Why Wait?

What are you waiting for?  I always joke that I'm waiting to exhale....  There are times in life when we have to wait--in line at the grocery store, in traffic, in the waiting room at the doctor's office,  at a red light, just to name a few.  These are examples of times when we have no control over the "wait".  There are numerous other things in life that we do have control over and we still wait.  One that comes immediately to mind is the majority of women do not use their fine china very often.  We WAIT for a special occasion or holiday.  We WAIT until our children are gone and grown to pursue our interests; or in some cases we WAIT for our husbands to give us the green light for something.  We WAIT until Monday to start a diet or exercise plan.   We constantly put things on a "waiting list".  A large amount of people don't live to the fullest or live a great and fulfilled life.  People focus on what is not working, what is not happening or complain about all the wrongs of life.  People WAIT until the sun, the moon and the stars line up and their bank accounts are overflowing to live fully or to be happy!  Most people do not show or share their expressions of love until it is to late.  We WAIT.  I have two childhood friends that I have talked to within the past two days....One had a serious car accident that could have ended his life in the matter of minutes and the other, she needs a heart transplant.  Both are in their early forties.  Both are looking at life very differently.  They are not WAITING to live anymore, they know all too well, that tomorrow is not promised... They have made a command decision to live more, complain less; live fully.  I would like to encourage everyone to stop waiting to live and live fully now.  Everyone's definition is and will be different of what a full, great or fulfilled life is.  Yesterday, I answered this question:  What is your definition of a great life?  I wrote my definition down and I will reflect on it daily to remind myself and keep me accountable to how I want to live a great life.  I recommend you do the same.  I want a full life now, no more waiting.  I'm dusting off my fine china!  I am making a decision that I do not want to live with my goals, dreams, interests and aspirations on the "waiting list".   Think about it....What are you waiting for?

Happy New Year!!!

Yes, I said Happy New Year!!! No you don't need to check your calendar or rub your eyes and say huh....It's time to re-evaluate, re-focus, re-commit and re-start or start our goals and items we would like to accomplish this year.  How often do we start off the year with a "gung ho" approach to tackling resolutions or goals we set for ourselves, and by mid-year the "gung-ho" feeling has turned to "ho-hum?" Do you have items or goals that you haven't started? It's not to late.  Look at those items and make a realistic plan of how to accomplish those goals.  Write it out--develop a road map to follow.   Get those ideas and goals on paper, it helps with accountability.  If you started something or several somethings and have fizzled or lost the gusto to continue--shift how you are tackling the goal(s), maybe you need a new approach or re-evaluate if this goal is still important and feasible.  Often times we start on a path to change and we have to change the path we are on and go in another direction.  We should always be evolving and improving.  Think about it.  Consider this a chance to start or start again.  Come on, grab those noise makers (and a class of champagne if you want!) and start celebrating a New Year and a New You!! Don't wait start today!!! 

Friday ConFessions

It's Friday and I am glad to say it's a looonnnggg holiday weekend.  True Confession--yesterday, I was so done on so many levels...but only for a moment.  Everyone knows my moments last only for seconds, and nervous breakdowns have to be scheduled in advance so, I pressed on!!!!  It seemed that everywhere I turned yesterday there was a red neon sign saying "you should have stayed in bed".   As usual the week included a list of crazy events that only happen to me (Lucyyyyy!).  For example accidently being stabbed in the hind quarter (my son really does love me); running through the woods in heels after a dog that is obviously laughing at the spectacle of me chasing her (the family dog really does hate me); two strange dogs, on two different days hanging out in my driveway, one being a Rottweiler that looked like he was foaming at the mouth; being stuck in major grid-lock traffic and being late to pick up my son that's been away at camp for 12 days; should I continue with the list, because I think you get my point.  All in all, I must confess, I had to give myself a pep talk and get it together quickly.  I went into self-talk mode because quitting and throwing in the towel isn't an option and neither is having a pity party.  I resorted to my workout and released the craziness of the days that had been set before me.   However I was reminded that some people are stuck in a ditch, rut, pit, pothole, call it what you like, some folks are stuck. I want to encourage everyone to get a shovel, a rake, a bucket, grab something, and start digging out of that hole you are in.  I've talked to several of you and several of you have fallen off the wagon and can't get up!!!   Here is your Life Call---GET UP, actually JUMP UP, look at that wagon, and CLIMB BACK IN.   You CAN Do It!  For everyone that posts about getting back in the wagon, and how they plan to get in and stay in--I will send you a little summer treat!  Come on, the wagon is rolling.....

MonTuesday's Motivation

As I approach the eve of my oldest son's elementary school graduation, it has caused me to do some reflection.   While reflecting over the last 11 (almost 12 *gasp*) years of his life, it made me think,  everything in a child's life is marked my milestones.  When they need shots, when they say their first word, their first tooth, when they take that first wobbly step, the first day of school, the first dance, the first date...well you get it.  I started thinking--at some point they emerge into adulthood and we stop counting the milestones (usually after college graduation) unless it is their wedding or the birth of a baby, or some other life event.  It made me wonder, why do we as adults stop counting milestones.  Why do we stop attempting to reach milestones.  I know that life, careers, children and partners, cause us to reshift our focus away from ourselves, however, I think it's important to have a parallel focus.  If you do not work towards reaching milestones, it sends a message to your children and others.  And if you have children--they do leave and then it's just you....  Have you noticed that most middle age people go through a phase where they "re-invent" themselves?  They decide to live in an RV and travel the country.  They leave steady jobs after umpteen years to go raise goats in the outback.  They change themselves so drastically others sometimes don't recognize them.  I think these drastic measures are the cause of them not setting and reaching intermittent parallel milestones during their early years and now they go to drastic extremes to "live".  I'm saying all of this to say--don't wait until you need to make a drastic attempt to live because you are drowning as a result of your focus being tilted so far away from your needs and wants.  It's time for action!!! Do it now, get out a piece of paper,  a journal or notebook and start to write some milestones you want to reach.  Call it what you like, but make a "bucket list", sometimes we have to do things like this to realize, tomorrow isn't promised--Live TODAY.  Dance like no one is watching and enjoy the ride, even if it is a roller-coaster! (put your hands up and scream!)

Hump Day Helpers

If someone said "name 5 things you want to do over the next 12 months"....would you be able to tell them? Do you have things you want to do? I'm sure we all do.  I spend the majority of my time planning my boys schedule, looking for enriching activities (and sporting activities) and making sure they are where they need to be.  We spend so much time doing for others and planning our families schedule---we rarely plan our schedule or time for ourselves.   I finally came to the conclusion, I'm in charge of the scheduling, so why aren't I scheduling activities for myself--My kids and husband aren't going to schedule activities for me.  I recently started looking into activities that I might enjoy and started matching up my activity dates with my boys activity dates--if there is no conflict--I'm scheduling the activity for myself.   I also started becoming more diligent with what I am interested in and acting upon it.  I looked back over several of my "lists" and noticed only a few things were checked off.  I am now looking at my "lists" with a new approach---write it down and schedule it.  The scheduling it part is the most important because otherwise it just sits there on the list and the list becomes a "wish list".   I believe everyone should have a wish list, but along with the wish list, you should have a Hit List.  The hit list is your target list with realistic timeframes or dates.  The Hit List will be the spring-board to checking things off your list.   Ready, Set Go!!!!--start your Hit List... share it if you like....(plus, when you put it out there...you have to do it--people are watching...you never know who you might inspire.)

Friday ConFessions

I had an epiphany last night as I was preparing for my second workout of the week.  I was thinking hmmmm, I'm supposed to work out three times a week now (since I made that declaration two weeks ago) and I'm one behind.  So I had a choice, prepare to confess I only got two in, or get up early today and get one more in.  At that moment when I was debating what to do, a slogan popped into my mind...."Put your money where your mouth is!"  This was a Close-Up toothpaste commercial and slogan used back in the late 70's.   However, this statement is still used and rings true today.  I had to remind myself that I made a declaration and I had to put my money where my mouth is.  I thought I have to follow through on my goals and continue to do it and not allow for ANY excuses.  I have made a promise to myself to take better care of "me", mentally, physically and spiritually (almost by any means necessary).  As a result, I am going to continue to put my money where my mouth is!!!! and YES, I got that third workout in this morning!!!!