It’s only failure if you don’t try

In the spirit of new beginnings, I recently tried a food service. You’ve seen them pop up in TV commercials, on the internet: HelloFresh, Sun Basket, Blue Apron, to name a few. I reasoned that paying someone else to shop for exactly what I need would allow me more time to focus on the basics I write about in “New year, new you…” However, I soon learned it wasn’t for me so I canceled the service. Next, I decided a fitness tracker would help me #WorkSmarter toward my health goals. I bought, tried and returned three different fitness trackers, proverbial tail between my legs. The salesperson who processed one of my returns said, “I hope you patted yourself on the back for trying something new” (four somethings including the food service!). But I hadn’t quite looked at my efforts that way. Because, you see, I didn’t fail. To quote Elbert Hubbard: There is no failure except in no longer trying.

Have you patted yourself on the back lately?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

New year, new you: back to the basics

Prior to Jan. 1 each year, I prepare a list of goals to aim toward over the next 365 days. This year was no different; however, come New Year’s Day, I abandoned several of my plans to focus on immediate, more pressing needs: my relational, mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. Although fraught with copious amounts of kicking and screaming, my resolve birthed a new plan to Let go and let God, if you will. Once I stripped away the myriad tasks that occupy my planner and relinquished control of outcome-driven objectives—in other words, after I surrendered my own agenda—I returned to the basics that I write about in “Falling into place…” Not only have I been blessed with second chances, but a foundation has been laid so that, when it’s time to revisit my original goals—maybe where I left off, maybe somewhere different—I’ll be ready. As a new and improved version of me.

What new goals, if any, have you begun in 2018?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

A new lease on the New Year

For the past 28 days, I’ve written three pages of stream-of-consciousness long hand dubbed my “morning pages.” It’s all part of a 12-week (self-guided) workshop I’m taking called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. After I dropped out of NaNoWriMo last month (see “Are you doing what you’re supposed to do…”), a friend posted a link to Cameron’s website on my Facebook page and I’ve been hooked ever since. Although I didn’t end up with a novel at the end of November, that’s okay. Because I’ve been learning lifelong tools—like how to better manage my time—that will benefit me in all facets of my life. Most importantly, I’ve realized that a good life has less to do with circumstances, and everything to do with where I focus my attention. In fact, it’s a wonderful life, indeed. One that grants me “veteran” status in Club 50 this week. And a new lease on the New Year.

What is one area you plan to focus on in 2018?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.