Yesterday, my oldest daughter Emily and I went for a walk (at the mall) followed by a trip to Subway. Both places were filled with people who had obviously made healthy New Year’s resolutions.
My girls and I are huge fans of Subway – in January as well as the rest of the year. They automatically know what to fix for my vegetarian daughter, right down to the dressing. It’ll be interesting to see if the faces we saw yesterday will still be there when March blows into town. I hope so, but the past makes me kind of a skeptic.
Do you watch The Biggest Loser? The new season premiered last night and it was equal parts encouraging and heartbreaking. How have we, as a nation, allowed ourselves to get so out of shape? There were two kids on the show last night – one was just 18 and the other was 19. Babies! Yet both boys were extremely, extremely overweight. In fact, the 19 year old was the largest contestant that has ever been on the show.
Although I have to admit, I was crying along with them as their weights were shown and as the doctor told them how incredibly unhealthy they were – a part of me was SO excited, because I know how this show goes. These trainers are going to whip them into shape and, in doing so, give them a brand new life.
Most of us don’t have trainers in our face or on our back everyday. It’s up to us to push and motivate ourselves. The problem is, we’re much too easy on ourselves! We need to crank it up a dozen notches and demand that we set ourselves up for the best, healthiest, and happiest life possible.
One way to do just that is to keep the following simple yet wise saying in mind: Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Or as a intellectual hillbilly might put it to you – “If she ain’t workin’… fix her!”
- When my toaster breaks, I have my husband fix it.
- When my cellphone drops, I put it back together.
- When our internet connection disappears, we call someone.
- When I wear my coffee maker out, I buy a new one.
- When our cat broke her leg, we put more presents under the veterinarian’s Christmas tree.
The early weeks of January should be a time when we take note of things that aren’t “working” in our life. One method is to use is what I call the “Was there..” method (It’ll be perfectly obvious where it gets the name, even to the hillbilly.).
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Was there a time when I had more energy?
- Was there a time when I wore a smaller size?
- Was there a time when I felt better?
- Was there a time when I got along better with ______?
- Was there a time when I had more faith in God?
- Was there a time when I slept better?
- Was there a time when I had more faith in me?
- Was there a time when I spent more time with my family?
- Was there a time when I had more confidence?
- Was there a time when I paid more attention to my appearance?
- Was there a time when I was more organized?
- Was there a time when I was happier?
When you come across a question that rates a “Yes,” ask yourself:
- When was this time?
- What was I doing RIGHT then?
- What am I doing WRONG now?
What you will then have is a choice. Do you return to what works or do you plead insanity?
