Friday, February 25, 2011

Positive Life Changes can Happen

The sun has not caught me in bed in fifty years.  ~Thomas Jefferson

I am running behind on this blog for a number of reasons: too hectic of a schedule, too many items on the daily to-do list, and not enough hours in the day.  Last week I shared how that I had gone on a journey of completely reinventing my daily routine, and after nearly three weeks of this it’s on track to becoming a habit.  Getting up at 4:15 AM every morning has presented some challenges for a night person like me.  Please don’t think I am bragging, but I am getting the hang of this.  For most of my adult life I would get up between 6:00 and 7:00 AM, but not without hitting the snooze button a time or two.  These days I am rolling out of bed and staying up the moment the alarm goes off – at the unbelievably early hour of 4:15 AM.

So, why am I doing this?  I have long wanted to know what it’s like to be a “morning person.”  The morning person, or MP, is one who delights in being awake before the sun comes up.  Such people are perfectly willing to rise and accomplish more before 8:00 in the morning than the rest of us do by noon.  So, I truly wanted to know what that feels like.  Let me say that I am getting a powerful dose of the early morning perspective on life.  Also, this is a continuation of a series of personal growth steps I have been applying to my life.  If I am going to write about being a happier, healthier, and brighter person then I must be able to see life from a perspective of pure optimism.  Rising before dawn and enjoying doing so seemed like a great place to start.

There is also a spiritual reason here which I will not elaborate on today, but I intend to do so in the near future.  My becoming an MP is part of a spiritual journey I felt led to undertake.  Already I have a different perspective on life and the problems I face.  Let me close today with a few words of encouragement for standing firm and not giving in to the trials of life:
  • Stop saying “I can’t.”  When we rise up and with God’s help begin to move forward, we will be amazed at what can be accomplished.
  • Remember that it’s never too late to adopt positive change.  The bad habits and destructive attitudes we develop did not happen overnight.  They may look insurmountable, but they can be overcome.  Be patient, move forward, and begin walking forward toward personal growth and change one step at a time. 
  • You do not have to be a negative, defeated, and cynical person any longer. You can change. 
Life is meant to be lived.  Rise up and start living – today! 

Friday, February 18, 2011

Is it Possible to Become a “Morning Person?”

If you have read my blogs over time you may have noticed the jokes I occasionally make about not being a morning person.  As a Christian and a pastor I have long taken the position that there are two kinds of people in the world: Christians and non-Christians.  Within those two groupings, however, are two other sub-groups, which are morning people and night people.  Most of us fall into one or the other.  All of my life I have been in the “night person” category.  I have never liked having to get up early, I enjoy being able to sleep in from time to time, and I have joked many times about how that in a perfect world nothing would actually begin until around 9:00 or 10:00 AM.  Many of my night person contemporaries sympathize with this plight as they too understand the enjoyment of being such a person.  Late at night it’s quiet, there are few interruptions, and it’s sort of a nice escape from the hectic schedules we so often have. 

But those morning people present a good case as well.  They arise up early, before daylight, and they get done more before 7:00 or 8:00 AM than many of us will before noon.  Deep in my heart I have longed to be a morning person, but is such a transformation possible?  I took that question to heart and said “why not?” Two weeks ago I began an experiment; I completely altered my daily schedule.  Instead of going to bed around 12:00 or 1:00 at night and getting up at 7:00 AM, I began going to bed around 10:00 and getting up at 4:15 AM.  Today is day 12 of this new schedule, and you know something?  I am truly enjoying this.  I believe I am on my way to making the transition to becoming a morning person.   

Since beginning this experiment I am getting more accomplished, I am more focused, and I am rising from bed easier than ever before.  I’m still exercising, and this is taking place before sunrise, which is pretty amazing as I wondered if I could have ever accomplished that.  I have heard many times that if you do anything for three weeks it becomes a habit.  I’ll let you know in a week if that’s true for me. 

To all my night person readers; I am still in sympathy with you and you’ll always have a special place in my heart.  And to all the morning people of the world; it may be time to welcome me to your team. 

It’s going to be a great day – with an early start!

Friday, February 11, 2011

Take Back Control of Your Health – Today

Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.  –William Faulkner  

I recently read an article that was not only an eye-opener, but it put the problem of the nation’s terrible eating habits in stark perspective.  24/7 Wall Street presented an article that broke down the 10 U.S. states with the worst eating habits.  The results show a trend of reckless eating habits that are creating an alarming rise in diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and a number of other ailments which are now being related to poor diet such as dementia.  The state of Mississippi was number one on the list where according to the study the average person consumes 82 gallons of soft drinks and 113 pounds of sweet snacks per year.   

I am trying to get my mind around that staggering amount of junk food.  Imagine filling 82 gallon jugs with various soft drinks such as Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and so forth, and then consuming it all over a one-year period.  Add to that 113 pounds of Twinkies, candy bars, and other sweet snacks and you have a recipe for disaster.  Furthermore, combine this with smoking and a sedentary lifestyle and you see why our nation is in a health crisis. 

Today is the day and now is the time to take back control of your health.  Believe me when I say that with determination, commitment, and motivation, and God’s help, it can be accomplished.  If you look in the mirror and you don’t like what you see, then take charge and make changes.  You can lose weight, you can get into shape, and you can alter poor eating habits.   

-Begin immediately to make plans to regain control of your health. 

-If you need to lose weight or get more exercise then see your doctor and let him or her assist you in developing a plan. 

-Do not give up.  Keep moving forward toward better health. 

-Understand that change takes time; it is not too late to make positive changes. 

-Resolve to do whatever it takes to be a more upbeat, happy, healthy, and optimistic person.   

Keep exercising, stop smoking, begin to eat right, and get rid of your soft drinks and junk food.  Life can and will get better.  Take charge and make it happen.

It can be a great day –  today!   

Friday, February 4, 2011

Fit at 50

On your birthday: count your candles, count your years, count your blessings.  -Unknown 

In about five months I will reach the age of 50.  What a great age; it’s such a nice, round, number.  I recall when I was a teenager that being 50 was way beyond my comprehension.  That was my dad’s age!  And now here I am.  Am I fearful of this milestone birthday?  The answer is not at all.  I welcome it as an opportunity to reflect on where I am in my life and where I am going. 

This occasion of reaching the age of 50 has given me a serious goal, which is to be in the best physical condition of my entire life.  This is absolutely possible and after 16 months of daily exercise I am almost there.  If I can accomplish this, so can you.  No matter your age or the shape you’re in right now, you too can join me in taking back control of your health.  The result will be a happier, healthier, and brighter person with a more positive outlook on life. 

So, where are you right now in terms of your health, attitude, and perspective on life?  Are you where you want to be?  If not, then positive changes are within your grasp.  Negative attitudes, poor eating habits, and a bleak outlook on life can be changed.  As I have stated many times, it’s never too late to affect positive change.  Consider these strategies for making positive changes in your life: 

  • Sit down and make a list of areas of your life that need changed. These could include losing weight, being more positive, having more energy, and accomplishing certain goals.  Now go back and order your list by priority.  Develop a strategy for affecting the desired change, and take them one at a time.  Having mapped out a plan, stick with it. 
  • Resolve to be happy right now.  This seems simple enough, but if that’s the case, why are so many people miserable all of the time?  One reason is that we tend to base our happiness on our present life circumstances.  We will always have problems.  Life will never be perfect or trouble free.  Make a decision to enjoy any happiness that comes your way regardless of what is going on in your life. 
  • Are you a generally lethargic person?  If so, get up and start moving.  Even taking a walk every day can elevate mood and provide increased energy.  Stop sitting around; rise up and start getting the exercise you need.  It doesn’t have to be complicated, but can be as simple as walking or riding a bike. 
  • Make a conscious decision to make positive statements.  No one wants to be around someone that whines and complains all of the time.  Become a more positive and optimistic person.  It can be done. 
Life is waiting.  The time has come to stop surviving and start living.  Today is the day!