"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." -Albert Einstein
Baby Boomers, can you believe it's July?
Can you believe it?
Do you realize that we only have one half of this year left to accomplish all of the great things we wanted to get done before 2015 shows up?
Do you realize Christmas is only six months away?
Let me ask you...
Do have your list of priorities in front of you?
Have you been feverishly working on them over the past few months and updating them with every new success you achieve?
You don't?
You haven't?
What in the blue blazes have you been doing?
If not, you had better put that list together fast.
Why don't you go back and review some of my "organizational" blogs from last year if you need some help.
I know, you are probably thinking to yourselves:
"What the heck is Jay trying to pull now?"
Nobody makes meaningful changes in their lives in the middle of the year.
Those are better left to January 1st.
That's why we call them New Year's Resolutions, right?
The summer is a time for vacations and travel and baseball and apple pie and picnics and fireworks and resting and play.
Not in my house, mister!
Here's a novel idea.
It's July.
Why not make your resolutions today and consider everything going forward the New Year?
Imaging how far ahead of the crowd you will be if you start on your New Year's resolutions today.
Let's declare today "New Year's Day."
OK, do I have everyone psyched up?
Are you excited about your resolutions and the changes you want to make?
Let's start talking turkey baby boomers.
Wait, it's not Thanksgiving already, is it?
I have a hunch that a lot of the resolutions you have come up with are the most difficult ones to accomplish.
Am I right or am I right or am I right... right... right... right?
OK, enough of the Ned "needle nose" Ryerson impersonations.
Let me guess... the first resolutions you are targeting are:
- stopping smoking?
- losing weight?
- or maybe getting out of debt?
These are lofty goals.
These are very lofty goals.
If you haven't figured it out by now, you need to realize that the odds of accomplishing these goals successfully are heavily stacked against you.
This does not mean that if you are properly motivated, focused and have an impassioned sense of urgency that you will not be successful.
What it means is that these are major life changes that require intense long-term planning, motivation and discipline.
In most cases, these "big" bad habits did not show up overnight.
They have been perfected over the years and are deep rooted in your personal behaviors.
We are not going to be able to eliminate them overnight.
Sometimes, you may have to seek the advice of a professional to help you along the way.
Let's leave the "big boys" for a different time.
Let's not try to do too much too soon with any of these "big" goals.
Do you agree?
So, now you have hiked up your "cojones" and declared today "New Year's Day."
What's next?
Let's do something different.
It's already unique starting the New Year in July so let's take some baby steps and get a few "wins" under our belts first.
Nothing motivates me more than having a couple of nice little success stories to build upon.
How about we pick a handful of resolutions that are important and will have a positive impact on our lives but are more readily achievable and will help set us up to tackle the big game changers?
Sound good?
Before I suggest a few goals we might want to attack, let me offer one piece of advice.
Since we have declared today "New Year's Day" let's steal an idea from Nike and "Just Do It."
Does that make sense?
Let's "Just Do Today."
In other words, don't concern yourself with how you will do this over the long run.
Just get through today.
You will find that when changing any habit, slow and steady is the route to follow.
Have patience.
Be tactical.
Follow a plan.
Celebrate every little "win."
Build on your momentum.
It might not hurt to turn to your friends for support as well.
Let everyone know what you are doing on social media.
Soon you will find that you CAN make some incredible changes.
You will reach your obtainable goals and change your life and perhaps the lives of others.
Where shall we begin?
if you are having trouble coming up with some "New Years in July" resolutions, I have listed 10 simpler goals that might make sense to you to work on.
Let me know what you think.
1. I resolve to think before I open my mouth.
Oh boy, is that a big one for me.
I love to think with my mouth open and it doesn't help to have a highly sarcastic sense of humor like I have.
Words which we soon forget we said can stay with others for years.
2. I resolve to compliment someone today.
It can be a complement on their looks, their personality or even the way they react to situation or handling a stressful issue.
It costs nothing for you to compliment someone and guess what?
It feels good.
3. I resolve to make a connection with a long lost family member or friend.
It is not weakness to take the first step.
Do you even really remember why you are estranged?
4. I resolve to allow myself to say "no" when I have to.
Your time is important and so are your goals...protect them.
5. I resolve to take some quiet time for my self every day.
It is incredibly important to schedule some "you time" to reassess your personal goals and your progress against them.
You always have time to do this so don't let the time issue be your excuse.
6. I resolve to offer kindness to others knowing it will be returned to us.
Try it!
Help someone achieve their resolutions.
7. I resolve to persevere, with my head held high, through any adversity.
There is no such thing as defeat in this world.
You may not always win but even in failure there is wisdom to be gained and experience to be built upon.
8. I resolve to be a positive element in the lives of everyone I meet.
Who knows what others are going through?
You may be the only positive thing to happen to someone today.
9. I resolve to learn something today.
Whether it's a new skill, a new practical knowledge or developing a new talent, do something today that gets you started on it and then maintain the follow up.
10. I resolve to remember my lessons of the past, so that I may move forward into the future.
Will any of these suggestions work for you?
Are you on board with starting your "New Years resolutions in July?
Seize the NEW "New Year's Day" mentality.
Start today making changes in your life even if it is July.
Heck, by January 1, 2015 you will have people scratching their heads wondering how you became such a great person.
Wouldn't that be incredible?
Today is "New Year's Day".
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually fear you will make one.
-Elbert Hubbard
If you found my blog helpful, interesting or even funny I bet your friends would to.
It's easy to tell them about it.
Forward it on to them or just email them my blog link at www.survive55.com.
It would be great if you told everyone you knew about Survive55.com.
The more Baby Boomers we can help, the better place we make this world !!!
Thanks for joining me..........................................................