Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes

When I examined my life earlier this year, I realized that there's a million different areas where I needed change.   It was almost overwhelming.  I remember telling my wife. Lori, that I knew I needed to change, but wasn't sure where to start or even how to start, but until I found those answers I was just going to do the right thing in every situation.
After thinking about it for a while, I discovered that each of the changes I need to make can be covered under four sections:

     1.  Mental
     2.  Physical
     3.  Spiritual
     4.  Financial

These cross over at times, too. For example, if I get in good physical condition, it will help with the mental and spiritual areas of my life, as well.  And sharpening up mentally could really help with financial changes.

Today I'm going to write about 'Mental Changes'.

I think we all change mentally, constantly, depending on how we spend our time.
I've spent too much time in front of the television soaking up worthless entertainment and going backwards, in some cases, mentally.  Plus, watching tv usually involves sitting.  Not good physically.
I still watch tv, but not as much.

I've always been a bookworm, and reading is a great way to stay sharp mentally, but just like with television, there's a lot of worthless entertainment (or just plain false info) in book form.
I'm going to be much more picky about my books.  There are plenty of educational books that are also entertaining.  I'm going to focus on these from now on.

I'm also a huge fan of a comedy radio show and I used to listen to this exclusivly when working, driving or exercising.  Seriously, it's all I listened to.  I subscribed to their online club and downloaded their show daily.  Four hours.  And there is nothing wrong with that.  They are fun to hear.  But I could listen to a bit less comedy and more motivational and/or educational podcasts.  TedTalks is an awesome alternative, as well as some other really good podcasts.

What it boils down to is this:  I have free time.  How I choose to spend that time will either help me learn, or forget (the opposite of learning).  Here's a little chart I've created to show my point:

Making wise choices on entertainment and relaxing free time will go a long way with helping me to change for the better.
That's one quick and instant way we can all change for the better.

Off the Couch

One of my goals is to get off my couch more.  Another is to get out of my 'Comfort Zone' more.
Last night I did both.  I went to my first Writer's Meet-Up Group. 
I had to take 3 pages of something I was writing to share and to be critiqued.  That was way harder than getting off the couch.
But it was good.
I've never read anything I've written out loud, especially in front of people I had just met.  So that was a big step for me.  I was more nervous than I had expected to be, but it was really good.  Kind of like physical exercise.  I never want to do it, but when I'm finished, I'm glad I did.
And also like exercise, I got a lot out of it.  I'm motivated to continue writing and I'm excited about the changes I'm going to make in response to the creative criticism.  

Overdone and Out of Balance

My personality is such that when I get a good idea, I go at it full force.  That is until I crash, at which point my great idea doesn't seem so great anymore, and I abandon it. 
Here's an example:
One of my goals is to get in shape, and the first step is to lose weight.  I'm using MyFitnessPal.com which helps me keep track of my calories and exercise.  The more I exercise, the more I can eat and still lose weight.   My exercise of choice is walking, because I enjoy it and get to listen to podcasts.
Last Friday I decided to take a walk after work.  I ended up walking 8.5 miles.
Lori had planned a hike for us on Sunday which turned out to be another 8.5 miles.  And those were some strenuous miles.  Both days were hot and humid.
Today is Monday and I feel like I've been run over by a truck.  I've walked 17 miles in the last 3 days and have had very little rest.  I've got a lot of work to do here at the office.  I could use a nap.
Plus, I want to eat every high calorie thing I can get my hands on.  The vending machine is calling my name.

I need balance.

I'll add that to my "areas to improve" list.

Book Review: You Can Do It, Even If Others Say You Can't

I'm always cautious about Christian Motivational books. If you're not careful you'll find yourself reading Joel Olsteen-ish fluff.
But John Mason has given us a real, Christian based and Motivational book, quite an accomplishment.
Using many quotes, lots of scripture and a bunch of wisdom, Mason gives us a lot to chew on.  Sometimes almost TOO much to chew on.
Each chapter is only 2 or 3 pages, usually, so you can read a chapter a day.  That's how I would recommend this book, too, because if you read too much, at least in my case, you can get into motivational overload and crash. But if taken in small bites, this book could change your life and/or career. 

Happiness

While walking this afternoon, I listened to a podcast called "Good Life Project", with Jonathon Fields.

The episode I was listening to was from last April and it features Debbie Millman.  She was talking about happiness, and here's what she said:

"You have to make your own happiness where ever you are.  Your job isn't going to make you happy, your spouse isn't going to make you happy, the weather isn't going to make you happy… I think you have to decide what you want and you have to find that way of doing it whether or not the outside circumstances are going to participate in your success.
"For people that want to create something meaningful, if your not getting it at work, then do it at home…. Make what you need do to be happy, even if other people think its crap. Even if other people think its terrible.
"You have to be able to create your own happiness, period.  And if you can't, then you need to find a good shrink to help you figure out what its going to take."

Where to start...

So, I've decided to change.
I realized time is ticking away quickly and if I'm gonna change, now is the time.

But where do I start?  Can I even learn a new lifestyle at 47 years old?

After listening to some motivational podcasts and reading some books I decided to start with making lists.

Here's a list of my lists:
     1.  Immediate Changes (things I can do NOW to make myself a better person with a better life)
     2.  Short Term Goals (projects/changes I can make in a week)
     3.  Long Term Goals (These may take years to complete)

Some examples of my Immediate Changes:
     -  Stop eating garbage (No more soda, candy, etc.)
     -  Exercise
     -  Cut back on television
     -  Get out of bed an hour earlier to read
     -  Cut all fiction except at bedtime

Some examples of my Short Term Goals:
     -  Start a blog (check!)
     -  Read one motivational book this week.
     -  Find (and join) a local writer's group
     -  Write 20 pages

Some examples of my Long Term Goals:
     -  Get out of debt (except for the house and student loan) in next 5 years
     -  Lose 30 pounds by Christmas
     -  Save enough money to pay cash for a new car

A funny thing happened after making my lists.  I felt better.  Just planning improvements made me feel better and motivated!
    

Game of Life

I just celebrated my 47th birthday.  Way past half-time.  If my life was a football game, I'd be in the mid-to-late third quarter.  I decided to check the score of my game.

First, I checked my own score.  To do this I looked at my blessings. I've been blessed with a wonderful wife and two great kids.  I've never been hungry, really.  I have a good job, a good car, a decent house and decent clothes.  I've got a television with hundreds of channels of entertainment, a Kindle bookshelf with hundreds of unread books, and two or three people I call true friends.  All-in-all, not so bad.

Then I looked at the opposition's score.  The area's in my life where I'm running behind.
I'm overweight and out of shape.  I'm in debt and have been as long as I can remember.  I've fallen into a routine of daily dullness, and my career seems to be stalled in neutral.  I have no savings to speak of, other than a 401K that will help during retirement, but does nothing for me if my car were to explode or my water heater busts.

It's a close game, but life has the upper hand.  I'm gonna have to finish the third quarter strong in order to ride out the fourth comfortably.  One thing I realized while calculating the score of my game is that I've been playing with no game plan.

So that is where I'll begin.  A game plan.

I started this blog in hopes of keeping me active in the game.  This blog is the first part of my new game planning.  I invite readers to come along and watch as I play the game of life.

I welcome any comments and suggestions to help me win.  I also hope to pass along any helpful info to help others win their own Game of Life.