Easy Goal Setting

Have you ever heard that goals written down are achieved much more often than goals that aren't? I've taken that to heart and I try to have at least a couple on-going ones. But I'll be honest - it's hard for me!!

I figured out a method that might work for me long-term, and maybe it'll help you too so I'd like to share :o)

Setting a Goal

It's very simple and something we probably all learned early on in school. To get started just grab a sheet of paper, put today's date at the top, and write these words down the side, leaving a few spaces in between:

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How

Now write your name under the WHO, because it's for you!

Under WHAT write the general idea (goal).

WHEN is your target date for success - don't forget to keep it realistic LOL

WHERE - this is any place that effects the outcome

On WHY get a little specific - this is your motivation

And HOW - this is the meat and bones of the whole deal so give this some thought and see what surfaces. You might even have to do a little research...

Here's what this sheet looks like in less general terms (this is one of mine, and needs to be followed more closely if I hope to reach my target date LOL)

8-29-08

Who: Me!

What: lose weight - 2 lbs/week average, get healthier overall, gain agility

When: 6 months from now

Where: home, restaurants, coffee shops, get-togethers

Why: getting tired of: pants don't fit well anymore, arm fat taking over, every extra pound puts pressure on knees, thick headed feeling, congested a lot, lack of daily energy, need sounder sleep

How:

• walk everyday, do sit-ups and stretching,
• limit smoothies, fast food
• less bread product, more fruit and vegies
• less juice, more water

You can get as specific as you want - only you know how much minutiae you can handle before you throw in the towel because it's too complicated for your daily life.

Now go hang your sheet where you won't forget about it and good job starting!

Some good advice

I received some excellent advice about 15 years ago from a guy who had been thru the AA program. I was highly emotional and hormonal way too much of the time and didn't take very good care of myself. Here's what he passed along to me:

If you're

• hungry
• angry
• lonely
• or tired

don't make any big decisions.

HALT for short so it's easy to remember.

Sounds so simple but do you realize how many bad situations can be avoided? Our bodies can only take so much at a time and the above conditions really can cloud our brains. My Mom told me when I was younger 'if you're feeling wiped out try eating something and if that doesn't do it, sleep!' We don't always know when to stop and regroup so it's a good idea to listen to the messages our bodies send out.

Here's to making the right choices with a clear head :o)

A beautiful Fall day, and a childhood memory

Not having any small children I don't spend much time in parks playing but I drove by one today and this swingset caught my attention. Remember as a kid being afraid you'd get going so fast you'd fly right over the top of the set, and hoping you would at the same time?? So taking all the advice to stop in your day for child-like playtime, I parked the car and jogged over to try it out.

2 things:

1) my butt has gotten a little large for this style of seat ;o)
2) no one has oiled those chains in a while and it sounded like the swing set was crying in pain (which it probably was LOL)!

Not wanting to draw any extra attention to myself I jumped off into the sand and snapped a photo to share with you.

And now for the funny story (ever notice when someone starts a story that way it's going to turn out to be one of those "guess-you-had-to-be-there" stories??!):

When I was young, prior to 4th grade, we lived in a small town of about 100 people and there was a school there with swinsets like this on the playground. It was close by - no more than a few blocks from our house.

Well, those were the times and place you could actually let your child go out to play unattended for hours, and on this particular day we had probably worn Mom out completely and she was napping. Her purse was on the porch (yep, didn't need to lock any doors there either) and my friend told me to get my Mom's lipstick, which for whatever reason I did. My little neighbor friend was wearing her new white sweater, which comes into play shortly LOL

Off we went to the playground with our new-found toy and proceeded to color every cloth swingset seat we could get our hands on. I don't remember exactly what followed, but I do recall suffering punishment bitterly and being completely degraded verbally by the neighbor Mom for encouraging her daughter and letting her wreck her new sweater. Huh? I'm pretty sure I was the victim in that whole deal. >;o) Seems to me I had an artistic streak just dying to get out!

Big thanks to Evelyn!!

Thank you so much Evelyn for leaving the first comment on my brand new blog - I appreciate that!! :o) I would love to send a handstamped one-of-a-kind thank you card to you via snail mail. Just hit the "email me" button on the sidebar to send me your address, which of course will not be used for any alternative purposes!

Want clearer skin?!

A while back I realized I was drinking WAY too much fruit juice. I think a little every day is fine, but I'm talking about four 8oz glasses a day! Even when it's pure fruit juice that's lots of sugar and extra calories without a lot of staying power.

I used to drink Evian exclusive of pop or any other sugary drinks on a daily basis for years (I know, I know - my gas station attendant that sells it to me once in a while has already informed me Evian backwards spells Naive LOL) I just love the taste of it enough to drink it at room temperature and have tried every other brand to no avail. BUT, the cost bugs me, and the fact that scientists claim plastic can leech into liquid it's containing.

So I've started drinking refridgerated filtered (Brita, I think) water with some lemon squeezed in it the past couple weeks. I find it so refreshing I actually drink more, PLUS no joke, my skin is much clearer and smoother!! I keep a really large glass tumbler on my desk and drink it even more often since I can see it.

If you're not already sold go check this page for some great lemon tips! Oh, and this site has AMAZINGLY gorgeous old world style lemon paintings!!

Welcome to the new blog!

Here's a really great quote I happened to see featured on a card today on Debbie's blog

Just living is not enough.

One must have sunshine, freedom

and a little flower.

~ Hans Christian Anderson

I know we don't all have perfect weather, etc. LOL but I interpret this to mean sunshine in the mind, freedom in the spirit, and a little flower as a purpose to fulfill. I love the quote because no matter what our condition in life or limitations we can all strive for these things.

Ever notice how sometimes the seemingly smallest thing in a hard day makes everything all better? A kind word from someone, an unexpected thing of beauty, a tough task achieved? I'm starting to think it all comes down to being grateful, which leads to contentment. I have such a hard time being content - I always feel like I need to have more, be more, do more... but I find when I'm not grateful for the small things the big things don't mean as much either.

A while back I read an article with Deborah Norville in the Sunday extra and she talked about keeping track of the good things in an effort to be more grateful. It really struck me and I started a JUST THREE challenge for myself, and I'd like to share it with you in case it's just what you're needing!

JUST THREE challenge

Grab a stack of index cards and a trusty pen or pencil. Now put them where you can access them easily LOL Each day take one card, write the day's date on it and as "good" things happen thru out the day, jot them down. You only need 3, but there is no limit. At the end of the day, read thru your list, thank the Lord for your blessings and the ability to recognize them, and get your card for the next day in a spot where you won't forget it :o)

Here's what my first card said:

3 Cool Things Today 8-12-08

11am - It's raining softly all morning - I love how it sounds, how it cleans everything, how it makes the birds chirp softly, how I can be happy about it when a lot aren't. I most love seeing the raindrops falling.

4:30 pm - When I went to get the PO mail there was a handstamped card from the woman who bought my old Button Bear stamp set!

I got a Complementary issue of Take 10 today because I had an Oxford Impressions "Country Girl" sample card in it.

See, that's all there is to it, and you don't even have to get that wordy! I had actually forgotten a couple of these things and they brought a smile all over again. It can be like a little diary for those of us who can't manage to keep one :o) You will be so surprised how this simple little exercise will encourage you to actually look for all kinds of things that are happy moments, no matter how down you're feeling.