Monday, January 4, 2016

Do It


One of my two New Years Themes is "Do It"

Long before Nike started using the motto “Just Do It”, my boss was using the phrase at work.  He didn’t (and still doesn’t) like too many questions.  So, if I was working on a project and had a decision to make, plus a question or two, his response would be “Just do it.  I’ll check the whole thing when you’re done.”  To me this seemed like a total waste of time.  What if I made the wrong decisions?  What if I did the whole project wrong?  Why not just answer my questions, so I can do it right the first time?

In his mind, it was easier to check it as a whole project than to answer individual aspects of it; making decisions about each little thing when he wasn’t directly working on the project.  Even if I missed the mark on it, most of what I had done would still be salvageable.

Over time, I began to see this as a useful way to address most things in life.  Before using this as a type of "life philosophy," I’d think something to death before acting on it, and that still didn’t ensure a correct decision; it just delayed the decision, and left me questioning what I was doing.  Sometimes, overthinking caused me to be overwhelmed, and so I just did nothing.

Now that I’ve conscientiously put it into practice, it’s worked out great for me:
I wanted to go to Europe.  So, at ages 49 and 50, I went to Europe.
I wanted to get my Bachelor’s Degree.  So, at age 52, I got my Bachelor’s degree.
I wanted to write a book.  So, at age 52, I wrote a book (unpublished).

There are so many things in this life that I still want to do.  I need to get off my butt, and just
 do it!

Friday, January 1, 2016

How I spent New Year's Eve

I spent New Year's Eve this year with my husband (a rare opportunity, because he usually works all day and then wants to go to bed early), playing Wii Sports, drinking chocolate wine, and sneezing.  I have a cold, and it seems to be getting worse instead of better.

However, I didn't want to miss posting my philosophical approach to 2016...
I see New Years as a chance for a new beginning.  My sins of the past are dead and buried, my hopes for the future are just within my grasp.  Like the old saying goes, “today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

Technically, I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions many years ago, but I can’t quite help but think about what they would be, if I were to list them.  One of my old blog posts was somehow, magically, emailed to me this morning, and I thought, “that sounds pretty good.  I’ll do that.”  So, I’m making a New Year’s “Theme” (actually, 2):

  “Do It” and “Be Myself”.  
Both parts of these themes have a history to them, which I might go into later.
From my 2013 blogpost:
"Rules to Live By"
(in no particular order)

Only eat if I'm hungry.
Stop eating when I'm full.
The couch and laptop are not bodily parts, 
so make an effort to break away from them once in a while.
Go for a walk.
Take care of tasks as they come up instead of adding to the never-ending "to do" list.
Just "be"; live in the moment.  Quit reliving the past and worrying about/planning the future.
Forgive.  Let go.
Try new things.
Do what makes me happy.
Say what I feel.
Relax.  Meditate and pray.
Learn.
Be kind.
Help others.
Listen.
Appreciate.
Count my blessings.

For the full post, click here

What did you do for New Year's Eve?  What are your themes, resolutions, or goals for the new year?