How to Summit Life’s Everyday Mountains

How to Summit Life’s Everyday Mountains

Don’t give up on your dreams.

“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.” ~Confucius

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Scott Dinsmore of ReadingForYourSuccess.

How can a mountain better prepare us for life? At over 14,000 feet, there’s more to learn than I would have thought.

Last week I sat on top of Mt. Shasta, a 14,179 foot mountain in Northern California. It was my first real summit and I was proud. Getting there took me through two days of snow, ice and below-freezing camping conditions, using crampons, an ice axe, and more layers than I thought I owned.

As I climbed, and especially on my way down, I began to realize the lessons required to reach the top and make it back down safely. As it turns out, the most important rules are just as relevant in the snow as they are in conquering our everyday challenges.

When was the last time you reached a mountain summit, whether outdoors or in life?
We face our own mountains everyday. Some small. Some big. There’s always a summit we want to reach. Maybe it’s running those few miles before work, making that intimidating sales call, or running your business. Goals, no matter the size, require a strategy for success.

A cold tall mountain reinforced an approach that can convert life’s everyday challenges into gratifying accomplishments.

A Guide to Reaching Life’s Summits:

Pack light. I wish I took this more seriously. Every unnecessary piece of gear complicates things and detracts from the experience. Aside from the bare necessities, things do not make life better. They often cause more stress and keep you from what’s most important. The lighter your pack the better. Life is too short to be burdened with excessive possessions, emotional baggage or regrets. Positive thoughts, relationships and experiences weigh nothing at all. Pile them on and leave the rest behind. They’ll lift you to the top.

Take one step at a time. Any major accomplishment can be broken down into a series of single steps. My pattern for the mountain was 15 steps up, 15 breaths of rest. I did that for 7 hours. If I would have only focused on the very top, frustration would have overcome me. If your summit is too intimidating, break it into smaller steps. Focus on those one by one. Eventually one step will be the one that puts you on top.

Don’t go at it alone. When climbing, a partner is a must. For safety, support, camaraderie, motivation and simply to share the journey. You’d be silly (and putting yourself in great danger) to go up alone. Life is meant to be experienced with others. It makes the valleys shallower and the peaks higher. Relationships magnify experiences and help you do things that prove impossible alone. Don’t leave home without your support team.

Listen to the experts. Halfway up, a passing guide told us if we couldn’t get to the top by 12:30 at the latest, then to turn back. Chances of late day thunderstorms were too great. As amateurs we would have had no idea. While we all ought to experience our own paths, it’s foolish not to learn from and observe the guidance of experts. Choose your life models wisely and keep them close by on your journey.

Slow down. As Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia says, “It’s about how you got there. Not what you’ve accomplished.” Despite what colleagues and competitors may tell you, there is no rush. Rushing on the mountain risks slipping, not acclimating to thinning air, exhaustion and possibly death. In life the biggest risk is that you miss the wonders of everyday experiences in your pursuit to the top. The top is secondary to the process.

Look back and take in the view. There’s never any guarantee that you’ll get to the top, but you always have the ability to stop, take in a deep breath, smile and enjoy the view-whether it’s miles of wilderness or two feet of fog. It’s all wonderful. Every moment of life is a new view to appreciate.

Save some energy for the trip down. We thought the summit was “just over that peak” half a dozen times before it actually was. Conserve energy. Things will inevitably take longer than expected. Don’t be discouraged. Budget your capital, energy and drive appropriately. Rarely is anything in life an all out sprint. Treat it like a marathon. You may need your reserves when you least expect it.

Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory. These are Ed Viesturs’ famous words; the first U.S. man to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters with no bottled oxygen. The summit will be there tomorrow and likely so will yours. If more planning, a stronger team or more support is required, then save the summit for a time when the payout is safer and more probable. If you are outmatched, know when to turn back, only to return stronger and more savvy tomorrow. Stay objective and don’t let short-term excitement get in the way of long-term fulfillment.

Failure is a part of the process. If we would have started our climb the week before, conditions would have been too grave to make it. Be ok with not reaching the summit every time. Falling short is inevitable. You will never learn more than from your failures…at anything. Embrace them.

A daunting summit is nothing more than a challenge. A challenge is simply an opportunity in disguise. You won’t summit every one you come across, but you will become a better person with each attempt.

There will always be another mountain. You are not meant to conquer them all. Past summits are simply preparing you for the next. With the right strategy, you’ll put the top within reach. When your summit arrives, you will be ready.

“It is not the mountains we conquer but ourselves.” ~Sir Edmund Hillary

Read more inspiring articles from Scott Dinsmore at Reading For Your Success where he is committed to discovering your own path to personal and career success, on your terms, through “action-based reading.”

Leo Babauta has one of my favorite blog sites. Here is one of his latest posts.

Get Off Your Butt: 16 Ways to Get Motivated When You’re in a Slump

Post written by Leo Babauta.

Even the most motivated of us — you, me, Tony Robbins — can feel unmotivated at times. In fact, sometimes we get into such a slump that even thinking about making positive changes seems too difficult.

But it’s not hopeless: with some small steps, baby ones in fact, you can get started down the road to positive change.

Yes, I know, it seems impossible at times. You don’t feel like doing anything. I’ve been there, and in fact I still feel that way from time to time. You’re not alone. But I’ve learned a few ways to break out of a slump, and we’ll take a look at those today.

This post was inspired by reader Roy C. Carlson, who asked:

“I was wondering if you could do a piece on why it can be hard for someone to change direction and start taking control of their life. I have to say I’m in this boat and advice on getting out of my slump would be great.”

Roy is just one of many with a slump like that. Again, I feel that way sometimes myself, and in fact sometimes I struggle to motivate myself to exercise — and I’ll use that as an example of how to break out of the slump.

When I fall out of exercise, due to illness or injury or disruption from things going on in my life, it’s hard to get started again. I don’t even feel like thinking about it, sometimes. But I’ve always found a way to break out of that slump, and here are some things I’ve learned that have helped:

One Goal. Whenever I’ve been in a slump, I’ve discovered that it’s often because I have too much going on in my life. I’m trying to do too much. And it saps my energy and motivation. It’s probably the most common mistake that people make: they try to take on too much, try to accomplish too many goals at once. You cannot maintain energy and focus (the two most important things in accomplishing a goal) if you are trying to do two or more goals at once. It’s not possible — I’ve tried it many times. You have to choose one goal, for now, and focus on it completely. I know, that’s hard. Still, I speak from experience. You can always do your other goals when you’ve accomplished your One Goal.

Find inspiration. Inspiration, for me, comes from others who have achieved what I want to achieve, or who are currently doing it. I read other blogs, books, magazines. I Google my goal, and read success stories. Zen Habits is just one place for inspiration, not only from me but from many readers who have achieved amazing things.

Get excited. This sounds obvious, but most people don’t think about it much: if you want to break out of a slump, get yourself excited about a goal. But how can you do that when you don’t feel motivated? Well, it starts with inspiration from others (see above), but you have to take that excitement and build on it. For me, I’ve learned that by talking to my wife about it, and to others, and reading as much about it as possible, and visualizing what it would be like to be successful (seeing the benefits of the goal in my head), I get excited about a goal. Once I’ve done that, it’s just a matter of carrying that energy forward and keeping it going.

Build anticipation. This will sound hard, and many people will skip this tip. But it really works. It helped me quit smoking after many failed attempts. If you find inspiration and want to do a goal, don’t start right away. Many of us will get excited and want to start today. That’s a mistake. Set a date in the future — a week or two, or even a month — and make that your Start Date. Mark it on the calendar.

Get excited about that date. Make it the most important date in your life. In the meantime, start writing out a plan. And do some of the steps below. Because by delaying your start, you are building anticipation, and increasing your focus and energy for your goal.

Post your goal. Print out your goal in big words. Make your goal just a few words long, like a mantra (“Exercise 15 mins. Daily”), and post it up on your wall or refrigerator. Post it at home and work. Put it on your computer desktop. You want to have big reminders about your goal, to keep your focus and keep your excitement going. A picture of your goal (like a model with sexy abs, for example) also helps.

Commit publicly. None of us likes to look bad in front of others. We will go the extra mile to do something we’ve said publicly. For example, when I wanted to run my first marathon, I started writing a column about it in my local daily newspaper. The entire island of Guam (pop. 160K) knew about my goal. I couldn’t back down, and even though my motivation came and went, I stuck with it and completed it. Now, you don’t have to commit to your goal in your daily newspaper, but you can do it with friends and family and co-workers, and you can do it on your blog if you have one. And hold yourself accountable — don’t just commit once, but commit to giving progress updates to everyone every week or so.

Think about it daily. If you think about your goal every day, it is much more likely to become true. To this end, posting the goal on your wall or computer desktop (as mentioned above) helps a lot. Sending yourself daily reminders also helps. And if you can commit to doing one small thing to further your goal (even just 5 minutes) every single day, your goal will almost certainly come true.

Get support. It’s hard to accomplish something alone. When I decided to run my marathon, I had the help of friends and family, and I had a great running community on Guam who encouraged me at 5K races and did long runs with me. When I decided to quit smoking, I joined an online forum and that helped tremendously. And of course, my wife Eva helped every step of the way. I couldn’t have done these goals without her, or without the others who supported me. Find your support network, either in the real world or online, or both.

Realize that there’s an ebb and flow. Motivation is not a constant thing that is always there for you. It comes and goes, and comes and goes again, like the tide. But realize that while it may go away, it doesn’t do so permanently. It will come back. Just stick it out and wait for that motivation to come back. In the meantime, read about your goal (see below), ask for help (see below), and do some of the other things listed here until your motivation comes back.

Stick with it. Whatever you do, don’t give up. Even if you aren’t feeling any motivation today, or this week, don’t give up. Again, that motivation will come back. Think of your goal as a long journey, and your slump is just a little bump in the road. You can’t give up with every little bump. Stay with it for the long term, ride out the ebbs and surf on the flows, and you’ll get there.

Start small. Really small. If you are having a hard time getting started, it may be because you’re thinking too big. If you want to exercise, for example, you may be thinking that you have to do these intense workouts 5 days a week. No — instead, do small, tiny, baby steps. Just do 2 minutes of exercise. I know, that sounds wimpy. But it works. Commit to 2 minutes of exercise for one week. You may want to do more, but just stick to 2 minutes. It’s so easy, you can’t fail. Do it at the same time, every day. Just some crunches, 2 pushups, and some jogging in place. Once you’ve done 2 minutes a day for a week, increase it to 5, and stick with that for a week. In a month, you’ll be doing 15-20. Want to wake up early? Don’t think about waking at 5 a.m. Instead, think about waking 10 minutes earlier for a week. That’s all. Once you’ve done that, wake 10 minutes earlier than that. Baby steps.

Build on small successes. Again, if you start small for a week, you’re going to be successful. You can’t fail if you start with something ridiculously easy. Who can’t exercise for 2 minutes? (If that’s you, I apologize.) And you’ll feel successful, and good about yourself. Take that successful feeling and build on it, with another baby step. Add 2-3 minutes to your exercise routine, for example. With each step (and each step should last about a week), you will feel even more successful. Make each step really, really small, and you won’t fail. After a couple of months, your tiny steps will add up to a lot of progress and a lot of success.

Read about it daily. When I lose motivation, I just read a book or blog about my goal. It inspires me and reinvigorates me. For some reason, reading helps motivate and focus you on whatever you’re reading about. So read about your goal every day, if you can, especially when you’re not feeling motivated.

Call for help when your motivation ebbs. Having trouble? Ask for help. Email me. Join an online forum. Get a partner to join you. Call your mom. It doesn’t matter who, just tell them your problems, and talking about it will help. Ask them for advice. Ask them to help you overcome your slump. It works.

Think about the benefits, not the difficulties. One common problem is that we think about how hard something is. Exercise sounds so hard! Just thinking about it makes you tired. But instead of thinking about how hard something is, think about what you will get out of it. For example, instead of thinking about how tiring exercise can be, focus on how good you’ll feel when you’re done, and how you’ll be healthier and slimmer over the long run. The benefits of something will help energize you.

Squash negative thoughts; replace them with positive ones. Along those lines, it’s important to start monitoring your thoughts. Recognize negative self-talk, which is really what’s causing your slump. Just spend a few days becoming aware of every negative thought. Then, after a few days, try squashing those negative thoughts like a bug, and then replacing them with a corresponding positive thought. Squash, “This is too hard!” and replace it with, “I can do this! If that wimp Leo can do it, so can I!” It sounds corny, but it works. Really.

Exactly where I should be at exactly the right time.

A friend had a post on FB that I felt was important enough to share with you. It seems as if the words ring true if you really think about how the world responds to your actions and wishes.

I have been put in a place to create something that was of meaning to myself (Southern New England Woman Magazine) and coinsidentely became beneficial to those who have chosen to be a part of it as an advertiser, writer, photographer, reader, event attendee. My goal was to bring something to women that would encourage and inspire them to be the best they could be. I was truly overwhelmed by the response I have received from so many regarding the magazine and my personal posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc which reflected me and my thoughts which have gone into the publication. It has meant much to me to know that what I have been tring to create has not gone unnoticed.

There was a time this summer and part of the fall in which I had to take a step back and reevaluate the meaning of what I was creating and the value it had to it's readers was not to be taken lightly. It was time to relect and regroup for the future of the publication. I am comfortable and happy now to be able to move forward with even more excitement on the next issue of the publication. For those of you who have been waiting patiently, thank you. You will see the publication released within a few months time. I couldn't be happier that time was taken to evaluate. Because of that, I am prepared to bring you the most spectacular issue! The words below, written by a friend, have confirmed my very thoughts and I am proud to share them with you. I hope that you will find his words just as encouraging as I have and be able to reflect on your own sense of self.

"I am exactly where I should be at exactly the right time. We are always positioned at the most precise point possible to evolve and find resolve. The key is so simple: surrender to the moment, forgive the past and visualize the future. When you can visualize something, it exists. To obtain it, you merely have to ask for it and truly want it and the responsibility and consequences that come with receiving it."

Best,
Pat

Start getting ready to save some pennies for holiday shopping...

Here are a few little tips to help you put some pennies aside for the holidays. Thank you to billshrink.com for this information.

Lay Off the Starbucks = $160 savings over next few months

A tall coffee at Starbucks approaches $2.00. If you drink one of those every weekday, you’re spending $10 a week, $40 per month and roughly $520 per year. (And this is one of the cheapest items at Starbucks!)

If you absolutely need a caffeine fix every day, consider making your own coffee. After about $15 to buy the coffee maker and the filters, a bag of coffee only costs $8 and will keep you awake for weeks.

If you’re not a coffee drinker, see what other “daily luxuries” you may enjoy. Whether it’s micro-brewed beer, gourmet chocolates or a Ben & Jerry’s addiction, cutting back -- or substituting a cheaper alternative -- can easily buy a few gifts for the family.

Bottled Water = $78 savings over the next few months

Water is one of those things that you should try not to pay for. With 2/3 of the world covered in water and filters that convert “tap water” to filtered water (such as a Brita) for about $20, you should stick to filling up a water bottle rather than shelling out $1-2 for bottled water. If you buy bottled water a few times a week, you can save over $200 a year and about $80 by the time Christmas rolls around.

Gas = $87 savings over the next few months

BillShrink.com found that gas prices vary as much $.50 per gallon in the same neighborhood. This means that by simply driving to a nearby gas station, you can save $260 a year. Use BillShrink’s gas comparison tool to find the cheapest gas on your commute for the next 4 months and you could be looking at an extra $87 bucks in your pocket.

Ease Up on Eating Out = $520 savings over the next few months

Eating at home is not only healthier, but it is also much cheaper. When you eat out, you are paying a mark-up for not only your meal and drinks, but also for the service that comes with it. Try staying in two nights a week and save about $30 a person. If you continue this until the holidays, you’ll have saved $520 – enough to treat the whole family to a nice Christmas dinner.

If cutting out dinner is too hard, try packing your lunch rather than going out and dropping $6 during work. This will also save you about $30 a week and by combining the two, you’ll double your savings and have some delicious leftovers to bring for lunch the next day.

Quit Smoking = $347 savings over next few months

The cost of smoking is not getting any cheaper with an average pack costing between $4-6. If you smoke four packs a week, you’ll pay over $1000 a year. Since quitting smoking is easier said than done, it may be worth it use some of those savings on nicotine patches or gum to help you quit.

The caveat of this strategy is that you’ve got to want to quit smoking in order for this to work. While you can save some money doing this, you’re not going to be able to use that as motivation alone. You’ll need to weigh the other benefits of quitting as well and determine the reason why it’s time for you to quite now.

Turn Down the Monthly Fixed Costs = ~$200 savings over few months

According to BillShrink, most people are overpaying for their cell phone plan. By simply visiting BillShrink or other comparison sites, you can quickly analyze your wireless, credit card and cable plan. If you’re paying for more cell minutes or texts than you need, you could be losing $420 a year and the same goes for the cash-back rewards you could be missing out on from your credit card and the extra channels you pay for that you never watch on your TV. By only paying for what you use, you could save nearly $200 over four months.
If you already have the best plans for you, feel free to call up your phone or cable provider and try to negotiate a better price. Since it is cheaper for them to retain current customers than get new ones, they want to keep you from leaving and keep you happy. See if they have any specials that will entice you to stay.

And if you still find yourself short of Christmas cash, just remember: you can always sell things on eBay. After all, getting rid of old stuff is the best way to prepare for this year’s new stuff.

THINGS TO DO FOR FREE!

It gets harder and harder to come up with things to do when you are on a budget whether you have kids or not. So, I thought I would share some suggestions you could keep handy so that when you do have some free time, you might want to check out the list and may even have an "ah ha" "that's what I want to do moment" with one of the ideas.

Sometimes it's the simplest things that matter the most.


ENJOY QUIET TIME AT THE LIBRARY - READ ABOUT A TOPIC YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT

TAKE A RIDE THROUGH SOME BACK ROADS ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN FALL IS IN THE AIR

TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH, COLLECT SHELLS, ROCKS, ETC. - SUNSET, MY FAVORITE.

CLEAN OUT YOUR GARAGE OR ATTIC, SOUNDS LIKE WORK BUT SO THERAPUTIC TO CLEAN OUT THINGS AND GET RID OF THEM

BAKE SOME HOMEMADE BREAD OR COOKIES AND MAKE A LITTLE EXTRA FOR AN ELDERLY NEIGHBOR

WASH AND VACUUM YOUR CAR BY HAND - GRAB THE KIDS AND GIVE THEM A SPONGE TO HELP

PULL OUT THE FAMILY BOARD GAMES - DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THOSE ARE???

VISIT YOUR NEIGHBORS - JUST FOR A QUICK STOP TO SAY HELLO, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN AWHILE

WRITE DOWN YOUR FUTURE GOALS. GOALS ARE NOT WRITTEN IN STONE BUT THEY ARE ALWAYS MORE ATTAINABLE WHEN WRITTEN DOWN WHERE YOU CAN VISUALLY SEE THEM

PLANT SOME FLOWERS IN POTS OR EVEN BETTER, VEGETABLES OR BERRIES. MMMMMMMMMMM...

MAKE A “TO DO” LIST FOR THE WEEK, OK, SO, I NEED ONE EVERY DAY BUT JOT DOWN SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IN AWHILE THAT NEED TO GET DONE

ORGANIZE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND HAVE BINS OF THEM IN THE GARAGE THAT YOU HAVE HAD SINCE CHILDHOOD

GO FOR A PICNIC AT THE PARK, GRAB A BLANKET, MAYBE A BOTTLE OF WINE, SOME BREAD, CHEESE...THERE YOU GO, INSTANT ITALIAN PIAZZA PICNIC

GO ON A HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR, HAVE YOU SEEN THE FREEDOM TRAIL IN BOSTON...PRETTY COOL!

HAVE A POTLUCK BLOCK PARTY - SUCH A GREAT WAY TO KEEP A GROUP OF NEIGHBORS CLOSE

RESEARCH SOMETHING NEW - LEARN HOW TO MAKE POTTERY, TILE A FLOOR, SOMETHING YOU'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE

COOK SOME MEALS IN ADVANCE - WHAT'S BETTER THAN PULLING OUT A COMPLETELY FINISHED MEAL AFTER A LONG DAY OF WORK. TAKE A DAY AND COOK EVERYTHING UP AND FREEZE IT

ORGANIZE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS - WE ALL HAVE THEM, BROKEN BULBS, TANGLED STRINGS OF LIGHTS, ETC.

TAKE A RELAXING BUBBLE BATH.... AD SOME BEAUTIFUL SMELLING CANDLES, MUSIC, AHHHHHHHH!

WATCH AN OLD CLASSIC MOVIE - I LOVE OLD BLACK AND WHITE MOVIES. ESPECIALLY SOMETHING BETTE DAVIS...SHE MADE SOME CRAZY MOVIES

MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU SHOULD MEET, SOME LOCAL PEOPLE WHO MAY BE MORE ATTAINABLE THAN LET'S SAY, THE POPE, OR THE PRESIDENT. YOU CAN STILL ADD SOME OF THOSE TO YOUR LIST BUT TRY TO STAY A LITTLE REALISTIC FOR THE SHORT TERM

PRACTICE YOGA OR TRY IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOW THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY ON MY "TO DO" LIST! GREAT FOR STRESS

LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE AND DO IT. TAKE AS LITTLE OR AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT TO DO IT.

ORGANIZE A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP - THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE PARK AROUND THAT COULD USE SOME TLC.

ORGANIZE HOME WARRANTIES AND HEALTH DOCS, INSTEAD OF BEING LIKE SOME OF US AND PUTTING EVERYTHING INTO ONE FILE BOX UNLABLED AND UNCATEGORIZED

REARRANGE FURNITURE IN YOUR HOME OR OFFICE, YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW REFRESHED IT MAKES YOU FEEL. DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK ON FENG SHUI AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT HOW MOVING FURNITURE AROUND CAN MAKE YOU FEEL

ORGANIZE FOR A FUTURE YARD SALE - LABEL AND TAG EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE SO ON THAT NICE SATURDAY OR SUNDAY MORNING YOU CAN JUST TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AT ONCE...EASILY

CREATE YOUR OWN VISION BOARD(S) - I HAVE ONE ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN, IN MY APPOINTMENT BOOK, FRAMED ON A WALL IN MY HOME, AND A COPY OF A SMALLER ONE IN MY PURSE. REMINDS ME OF THE THINGS I AM WORKING TOWARDS AND THE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

WATCH EDUCATIONAL YOUTUBE VIDEOS - DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH YOU CAN LEARN FROM YOUTUBE? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE "REAL" EDUCATIONAL STUFF. NOT THE THINGS YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR KIDS TO SEE. CHECK OUT VIDEO'S ABOUT "THE SECRET" OR TOPICS LIKE "HOME ORGANIZING" OR "WHAT PAINT COLORS YOU SHOULD CHOOSE FOR YOUR HOME". LOOK UP SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKERS. THEY SHOULD ALL BE THERE

CREATE SOME HOMEMADE GREETING CARDS EVEN IF THEY ARE IN ADVANCE OF A HOLIDAY OR BIRTHDAY. SHOW SOMEONE YOU REALLY CARE BY THINKING ABOUT THE THINGS THEY LIKE BEST AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE CARD

RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY TREE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER EVEN STARTED THIS ONE BUT IT'S A GREAT IDEA, ESPECIALLY TO GIVE TO YOUR KIDS WHEN THEY ARE GROWN

DO A PUZZLE WITH KIDS OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER, IT'S VERY ADDICTING

LEARN SOME CARD TRICKS, A LITTLE SOMETHING YOU CAN SHOW OFF AT THE NEXT PARTY

START A WORKOUT ROUTINE. I HAVE THE HARDEST TIME WITH THIS ONE BUT I DO TRY TO WALK A BIT EACH DAY WHEN I CAN. FOR YOUR HEALTH EVERYONE SHOULD AT LEAST WALK.

GO THROUGH OLD MAGAZINES THEN TOSS, I TEAR OUT ARTICLES HERE AND THERE TO SAVE OR RECIPES BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I DON'T NEED THEM COLLECTING DUST ANYWHERE

START A JOURNAL (IT'S NEVER TOO LATE), I THINK THIS IS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE FOR MYSELF...EVER. I NEVER REALIZED WHAT IT WOULD DO FOR ME MENTALLY TO WRITE IN A JOURNAL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT EVERY DAY BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TIME, WRITE YOUR FEELINGS AWAY. LATER, YOU CAN CHECK BACK ON SOME THINGS YOU WROTE IN THE PAST AND SEE IF YOU ARE STILL ON COURSE IN YOUR LIFE OR IF THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER THAN THEY WERE WHEN YOU FIRST WROTE IN IT.

WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR PARENTS OR CHILDREN. AN UNEXPECTED LETTER TELLING THEM HOW MUCH YOU CARE FOR THEM. GIVE IT TO THEM WHILE THEY ARE STILL WITH YOU. IT WILL MEAN SO MUCH MORE

SCAVENGER HUNT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY. MY KIDS DO THIS IN THE HOUSE SOMETIMES ON RAINY DAYS, THEY HAVE A BLAST

PLAN A CAMPING TRIP (YES, IN A TENT)TAKE IT FROM EXPERIENCE, CAMPFIRE, MARSHMALLOWS AND SMORES. THE BEST!

TAKE YOUR PET TO THE PARK OR TO THE BEACH AND RUN WITH HIM. EXERCISE FOR "TWO"

WATCH KITE FLYERS AND MAYBE FLY YOUR OWN, THEY HAVE SOME OF THE GREATEST SPOTS LOCALLY, ESPECIALLY IN NEWPORT.

VISIT AND HELP OUT AT A NURSING HOME, YOU CAN'T IMAGINE THE FACE OF AN APPRECIATIVE ELDERLY MAN OR WOMAN THAT YOU JUST READ A BIT OF A BOOK TO. ITS PRICELESS

HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD MOVIE (DVD) SWAP, I'M READY FOR THAT ONE. TONS AND TONS OF THEM.

CLEAR YOUR CLOSET OF UNUSED CLOTHES. GET RID OF IT... YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVEN'T WORN IT IN A YEAR OR SO, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL AGAIN. AND IF YOU GO UP AND DOWN WITH WEIGHT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP SMALLER AND LARGER SIZES BUT STYLES COME AND GO... TOSS IT!

GET UP EARLY AND GO FISHING ON A POND, I USED TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME WITH MY DAD WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, HE WAS ALWAYS TELLING ME BE QUIET OR YOU'LL SCARE THE FISH AWAY. I COULDN'T HELP MYSELF. I WAS A CHATTERBOX, CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT???

ATTEND A FREE COMMUNITY BUSINESS CLASS, SCHOOL PLAY, ACTIVITY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, OUTSIDE MOVIE THAT THEY NOW HAVE IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS OR AN INTRODUCTORY ZOOMBA CLASS...

I'M SURE YOU HAVE TONS OF YOUR OWN THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU SHARE THEM HERE SO THAT OTHERS CAN HAVE MORE GREAT THINGS TO DO AS WELL.

SHARE AWAY....

WHAT ARE "YOUR" PRIORITIES??

Do you ever think about how you prioritize things every day? It seems as if those priorities can change from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. For instance, plan a meeting, school calls, your child got hurt at recess. Meeting changes, drive to school, drive home or in an extreme case the hospital which you know will take up the remainder of your day so you had better cancel all of the other appointments you thought were a priority today because this takes true "priority".

How we prioritize things in our life is determined by a number of factors. It's not just about what we "want" to do. It’s not just about something having a high or low priority, It’s not just about how urgent or how much time something requires. Yet we don’t just randomly decide to do one task over another, Even as we grow older and our situations change (we become richer, older, healthier, etc.) so do our priorities.

Consider how the following effects your life and the choices you make.

Single parent vs two parent home
Small children vs grown children vs no children
Healthy parents vs older in need of assistance parents
Living close to family vs family in another state
Single vs married
Going to college vs starting work for financial stability
Job vs career
Self employed vs. punching a clock
High pressure job vs relaxing no stress job
Great salary vs just getting by with your paycheck
Having to work to pay the bills vs having enough to pay the bills and enjoy life
Choosing to pay your electric bill vs taking your kids to dinner
Lifestyle of being 25 vs being 45 vs being 65
Staying home to enjoy some quiet time vs visiting friends or a big night out
Doing laundry vs watching television and some down time
Planning for college vs planning for retirement
Planning grocery shopping vs drive through at McDonalds
Hour to exercise vs hour to read a great book in your spare time
Taking a ride to visit older grandparents vs taking a ride to an amusement park
Creating a savings account vs spending money and enjoying life everyday
Working from a home office vs working at your business office
Answering emails, phone calls, etc. vs getting to work that is demanded first
Planning your day vs the day making the plans for you
Making decisions yourself vs having others make decisions for you

Emotions also play a major role in decisions of choosing your priorities and should not be taken lightly. The more important a priority, the more it can become a highlight or casualty of the emotions of others. Not everyone will agree with what you believe your priorites are. Sometimes parents or employers will voice their opinion and/or decide for you what your priorities need to be depending on your age and work status.

It's just amazing to me how many outside factors come into play when you are planning what to do with your "own" time. Sometimes it's just impossible to keep up with everything that has to be done in the course of the day. However, if you think about the things that are most important to you at the time they are important, that will help you get by.

I was reading a post on someones' blog and it was just "real" so thought I would share it with you;

My priorities are to have fun and enjoy myself and my new apartment. But somehow I find myself sitting at this desk, working from 9 to 3 pm each day, bored out of my mind, and still sleeping near boxes that I haven’t been able to unpack. I hate desk jobs. I really need to reconsider this. How are we supposed to survive the office world? I think I’m really depressed. Plus my hair is falling.
(Read more: http://self-help.thehappyguy.com/2009/06/18/misplaced-priorities/#ixzz0zz8gT9Bu)

To me, there seemed to be one decision I have recently made that affects the way I plan my day and choose which things will take priority over others...

Enjoy every minute of where you are right now because you will never be at this exact moment again. Know your priorities are and have the courage; pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically, to say “no” to other things that are not as important to "you". You know what they are because you have a bigger "yes" burning inside.

Pat

September

For most of us, the summer was over before we even thought about doing everything we wanted to do. I know for myself it was as if the weeks went by so fast and now I'm looking up at September and the crisp weather of fall(Although, I still sneak off for an hour or so to the beach and some reading time during warmer days). Reality does say that fall is here, which is great too. I love to take my kids apple picking, jump on a hayride, nighttime bonfires, cornfield maze, they are just alot of fun at any age. Another few months and we will be in winter gear, taking out the shovels, getting ready for the first snow. I LOVE the snow too, especially when it is one of the first storms and the new snow is falling at night glistening under the streetlights. Everything white and quiet. We are New Englanders, we love all four seasons which is why most of us continue to live here. Imagine never getting to experience true fall foilage, winter snowball fights and the beauty of springs first flowers. I'm not sure I could live without some of it including a cozy fireplace on a chilly night holding a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream. It's the simplist things in life that are the greatest if you really think about it.

So, we are here with some of the most stunning fall foilage in the United States. Complimented by seaside communities, ocean views, forested areas full of rivers and streams, small towns, and beautiful vistas during this colorful season - In Southern New England, it's inavoidable to miss seeing the beauty everywhere you look. When I was young, I used to press the leaves into a book so they would keep their color but first we used to iron the leaves between two pieces of wax paper to preserve them then cut the wax paper to shape around the leave. Just a little fun tip that maybe you can do with your kids this season.

The Fall Women's Expo is coming up on October 3rd at Twin River and we have some amazing things planned. Once again, you can come and enjoy fashion shows, cooking demonstrations, speminars, presentations, entertainment, food and wine tastings and of course shopping, shopping, shopping...just in time for the holidays (and a little something for yourself of course). Make sure you bring your friends and sign up online so that you can get a discount coupon or two for one coupon for the event. It's going to be a great time. Can't spill the beans and let you know everything that is going on but if you go to the website at www.southernnewenglandwomensexpo.com you will be able to see the event schedule and lineup. Come and join us, have a great day of pampering and some overdue "you" time!

And for all our single friends who have just had enough of the night club scene and kids young enough to be our own... I hope you can join us for some relaxed networking, drinks and free appetizers at Twin Oaks Restaurant in Cranston on September 21st. Twin Oaks has done an exceptional job at our events in the past and this event itself is just a relaxed, no stress, have a drink with some friends type of event. No name tags, no speed dating, no expectations, no pressure... Come and Join Us! Registration is requested at http://twinoakssinglesnetworking-autohome.eventbrite.com/

The next issue of SNEWoman Magazine is also in the works. It was a big decision to skip the summer issue and make the second issue October thru December but there was just so much to offer during those months that we just couldn't give up the chance for our second issue to come out when so many exciting things were going on. And I have to tell you, it is looking amazing. The articles in this issue have surpassed the depth of the Premiere Issue and you will be able to learn things that you didn't know you already didn't know....how's that...lol...

Ok, so just a chat for the night. I really just wanted to check in with everyone. Say, welcome to fall and hope your summer was amazing. Keep an eye out for information about the next issue which is being layed out now. There may be one or two more spots available for advertising but they will go on a first come first serve basis. Hope to be seeing you all at the Fall Women's Expo, don't forget to go to the website to get your discount admission passes. It's a great deal and worth logging on for! Wishing you all the most incredible week!
Pat