And so, again, we find ourselves at the threshold of a new year. Tomorrow, the sun will rise on that brand-spanking new, 365 day-long chunk of temporal canvas and we will be forced to ask the all-important question, "Why the hell did I get up, again?"
Seriously, though, through all the haze and headaches of partying in the new year, most people will look down at their traditional list of New Year's Resolutions and probably just end up doing the same things they did the year before. Those who know me already understand my feeling on resolutions. They rarely ever stick, because we wait so long to implement them (i.e. January 1st), that we have learned quite well how to get along without doing any of these new, self-helpy things in the first place.
Please do not misunderstand my intent; I am all for anyone wishing to improve themselves. I got into personal training for just that reason, to help people achieve goals. I teach people how to fix things and try to help them see things in a different light, when I can, all in the name of helping them better themselves. I, in turn, am constantly learning new and exciting things in the process. No one person knows everything, but every person knows something. We teach, we learn, we grow.
Back to the subject at hand, though. How do we, say, take up a fitness routine in such a manner that your treadmill does not become an unrecognizable pile of clothes and other detritus at the end of January and your dreams of a six pack that doesn't hold adult beverages becomes another "what I'm going to do next year" dream? The answer is simple: Don't wait to start!
We, as humans, tend to like starting points and boundaries. Why do you think there are so many parks near seashores and rivers and canyons? I can say from experience that it isn't always for the scenery, because I've seen some pretty horrendous riverside parks. It is because we love boundaries. We are drawn to them. They resemble the unknown; Shakespear's "Undiscovered Country". Even though a thousand-thousand people have gone beyond that point before, it is still a new and fascinating starting point for our own journey. The start of a great adventure. The same holds true for the passage of time. We become fascinated by the fact that an entire year has passed us by and that another one lays before us, new and unspoiled as a new-fallen snow. We look upon its blank canvas and think, "I've got to do something special with this," when, in truth, we don't. Time will march on, relentlessly, whether we do something meaningful with it or not.
So what DO we do, anyway? Have you heard the mantra, Live, Laugh, Love? Do your best to enjoy life. Read new books, take on a fitness program, find a volunteer program to help others or the community; enjoy what you do. If you feel the need to make out a list of things you want to accomplish, by all means, do it. The thing is, you should actually try to accomplish some of those things. Don't put it off, don't think, "I'll start next month," just do it. Everyone has probably heard that it takes thirty days to make something a habit. There have been several studies that have shown humans develop actions into habits anywhere from as little as 18 days to as many as 254. The difference is willpower and determination.
For all of you, my friends, family, and followers, I wish you success in everything you do this new year. If I can help, I will certainly try. I am going to be starting my own business and attempting to live a more sustainable life. May 2015 bring you joy and success, but if you fail at something, may you learn and grow from the experience. Look to your neighbors and accept them for who they are, and respect their right to be themselves. Look to yourself and see your faults, and realize that yours may not be the only point of view. Live fully and laugh often, and love always.
Happy New Year, my friends.
No comments:
Post a Comment