Stuck in the same old routine?

I know the responsibilities of family and work don’t go away. We do, however, grow stale performing our repetitive daily tasks.

There is nothing more stimulating than taking a fresh look at life and its boundless possibilities! One of the best ways to experience this fresh look is with a change of scene. It doesn’t need to be an expensive trip. It could be as easy as finding some local destination you’ve not seen before.

When reacting to new sights, you are provided with the opportunity to entertain new thoughts and ideas.

Life is always fresh and stimulating if we are.

It’s time for an adventure!

If not today, when?

You send all kinds of messages to the other party when you are late for an appointment. Some of those messages include:

“I don’t respect you enough, so I keep you waiting.”

“I’m actually a disorganized person and can’t accomplish the things I set out to do in the way that I intended to do them.”

“You may not be able to trust me in the big things because you can’t trust me in the little things like punctuality.”

For all these reasons, you should always be early for an appointment so that there is never the danger that you will be late. Estimate in advance how long it will take you to prepare for an appointment including the drive time traffic you may encounter.

If not today, when? 

You send many messages to the other person when you are late for an appointment. Some of the messages are:

“I don’t respect you enough to be on time.”

“I’m a disorganized person and just can’t do what I said I would do.”

“If you can’t trust me in little things like punctuality, don’t trust me with big things.”

If, on the other hand, you’re early for an appointment, you show that you respect the value of the other person’s time. You also demonstrate that you can be trusted to do what you say you’re going to do.

If your New Year’s resolution is to be early for every appointment, you must carefully plan the time to get ready and the route you will take considering the traffic for that time of day.

Punctuality is power!

If not today,when?

Do you spend all or most of your time reacting to the fast moving events of your life? I’m quite sure the answer is “yes” for most of us.

It’s unavoidable. Yet, I think it is paramount that we take the time to think, to evaluate our circumstances, to review past decisions and to ponder future decisions. I also believe we must take time to pray.

To do all this, you need a “quiet time!” Decide on a time, frequency and location. May I suggest that your best location is the time you already have driving your car. Don’t fill every minute with music or the radio. Try to minimize the noise, noise, noise of your life.

In order to perform the multitasking that’s required of you, you need time to think!

If not today, when?

 

This is the perfect day and time to erase regrets from the past year.

Some regrets may be erased simply by deciding that they can’t be corrected, but can serve as reminders to learn from and avoid repeating.

Others, however, may require action on your part!

If apologies are needed, New Years Day provides the perfect scenario. All you need to do is convey to the offended party that you regret your offense and want to get the new year off on the right foot with a better relationship in 2019.

Also, don’t forget to forgive yourself for mistakes made. I know their consequences linger, but you deserve to be forgiven too.

The calendar just gave you a fresh start. Give yourself a fresh attitude!

If not today, when?

Yes, our evolving society is demanding that husbands and wives  take a new look at their roles. When we were married, things were not as expensive when compared with wages.  Today’s economy often requires two incomes in order to maintain an adequate lifestyle.

Successful marriages, in which both spouses work outside the home, demand that domestic chores and child raising be the responsibility of both partners.

A healthy and productive dialogue between both partners is essential so that each couple can reach a mutually agreed upon understanding as to who will do what.

Leave the old stereotypes behind and march hand in hand into a loving marriage that results in a family of winners!

If not today, when?

 

 

In today’s fast paced world, many people are just pushing themselves too hard. Are you trying to be all things to all people? Perfect spouse, perfect mother or father, perfect son or daughter, perfect parent, perfect friend and perfect employee.

As in everything in life, there is a price to pay. Are you paying too high a price for your present lifestyle? How is your physical, psychological and emotional health? Let’s also not forget your spiritual relationship with your Maker!

Have you ever thought about prioritizing those relationships? If you will do that, maybe it can be a guide as to how you should apportion both your time and energy in the future.

Stop!! Stand back and reassess your relationships and responsibilities!

If not today, when?

Many people spend too much time dwelling on their past life. If we all examined our past life, I’m sure we would find good memories and some not so good memories.

Do you allow your past to dictate how you feel about yourself at this minute? Some people just never seem to shake off their past. They are stuck in yesterday and unable to create a more positive tomorrow.

Let me suggest something:

“Since all your yesterdays are gone, don’t let them possess you one minute longer. Instead, review the lessons you learned and put them to work as a much wiser person who understands the mistakes of the past and is determined not to repeat them.”

Remember, it is completely within your power to create a better today and tomorrow!

If not today, when?

 

The worst thing you can do is to constantly think about yourself and your issues. This is the highway to unhappiness! Dwelling exclusively on yourself can become a very unhealthy habit.

Of course, you must deal with your problems forthrightly, but you must also have  balance in your life and how you choose to spend your time. That balance comes when you also begin to help other people deal with their problems.

We may be talking about a friend or family member who could use your help. Or, it could be someone you don’t know, but whose plight has come to your attention.

The old adage is so true: “It is better to give than to receive!”

If not today, when?

 

Do you feel differently today than you did when waking up yesterday on Christmas Day? Is today kind of a let down after the exuberance of yesterday? It really shouldn’t be.

All the facts about your life today are probably exactly the same as they were on Christmas morning. The things you were thankful for are the same things you should be equally thankful for right now.

It is at a moment like this that there is a conflict between fact and perception. The fact is that everything is still as good as ever, but the perception is that today won’t be as happy as yesterday.

You can decide to be just as happy today as you were yesterday.

Actually, how you feel about today is entirely up to you!

If not today, when?