For the past 13 days I’ve been doing something my fellow life coach Jenny Shih recommended. I’ve been writing down the life I want as though I already have it. In fact, when we chatted a couple of weeks ago, it became plain to both of us that I spend too much time thinking about what I want, and it makes sense to me that this is just attracting more want to me,  not attracting the good life stuff.

So, I bought myself a cheap notebook and got to work. I write for probably at least ten minutes a day. Honestly, I lose track of the time because it is so much fun to do this exercise! I write things like, “My business is flowing so well; clients and opportunities come to me from places I’d never expect. I wake up each and every morning excited and happy.” I don’t just write about business stuff, I write about money and how it flows to me, my health and how strong and fit I am, and lately, about how I’m consistently authentic and real.

I am not kidding when I say this process is already working for me. For one, it just feels incredibly good to let my mind wander into these happy, joyful places. That, in turn, improves my whole outlook. Now when something happens that doesn’t feel very good in my world I think, “I need to write about how it is and the shift will come”. It seems to me that already opportunities, connections, a little bit of money, inspiration, and happiness have already come my way.

I strongly suggest you give this a whirl if you are looking to make some positive changes in your life but don’t know where to start.

Basic Instructions:

Get a notebook, something cheap that you don’t mind taking up a ton of space in (You could also do this on the computer, or, if writing isn’t your thing, in your head or in another creative form, like collage.)

Let your mind crawl all over the place and just write what feels good! Write “I have” and “I am” and “My life is” instead of “I want” or “I wish”, etc. Write it like it’s already in existence. Dream about the life you are heading towards! It doesn’t matter if you’re fuzzy on the specifics; just write about how good this (future) life feels to you! The details will fall into place over time.

Have fun. This is supposed to brighten your outlook and increase your energy. Relax with it, let it take you away to a happy existence, if only for ten minutes a day.

Dedicate at least 30 days to this process. I bought three notebooks and I think I’ll keep it up for longer than 30 days, but I would suggest one month as a minimum.
Good Luck!

As I mentioned a couple of months ago, I’ve taken a part-time job at a local department store, working in the shoe department. Originally I was hired just for the holidays, but since I rocked their socks off, they’ve asked me to stay on. Also, the part-time person they did have quit the week I started (unrelated, I swear), so there was an opening.

I actually usually like going to work. It gets me out of the house a few days a week and gives me a chance to step away from thinking about my coaching practice and life coaching in general. Sort of.

See, it seems no matter where I am or what I’m doing, I’m finding some sort of life lesson, and being in the shoe department is no different. So what nugget of footwear-related wisdom shall I bestow upon you today?

Wants.

I have noticed that people, women in particular, will do almost anything to fit into a pair of shoes. Or at least convince themselves they fit. If the only size we have left in a shoe they covet is too small, they say to us, to themselves, to their friends, “these will give a little, they’ve got stretch, I’m sure they’ll be fine”. If the size is too big they’ll reason, “I can wear thick socks with these for sure, or I could buy those inserts and put them in, that will make them work”.

Why do they do this? Sometimes it’s about a good deal. If the shoes are deeply discounted, they seem to think they must acquire the shoes, even if they don’t fit right. Most of the time, though, I think these ladies get the idea in their head that they really, really want these shoes, and that they’ll do anything to make it work. Which got me thinking…

How many times in my own life (you ask yourself this same question!) have I tried to make something “fit”, even if it was the wrong size? A job, a relationship, a friendship, a certain way of living? Probably too many times to count. I remember making excuses and rationalizations in my head for a long time in regards to a friendship I had when I was a kid. Okay, we were actually friends on and off from the time I was 8 until I was 22, so it was even longer than just childhood. She would blow me off for another set of friends, or a guy that she liked better on occasion, or she would get mad at me for spending time with my own boyfriend, and she would sulk if I didn’t put her first. I was aware of all of that, but I still somehow convinced myself she “fit”.

Of course I’ve done it when it comes to men. “If I just wear thick socks this relationship will fix itself.” And jobs, oh yes, I’ve spent plenty of time telling myself something worked when it clearly didn’t.

So back to my earlier question of why we do it. I think it’s about “wants”. In the case of shoes we want to have something that we think goes well with a certain outfit, or looks good on our feet. We want to be fashionable or chic or hip or hot. With life and poorly-fitting choices, I believe we want what we think we’re supposed to have. We want to be in the perfect relationship like we see on TV, we want to be fulfilled in the perfect job like we saw the other day on Oprah.

I think the problem with this is we convince ourselves to continue to do things that don’t feel good. The shoes cause blisters and chafing and ingrown toenails and us to fall down easily. The life decisions cause us emotional pain and suffering. I think the answer is to start following what truly feels like a good fit, instead of what we want to feel good.

You know when you find the perfect shoes they really, truly fit? They’re comfortable, they’re stylish, they make your butt look good? I think life decisions, especially major ones, should feel the same way. You’ll just know it’s right because it feels so damn good. And of course makes your butt look good.

Have a great day!

You know how I made one of my goals for 2010 to relax about money? I’m happy to say that’s going well. You know what’s happening though? I’m finding other things to worry about.

I spent a few mornings praying/thinking/meditating about relaxing on money. So far, so good. Apparently, though, my mind is currently hardwired to worry about something, even if I remove the main topic of worry.

Is Nola in the road? Was that a sneeze I just heard out of Coco? Did that extra spoonful of peanut butter negate my 4 mile run? Am I having heart palpitations? Is Sarah Palin going to run for president?

You get the idea. It’s always something.

Imagine, if you will, how wonderful it would be to feel relaxed about every single thing in your life. Most people completely freak out about this when they really start thinking about it, assuming that if they relaxed about money, career, weight, nutrition, love, or deadlines that they would become total slackers and slobs.

In my experience, it’s just not true. Let’s take dieting, for example, since so many people are starting them for the new year.

Not Relaxed Dieting:

Your well-intentioned but stressed-out brain: No! Stop looking at those cookies! Go run around the parking lot for a lap to take your mind off food! You have to lose 6 pounds this month! No one will ever love you with those cellulite-speckled logs you call thighs! Run faster! Knees to chin!

Your “wild child” brain, which wants to break the rules: Damn you and your stupid rules! I’m going to eat the cookies if I want to! And I’m going to eat that half gallon of cheesecake-flavored ice cream just to spite you! And also three or four chickens!

Relaxed Dieting:

Your relaxed brain that knows everything is as it should be: Ah, it feels so good to take care of myself! I feel like rolling in a field of roses and cauliflower! Oh look, cookies! Perhaps after my walk I shall enjoy one, because I love cookies!

Your “wild child” brain which currently has no rules to break: Really? We get to eat a cookie? My work here is done. I’m going to take a nap.

See what I mean?

This works in many situations. Think about a time when you worried quite a bit. What the outcome of a test would be, when you’d meet your next pen pal, whether or not you’d get swine flu, that sort of thing. Did worrying help at all? Did it make you feel productive? Did it help you accomplish something?

I don’t know about you, but worrying just sets me on a course straight to Crazy Town. I get anxious about things that don’t matter (um, you can dust tomorrow, too, you know) and just generally feel out of control in my own life.

Therefore, I’m adding to my goals of 2010. I want to try to remember to relax about everything more. My main way of doing that? Watching my mind. When I start to go into stress mode, I’m trying to step back and notice, “hey, my wacky  mind is up to its old tricks again, and I don’t want to buy into them”. Then I take some deep breaths and do something else for a while. Or at least that’s the plan!

Now I’m off to wash dishes (in a relaxed manner), pet my cats (always relaxing), and get to relaxin’.

Well, I woke up in a pretty good mood this morning. This is despite the fact that I woke up at 3:48am sleeping on my stomach, with my arms raised above my head, and found that my arms were asleep and I could not move them for the life of me. I sort of started thrashing around and finally managed to roll my body over and pull my arms down. Exciting stuff for 2010!

Anywhoo, before I even got out of bed this morning I did some “relax about money” work. I prayed a little, told myself I have and always will have everything I need, imagined all the fun stuff I’m going to do this year. Good times.

After I got up I made hotel reservations for the half marathon in March. We’re staying a block and a half from the start line of the race and right near the Atlanta aquarium! I can’t wait. I’ve only been to Atlanta once, to fly out of their airport, so I’ve never really seen it.

This is going to be an awesome year. Honestly, when I look back at most of my years they were pretty awesome, it’s more of the day to day stuff that gets me feeling less than perfect. Mom and I were at a bookstore the other day and saw Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project in print and took a look at it. On the inside cover it was mentioned that she started the project because she noticed something like “days are long but years are short”. Feels true, doesn’t it? I can’t believe we’re already into the second decade of the 21st century.

Happy New Year, everyone!

It’s New Year’s Resolution time.

“I’m going to lose 114 pounds by February 22nd!”

“I’m going to quit smoking cigarettes and crack this year!”

“I’m going to get my ex-girlfriend to love me again!”

“I’m going to learn how to perform Lasik eye surgery in my basement!”

“I’m going to give up gambling and hookers!”

“I’m going to get a new job that doesn’t involve bleach or pliers!”

All good intentions, but usually extreme resolutions like these get swept under the rug by about February 1st. That’s why this year I’m setting some fun, manageable goals, plus trying to follow through with one really wacky idea.

Fun and Manageable goal one:

Run the ING Georgia Half Marathon in 2:10:00 or less.

The half mary is on March 21, 2010. In fact, I need to officially register for it before the end of the year to save money on the registration fee, which goes up January 1st.

Perhaps running a half marathon doesn’t sound like a fun and manageable goal for you. Well, for me it is: I ran a half marathon back in 2006, which took me about 2:21:06. Since then have realized that to run a faster race I needed better gear, better fueling, and to give myself a long time to train. It also helps if I have zombies chasing me. I started training for this half marathon back in mid October, and I have to say, having a fitness goal that has nothing to do with calories burned or weight lost is absolutely wonderful.

Even if you aren’t up for something as involved as training to run 13.1 miles, you can set a fitness goal. Realistic, please. If you haven’t gotten off your couch since 1992, something simple, like getting a pedometer and walking 1000 steps a day is a good start. If, like me, you’re already an exercise junkie and want to tackle a bigger goal, go for it! But do your research and don’t take on anything that will put a huge strain on your body or mind; that’s why extreme resolutions fail.

Fun and manageable goal two:

Travel as much as possible.

This has been a goal of mine every single year since about 2002. In 2009 I went to Florida, California, New York, Chicago, and South Carolina. The budget didn’t exactly fit an international trip, and it probably won’t in 2010, either (but I hope it will in 2011!) However, Anthony and I are headed to California for three weeks this winter, and that trip will include San Francisco, Big Sur, some sort of Redwood viewing, Death Valley National Park, wineries, museums, and whatever else we can cram in. I can’t wait! I’m also hoping to go to New York, Connecticut, the beach, and any other place that comes to mind.

Travel is possible for anyone. I have never, ever made tons of money, yet I have been to most of the states in this country (including Hawaii, twice), New Zealand, and Canada (multiple times). Travel is a priority for me and therefore I somehow find the money for it. I believe this is possible for anyone. For me hair color, bikini waxes, hand bags, new shoes, and manicures are not musts, but I bet if they were I’d find money for them, too.

What’s important to you and what do you want more of? Find a way to make it happen in 2010.

Fun and manageable goal number three: Oh my gosh this always causes me so much trouble and I hope this year I can overcome it goal:

Get straight with money and STOP WORRYING about it!!!

Ugh. Money. Nope, I’m not in debt (unless you count my mortgage) and I never have been. I’m a ridiculously budget-minded person (unless you count travel) to the point that it drives me crazy. This year was a tough one for me, as it was the first year of my life coaching business. I had to use up quite a bit of savings and money worries took up more of my brain power than I would have liked. I want this year to be different.

Worrying about money, or anything, for that matter, does not make it any better. In fact, worrying about it makes it so much worse. I can say with complete trust that I will always have what I need: shelter, food, water, cat food, underwear, a hot shower, running shoes, the Internet, chocolate, a running vehicle, etc. I have had these things for my entire life (okay, the Internet wasn’t even around until I was 15) and I have no reason to think they’ll disappear this year.

Sigh. Yet I still think about them way too much. My goal (not resolution!) is to relax about money. To relax and enjoy life. To take it one day at a time. Do I have enough cat food and chocolate to last today? Great.

I know the planner part of me will want to make sure there is enough money in my bank account to cover ye olde mortgage payment, and that’s okay. I just don’t want to obsess over it. I want to relax.

How do I plan to do this? The only thing I can think of at the moment is that I’m going to pray/meditate/journal about it every single morning until it becomes my new thought process. A mantra perhaps, “I have faith and trust that I will have everything that I need”.

What do you want to relax about this year?

No matter what you decide to take on doe 2010, make it something that will truly benefit you and your Essential Self. Your life is for you, no one else. Make it a great year!

Having grown up in New England, I rarely listened to country music. Except that one time when I was teaching Laura Harshman to drive stick and I let her pick the radio station. Blech!

However, I started traveling around the South over eight years ago and have lived in North Carolina for five years, plus my almost-22-year-old pickup truck only gets one station clearly. And it’s country, baby!

Country music has grown on me. There are no swear words or loud beats and most of the songs have nice (or incredibly sappy) lyrics, which is fine with me.

Five or six years ago I first heard Tim McGraw’s My Next 30 Years. I learned the lyrics, sang along, but never thought much about them. And then I heard the song the other day and I was blown away. Why? Because I turn 30 tomorrow!!! I have been very excited about getting into my thirties, but somehow hearing that song really struck me. When I first heard it I was in my early(ish) twenties and thirty seemed far, far away.

Here are the lyrics, and a video clip if you don’t feel like reading.

I think I’ll take a moment, celebrate my age
The ending of an era and the turning of a page
Now it’s time to focus in on where I go from here
Lord have mercy on my next thirty years

Hey my next thirty years I’m gonna have some fun
Try to forget about all the crazy things I’ve done
Maybe now I’ve conquered all my adolescent fears
And I’ll do it better in my next thirty years

My next thirty years I’m gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I’m doing here
In my next thirty years

Oh my next thirty years, I’m gonna watch my weight
Eat a few more salads and not stay up so late
Drink a little lemonade and not so many beers
Maybe I’ll remember my next thirty years

My next thirty years will be the best years of my life
Raise a little family and hang out with my wife
Spend precious moments with the ones that I hold dear
Make up for lost time here, in my next thirty years
In my next thirty years

So what do I want to do in my next 30 years? It’s hard to say. I can tell you what my goals for my 30th year are, though:

• Travel as much as possible, including trips to California, up North, the beach, and to a few campgrounds, plus anything else that comes my way
• Make plans and save enough money to travel overseas again when I’m 31
• Run at least one half marathon, maybe two!
• Run said half marathon in 2:11 or under
• Hold at least two workshops (I’m already holding one called Manifesting a Dream starting December 3rd!)
• Write another book and find an agent
• Gain coaching clientele
• Improve my public speaking skills
• Spend lots of time with my cats, my sweetheart, my family

Beyond that I have a hard time trying to figure out what I’ll want for the next 30 years. That’s a long time! I can only imagine that my next 30 years will be even more wonderful than my first. For one, I don’t have to learn how to drive, go to high school, have a curfew, go to junior high, have braces, be subjected to gym class, get dumped for the first time, or be made fun of for running like a horse. All of which happened in my first 30 years.

My intentions for my next 30 years seem pretty simple to me:

• Continue to travel and see new places every.single.year.
• Continue to exercise and eat right;  my health is always a top priority for me
• Get married and have at least one child
• Move up to a bigger house with a guest room and my own office!
• Help and inspire people
• Continue to be inspired and moved by other people
• Read, write, make art, play, hike
• Enjoy nature

Yup, that stuff seems pretty easily attainable.

Now I’m off to enjoy the very last day of my 20’s. There will be pancakes.

Be Joyful!

About a week and a half ago I went back to a “real” job. It’s just for the holiday season and is part time, so my time there is short. Ever since I went back, though,  my love for coaching and desire to be completely self employed for all time has at least quadrupled. Here are some reasons why I am so happy I took a crappy part time job:

• I am reminded what it’s like to have someone else schedule my time, including when I can eat, drink, and pee. This might sound like a bad thing, but it’s great because it gives me that much insight into exactly what I want, so I can attract it to me.
• I am getting out of the house  more and realizing I like being busy. Since I’ve been self employed I’ve been sort of freaked out about giving up too much of my time, but I’m actually much happier having a fuller schedule.
• I am not afraid anymore. I used to be so scared of my employers. I believe that’s the number one reason I was underpaid for so many years: I didn’t stand up to anyone and always took what I got. I am so very different now. If someone at my current job gave me trouble, I’d stand right up to them. I’m so much more confident about my abilities now.
• It is crystal clear to me now that I’m a great life coach and coaching (along with creating and writing) is what I want to do with my life for the immediate future. (The distant future may have me wearing Go-Go Boots and sparkly body spray whilst singing Opera, for all I know.) I had gotten afraid about my abilities. Being back out in the real world has really clarified for me what I want.
• I now understand how much I’m worth. I basically make about 10 times as much per hour coaching as I do working this other job. My time is worth so, so much more than that. Again, now that I’ve taken this job and can see that so effortlessly, in the future it will be much easier for me to ask for and receive what I’m worth. Go me.
• Customer service and connecting with others is truly a deep love for me. I’ve known it for years, and being back out in the public proves it. However, I’d prefer to be connecting with people through coaching than asking them if they need help finding a pair of shoes!

Now I must brush my hair and teeth, put on something other than pajamas, and hope I don’t have to pee before someone gives me the go ahead

Be Joyful!

I always struggle between wanting to write what I’m feeling on this blog and wanting to save any thoughts that are less than inspiring for another avenue, say, my journal.

Plain and simple, lately I haven’t been feeling all that inspired. My strong desire to help and inspire others hasn’t been on fire lately, probably because I haven’t had much of an opportunity to reach out to new people. I hope the steps I’m currently taking are going to get me back to that place.

Today I was reading Carrot’s N Cake and Tina had posted a video that I found very touching; it reminded me of why I became a life coach in the first place. It’s below if you want to check it out.

I also signed up for the Second Annual Pile On The Miles Challenge. The idea is to keep running or walking during November and December even though it’s getting colder, darker, and life is filled with all things decadent. Since I’m training for a half marathon, submitting my miles to someone other than myself seemed like a good idea.

As I mentioned in my last post, having a goal seems to be something that makes me feel good, and other people seem to enjoy the challenge of reaching a goal, too. That got me thinking about my other life goals.

Why is it so easy for me to pick a goal like running a half marathon, draw up and follow a training schedule, and understand that I just follow the dotted lines  and will end up at my destination? I have no doubts whatsoever that I’ll get there by putting in the time and energy. When it comes to my business and financial success, though, I have a much harder time.

Today I wrote up some goals for the next six months or so, but it seems so much harder to make them come true. Mostly because they involve other people. I have to actually get other bodies to come to the coaching event I’m hosting in November. I actually have to get people to sign up for the course I’m holding in December. Other people are involved. I am not so sure of my powers when it comes to other people.

That’s where I need to get back to my coaching roots again. If I was coaching a client I’d tell them to start visualizing their goals actually happening. I’d have them write them down and/or make a vision board, and look at it every day. I’d have them imagine how it would feel to achieve the goals they’d set for themselves. Sure, they’d have to put in the hard work to get to their goals, but sending out positive vibes and imagining themselves in a land of success is a HUGE step. One that I have not been very good at doing for myself lately.

Bad dog. I mean, bad coach.

My desire to coach, to teach, to continue to learn and be inspired by others, to travel, to work for myself, to live a life full of light and joy has not changed. I just need to get back on track with my own desires and believe in myself once again.

This experience is absolutely perfect, though. It’s perfect because it will teach me how to teach others to get back on track. It will show me exactly what other people go through when trying to stay with a dream that is bigger than anything they’ve reached for before.

And with that I go forward.

Be Joyful!

 

I once read that to be a great blogger you should blog consistently; keep things fresh. And when you don’t blog for a while, do not, I repeat, do not, apologize for being gone so long, grovel at your reader’s feet, or explain your absence.

Well, there goes my opening paragraph.

Let’s just say lots and lots of things have been going on in my world and blogging has not been my top priority. However, I’m  happy to report that I have something interesting and life coach worthy to report on.

Months and months ago my mom said she wanted new furniture. (It may have been years and years ago, actually.) She lives about ten minutes away from me and I see her frequently, so of course I knew all about the furniture situation. I didn’t think I was doing anything special by driving her to various furniture stores, talking to her about colors, and ultimately, asking her to say out loud when she hoped to have this furniture picked out, delivered, and sitting in her living room.

Last Saturday night, as I sat on an adorable and brand new maroon-ish swivel chair, looking around at the other brand new pieces in her collection, I was pleased, but surprised, to hear how much of an impact I had on Mom and her reaching her new furniture goal.

Apparently the support was great, but asking her to speak her goals out loud was especially helpful. She then reminded me about how she managed to make one of her other goals come true this summer. She wanted some new summer clothing for a few reasons, but especially because she was making a trip back up to Connecticut, where some of our family still lives. (I’ve been a North Carolina girl for five years; she and my step dad followed me down a little over two years ago.)

I did the exact same thing with her about the clothes that I did with the furniture: I went to stores with her, looked at clothes, and asked her about her clothing goals. How many new pairs of slacks did she want? How many tops? When did she want to get them by?

One day she hit the jackpot and found four pairs of pants she loved, and shortly thereafter she bought quite a few pieces from a catalog and they all fit, which I think is a miracle in and of itself.

So I can only conclude from this experience that to get something you want you should:

1. Focus on what you want
2. Spend even more time focusing on what you want by looking around, noticing what you want, looking at pictures of what you want, etc
3. Set an actual, tangible goal about what you want
4. Say it out loud to at least one other person
5. Have an awesome daughter like me help you out (optional)

That really got me thinking. I’ve felt a little stale lately and have been uber focused on my business (and in some cases, lack of business), so I decided to set my own goal. Or possibly goals, I’m not sure yet.

I’m going to run a half marathon! My running history is…interesting. I couldn’t (or wouldn’t) run in high school, period. I walked the mile whenever they tested us. I hated it. In my early 20’s I started caring much, much more about fitness and health, so I started working out. Not much running was involved, though. About 4 and a half years ago I did start running more; I remember the first time I ran for 2 miles, I was so thrilled with myself!

Three and a half years ago I went through a big deal life change type thing, and it made me want to set goals. One of those goals was to run a half marathon. And I did. I printed out a training program and stuck it to my refrigerator. I followed it mostly exactly. I ran (and walked some) a very, very slow 2:21:15 half. But I was still really, really proud of myself!

Since then I still run on occasion, but more often walk. All of a sudden though, I got this huge itch to set and achieve my own goal. I have picked the ING Atlanta Half Marathon. I’ve already written up a training schedule and even went out in sub-freezing temps today to run!

What goals can you set for yourself? Doesn’t it feel great to be working towards something that is challenging? Try it today!

Be Joyful!

Embarrassing to admit but true: I did not go to the dentist from the time I was 18 until I was 26. And it turns out I didn’t have a single cavity after all that time. BOO YEAH!

I was always good at brushing my teeth, but really terrible about flossing. Until I realized I was going to go to the dentist after eight years without a check up, that is.

Flossing kinda hurt. Sometimes I didn’t remember to do it. I was mostly just flossing because I didn’t want to get in trouble. Fear based flossing, I called it.

As I may have mentioned before, when I finally did get to the dentist I was perfectly fine (BOO YEAH!), but the cleaning made my gums ache for hours after it was over. I was told I needed to floss every day and had the pain to prove it!

Sigh. I kept trying to remember. I kept telling myself I was the kind of person who flossed. And, slowly, over a month or two, it truly became a habit.

Oddly enough, after I started flossing regularly I met a man who flossed regularly. We’re still standing next to each other flossing three years later. I’m sorry (but in hindsight not surprised) to report that my non-flossing self had only attracted other mates who did not care about their dental hygiene. Maybe that’s why they never worked out?

Huh. So, after I picked up a good habit, made it part of my routine, and stopped thinking about it, I met someone else who did the same thing. Interesting.

However, climbing the floss mountain (ewww…I hope it’s not used floss) was not easy. Even after I started flossing on a regular basis, I still wasn’t always doing that great of a job. Mostly because I was lazy about it. I may have been standing there doing it, but I wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.

At one point my mom told me that I should watch TV while I flossed, because I wouldn’t mind taking the extra time to do it well. Like any child raised on microwaves and MTV, I ignored her. (She did not approve of the MTV; don’t judge.)

Well, I ignored her until, once again, I went to the dentist and learned I could be doing a better job. I shouldn’t just shove the floss up there and pull it out, I should be wrapping it around each tooth in both directions to do a really good job of cleaning stuff out.

Sigh Again. Long (meandering, sort of boring) story short it took me three years to finally get my act together and floss properly. I made it a habit pretty quickly, but wasn’t putting my heart and soul into it. I made the decision to listen to my mom’s advice and the technical advice from my dentist so that I would do the job right.

Why am I writing about this? I’m changing careers: I’m going to become a dental hygienist.

Ew, I just threw up a little in my mouth. I am actually not changing professions. I’m making a point. (A long, meandering, sort of boring one.)

It takes a long time for us humans to get our s**t together.

It doesn’t matter if we know it’s good for us, could potentially add 12 years to our life, save us from a horrible disease, make us happier, give us more satisfaction. If something isn’t easy or fun, we’re not so great at sticking to it.

I’m bringing this up because I have been trying for quite a while to regularly meditate. And to change my thought patterns. And to attract abundance. Exercise is regular for me. Flossing and going for regular dental check ups are standard practice for me. Cooking healthy meals at home, also a habit.

When I don’t immediately (as in yesterday, 10:00 am) pick these habits up and get them into my repertoire, I get upset. Upset at myself, the world, the human race. I want results now. I want all of my thoughts to be happy this second. I want to be wildly successful in my business last week. I want to be rich beyond my wack-a-doodliest dreams back when I turned 13. And since none of that stuff is yet true, I regularly get on the crazy coaster and freak out that nothing I’m doing to improve my life is working.

Which is a load of that stuff I used to shovel out of horse stalls on Saturday mornings in exchange for a free riding lesson once a week.

That’s it. That’s all I wanted to say. To encapsulate:

• Flossing is good for you
• Forming new habits, both mental and phsyical, takes time
• Nope, more time than that
• Relaxing into life and going with the flow is the only way to enjoy it
• Can you remind me of that tomorrow?

Be Joyful!