Speak up, why don't cha!

I have had a head cold the last four/five days. I have been doped up on meds & sleeping in my free time. I hate head colds. I get frustrated that things just don't make sense to me, or that I completely forget what I was working on or thinking about just a minute before. Ok, so I do that one anyhow, but you can understand it gets much worse with a stuffed head.

Anyhow, today couldn't be more clear. As time is slowly passing at work today, I was thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. Making a few health & business goals, I realized that I have been talking, planning all these same goals for about two years now. And still in the same place so far, nothing has happened. So trying to re-focus and continuing to clean my desk off, I read a one page devotional - it has my favorite Psalm in it - Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. The devotional talks about being still enough to hear God, to be present with him & willing to listen. - Yeah, cool. Sounds good, I mark the page, and put it away.

I pickup my Mary Kay inspirational desk calendar - flip to Jan 8 - and read today's page designated to Dreams.

God would not give us a dream without the ability to achieve it. Winning begins when you throw away your pride and "go for broke." When you aim at something that's bigger than you're sure you could ever achieve, and then you practice believing and seeing yourself achieve that goal. Act as if you have already achieved it. In other words, "fake it 'til you make it."

Huh? Ok! Now, you may not think that these words are as powerful by themselves, and that's fine neither did I - they were powerful, because minutes ago, I had just wrote an email - talking about that I haven't "went all in" - that I haven't really tried. - "going for broke." Wow, that really hit me, I have heard it. I know what he's trying to show me. I haven't, but I CAN!

I have so many things that I try to shoot for, so many goals within a year, but I think I am really going to try and focus on just two or three really big ones this year! and I can do it!

God is behind me, he is inspiring me and encouraging me. Wow, how lucky I am! How great this year is going to be! when I start listening to him and letting him guide my pace and my steps!

It should be a DOGs life!

Emailed from my cousin Sue

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old) Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.'' Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued,''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising.
Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

2009 Tips Taken

These tips are from Zen Habits, a great blog that I try to read whenever I can. Here are his tips & my responses as follows:

Tip 1) Don’t make resolutions, create a new habit. It lasts longer. Try the New Year’s Challenge.
Response 1) My new personal habit is health. I will plan and choose what I put into by body; I will move joyously to have a better and thinner life.

Tip 2) Start your New Year with a clear desk. Clear everything off the top of the desk but the essential tools.
Response 2) Ok, ok - still need to do.

Tip 3) Set one major goal for this year. Focus yourself completely into making it happen. Make it a mantra.
Response 3) I will plan and choose what I do for my body.

Tip 4) Take action TODAY to make your One Goal happen. Even a small action. Tomorrow: repeat.
Response 4) one small action? I will not eat out today and I will plan lunch and dinner.

Tip 5) Schedule time for yourself, right now. Every day if possible, even if it’s just 10 mins.
Response 5) Ok, I will plan to blog for myself everyday, first thing in the morning, when I get into the office.

Tip 6) Practice effective focus. Spend 30 minutes just focusing on one task. Clear distractions. It gets easier.
Response 6) Yes, I agree this is a great thing to do. I will work with blocks of time & 6 most tasks.

Tip 7) Realize that you don’t need to respond to email right away-no one expects you to. It can wait! Checking email just twice a day is possible if you let go of the need to respond immediately.
Response 7) Yes, again I agree - but I also feel loaded down, when I don't get them answered & then they get lost. I will have to get better at this & plan time to email and return calls in my day.

I will have 4 different goals this year, one for each quarter. This first quarter I am focusing on health & fitness. And I have also joined the New Year's Challenge & refocused on sparkpeople.com - along with following & listening to Julia Havey's Life Changer Program, this is the year that my life and body will recreate it's self. This will be well worth the pain.