun--but it's what we all need to achieve our goals. We can't buy it, borrow it or wish for it...but we CAN get some help.  

1) People: Friends and family for encouragement or suggestions, professionals like doctors, trainers, financial advisers...pick your appropriate pro... for more hands-on assistance.   


2) Information. Can't pay a pro? the internet is full of FREE info, just google the subject you're looking for.There are websites, blogs, videos and all kinds of great information out there...of course don't fall for any scams or give anyone your personal information or credit card number!  Be discerning and use common sense. I know you will, but just thought I'd say it anyway.



3) Tools.  There are many. Some cheap, some expensive...smokers have plenty of options that they can get from their doctors.  There are a billion ways to get in shape from a treadmill, to a gym membership to  Wii FIT, to joining a local sports league, etc, etc... just some examples.


My point here is not to recommend anything in particular right now. In future blogs I may share what has worked for me and pass along some ideas (and I would love to hear yours!).  My point today is that we are back to self discipline. This is the key to using these tools and most importantly to motivate ourselves. Without that nothing happens.  We've all heard of (or maybe experienced) the treadmill that sits around and serves as a clothes rack. 


So here's wishing you (and me!) plenty of self discipline in the New Year!

Charlie Brown Christmas

In the middle of all of the eating, decorating and shopping...it's nice to stop and remember what we're celebrating. Linus tells it like it is.

Whose Road Is it Anyway?

"People take different roads to fulfillment.  Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost". I'm not sure who said that, but I have always loved that quote. I guess it could also be stated like this, "whatever makes you happy."  Of course being happy, while important, isn't life's only goal. However, it's a big one, so I'm going to park there for a minute.

Why does one thing make one person happy, while the next...well, not so much? Did you ever wonder why God made us all so different?  We look different, act different, have different personalities, like different music and on on and on--I know, thank you Mrs. Obvious! But why are we so different?  How much are we born with and how much is what happens to us in life, how we were taught, etc? I've had enough college psychology and sociology classes to guess, but I'll leave that to the "experts".  My point is much simpler than that.  I think that so much tension --whether within families, communities, workplaces...or even countries-- can be boiled down to our inability to understand and appreciate each others differences. Yes, I know...again, I have a flair for stating the obvious! Maybe, though, it's something we can work on a little...even if only with one person at a time. Next time you're ready to blow your top, roll your eyes, make a rude remark (or whatever) about something someone did or said that you didn't like, instead take just a moment to think about where they might be coming from.  Now, there's a chance that they are fully deserving of your reaction...but maybe not.  If not, there will be a little less angst and a little less stress in your life and theirs...and a little less conflict in the world. It's simplistic, I know...but that's the road I like to travel down---you know, it's how I roll.