Put on your big girl/boy panties!

How do you know how much you can do, until you try to do more than you can do?

Last November, I had come to the end of my rope. For the second time in my life, I had become crippled. In my early 20s, I became debilitated with osteoarthritis in my spine. I also had chronic adductor tendinitis as a result, and my knees swelled from constant limping. Prior to getting a wheelchair, I moved to the desert. After a year of drugs and exercise along with the dry climate, I was able to walk upright and enjoy most things. Living with pain was "normal" and I never complained because I was so happy to be "functioning" again.


I have had a wonderful, full life, no matter what state my body has been in. Last November marked 12 years since I had moved to the desert. I had never had a problem with my knees before. I enjoyed hiking and walking, even though I was never able to run. I began having small pains and clicking in my knees, but didn't think anything of it. Pretty soon, though, it became unbearable. That's when I succumbed to my first cortisone injections in both knees so I could continue getting to work every day. 


I had good intentions of losing 25 pounds so that I wouldn't have to return to the doctor for more injections. They are good for 3 - 6 months and you can't get them more than every three months. My exercise attempts were futile, and I couldn't resist partaking when my wonderful husband ordered pizza on Friday nights or asked me to pick up fried chicken on the way home from work. Within 3 months, I needed another injection in my left knee, which is worse than my right. Arthritis has crept in and there is not much to be done except lose weight and keep active. Along came my next resolution.

I'm so happy to say that my motivation stayed strong and now my body is even stronger. I am approaching my 53rd birthday and have lost 36 pounds and feel better than I ever have. There are still many things I can't do, like walk for long distances, but I go on 20 mile bike rides for fun and enjoy every minute. I enjoy pushing myself to the limit and doing the things I used to think I couldn't do. 


YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY!!!

Personal Resolve - Living Your Beliefs

Do you have a personal list of things you will NEVER do or ALWAYS do?

It's like having a personal mission statement. Everything in your life will fall into a category and can be easily dealt with.

If you know certain things that you will NOT bend on, it will make future decisions EASY. You won't have to labor over decisions if you have a personal resolve. It can be likened to a belief system. If you live in accordance with what you believe in your heart, you will be balanced and live a whole, full life without guilt.

I, personally, have resolved to NEVER cheat. I will not even cheat on Solitaire. So, whenever I am faced with a situation where I may believe I can "get away with" cheating, I will not hesitate to decline. This saves me time and keeps me true to myself. This eliminates the fallout of "What if...."

By the same token, you can have a list of things you will ALWAYS do. One of the things I always do is give people the benefit of the doubt. I try to always believe the best motives instigate the behaviors of others. Until someone proves me wrong, I will always believe the best about them. This, too, saves a lot of time.

That being said, NEVER and ALWAYS, while being absolute words, in my system are relative. If I am playing against a cheater, I can use the power of right to prove them wrong. If someone I trust betrays me, I can stop giving them the benefit of the doubt and become wary of them.

This fits in with my belief system and decision making process. There are variables in our dynamic world that need to be taken into account when making our personal lists but notwithstanding, deciding these things beforehand can make us stronger and more effective, giving us more time to focus on other more important things.

Resolutions - Don't Wait for a New Year

A resolve or determination to do something. Firmness of purpose. Why do we need to wait a whole year to make new ones? How about making LIFE resolutions? A mission/purpose/vision/resolve for the rest of your life? 

Top ten lists of new year's resolutions abound. There are many common themes. People want to do better - to BE better. These same people will be making similar resolutions in coming years. 

Why? Because they do not have a plan to maintain the new behaviors. Their "resolutions" are not "firm determination" to accomplish something, but simply "wishful thinking." 


If you want to lose weight, spend more time with family, learn something new or get out of debt,  you need to have a plan of attack. You need to establish new behaviors in your life that don't currently exist. 


How do you make a plan so that your resolutions will stick? Answer some questions, make some lists.


What resources do you need to accomplish your resolution? Do you already have any of them? If not, where will you find these additional resources? What exactly will you do to acquire what you need to succeed? Ask yourself, "Is this something I can continue doing?" 

For instance, if you want to lose weight, you must begin behaving like the thinner person you want to be and continue that behavior for the rest of your life. If you want to get out of debt, you must plan a REASONABLE budget that you can actually follow, while still enjoying life. Think long term and don't wait for the new year. 


Resolve daily to live your new and improved life.