Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Reflection

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4th Quarter, Categories, Fall, Mental, Monday, motivation, Physical, Planning, reflection, Social, Spiritual

Here we are again, folks! Another Monday and another week.

This week I’d like to talk about reflection. This time of year I do a lot of reflection. Where did I start? Where am I now? Where do I want to go?

How did you do this year with your goals? Did you hit most of them? Did you miss any? Did you find that one or more of your goals just weren’t something you really wanted to commit to?

Each year is a time for learning. We learn what we want. We learn what we do not want. We learn our likes and dislikes. As we change, so do our preferences. So keep this in mind when you set out to tackle next year.

When I set goals I start with categories. My categories are physical, mental, social, and spiritual. I got these categories from a book I read each year, called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, by Steven Covey. These help me achieve balance so I do not focus too much on one thing and neglect something else.

The physical area is where exercise, diet, sleep, and all the rest reside. The mental is where learning, writing, and thinking come into play. The social is how, who, and when I connect with other people. Finally, the spiritual is how I approach my religious path.

You can choose any categories you wish, but these work really well for me.

So as I reflect, this is how my year’s been.

Physically, my exercise habit suffered tremendously over the last few years. I tried to keep up with it during lockdowns, but to no avail. I have never been one to really do a serious workout routine at home. If I purchased any exercise equipment, it would be a waste of time and money. I would not use it. For me it is the physical act of going to the gym that makes all the difference. So, this year’s focus will be back on getting to the gym consistently.

Mentally, I did pretty good. I am on track to read my 60 books this year. I also hit my goal of individual learning, about mid-year. Nothing to tweak here, other than what things I want to learn in the new year. Now that my wife’s Master’s degree is completed, I’ll get back to working on my books. I have a lot of ideas, but this year the focus will be on my book idea I started a few years ago. The goal is to complete a first draft by the end of next year.

Socially, I am challenged, because I help out to frail parents who both have compromised immune systems. We have all been vaccinated, but I still feel uncomfortable getting out in large crowds. So, my social life outside the house will involve meeting people as I run errands, the gym, and of course online with Facebook and this blog. I have made some good friends this year with my blog. Here’s to more in the new year. I am also socializing a lot with people I game with. My brother and other gaming friends are awesome to play with. Call of duty, Far Cry 6, and a new game I found, Mafia City are all a blast!

Spirituality is one of my strengths. I do a lot of work in this area, and will continue to do so in the new year.

As we approach the end of the year, I’ll continue to reflect and contemplate on what I want to do in the new year. Hopefully, by giving you the example above, you’ll see how you too can figure out what you want, where you’ve been, and where you want to go in 2022. I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Motivation is Coupled to Your Mood

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anxiety, depression, Exercise, Fall, Holidays, Monday, Mood, motivation, Sister, Sun Lights, Winter

This time of year it gets dark and stays dark. We have a lot of dark, rainy days in the fall, or dark snowy days. It’s just that time of year for Michiganders. Many people in my neck of the woods suffer from an ailment (I do not know the name), where the dark impacts their moods. My sister is one of them.

She and I are the exact opposite when it comes to this time of year. It is my favorite time. For her it is absolute torment. One solution she came up with was getting herself a light that she sits in for about an hour before doing anything else. It was the trick.

Do you have any fall challenges? Do the darker months impact you? You may want to look into a light like my sister did. Perhaps you have other challenges with the fall and winter months. Maybe you do not like to be cooped up. Learn some winter sports like cross-country skiing, hiking, or even just walking. There are a lot of things to do if you look for them.

Motivation and mood are tied to one another. It is hard to be motivated if you are pissed off or depressed. Find the root cause of these things; get some help if you need it. It is really hard to be motivated if you don’t feel well, or are suffering from depression.

Another thing you may look into is exercise. Exercise for me is like going to a psychologist. I just feel so good when I go to the gym, get in some exercise, and sweat a little. It is something about the body moving, the endorphins that are released when we exert ourselves, and the boost to the self esteem that comes when you do something that is hard to do.

Well, that’s it for today, folks. Enjoy the changing colors of the leaves, the snow that will come soon, if it is not here already where you live, and the great food and family time that accompanies this time of year. It’s great to be alive, isn’t it?

Have a great Monday, folks.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Fall

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Blankets, Books, Chili, cool, Fall, Leaves, pumpkin, Reading, Soup, Stew, Sweaters, Thanksgiving

Today, I am grateful for the fall. It is the season of colored leaves, pumpkin flavored everything, Thanksgiving, my birthday, and cooling temperatures. It is the time mother nature prepares for winter.

I love the fall, because one of my favorite seasons is fast approaching–winter. I love the winter, the snow, the warm indoors, a warm cup of coffee that steams up the window. I love sweaters, blankets, and looking at the pristine snow after it falls.

The older I get, the faster the time goes. Days whip by, months roll along, and before you know it, it’s a new year.

Another thing I am grateful for in the fall are the stews, soups, and chili that fill the menu at my home during the fall and winter months. I love a good stew, soup, or chili. I also love the bread that you dunk in it. Ahh…

I also enjoy the reading I get done in the last few months of the year. I get the bulk of my reading done in the fall and winter months. There’s nothing better than a great book and a warm cup of coffee, while I listen to calming music on my iPhone.

Well, that’s it for today, folks.

Have a great Thursday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Thankful Thursday – Fall

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Autumn, Cakes, Coffee, Cookies, Cool weather, Fall, Gentle Breezes, Halloween, Holidays, Leaves, Pies, Soup, Stew, Thanksgiving

Today, I’m grateful for the fall. The cooler temperatures, the wind, and the trees, with their multi-colored leaves falling to the ground and decorating our lawn and driveway. Wow!

I also enjoy the fall because it is heading toward my birthday, the Thanksgiving holiday, and Christmas and New Year’s! Let’s not forget Halloween. What a great time of year!

This is the season for chili, stew, and all kinds of great soups that warm the tummy. It’s the season of cookies, pies, and cakes. It’s the season of warm bread coming out of the oven. Let’s not forget the great times ahead when families get together and celebrate.

This year has been a strange one. We’ve got COVID, we’ve got the entire Western United States on fire, we’ve got a crazy Presidential election, and we’ve had some civil unrest in a few places. I just sit back and watch the show. What else can you do?

Another glorious thing about the fall is coffee!! I began a new habit of drinking cooler things during the summer months. But now that we are getting chillier, I’ll be back at the Raven, the Exquisite Corpse, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts for my favorite coffees. We still can’t go inside the coffee houses and enjoy some coffee with others, but they are serving and I’m buying.

Well, that’s all I got for today, folks. Here’s to the fall. May we all have many more!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Paying Attention

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Color, Enjoying the Details, Fall, Getting out, Mindfulness, Paying attention, Smell, Sounds, Texture, Walking

I recently began a habit of getting out of the house away from my writing and other work to walk, go to the gym, get lunch somewhere, or run an errand. The purpose behind these excursions is to interact with people. We meet people all day. We meet with folks running a cash register. We meet people that are in the same place we are shopping or eating or getting their cup of coffee.

I smile at people or strike up a simple conversation about what they are eating or what they have in their cart. Simple conversations, but nice to smile and interact. I enjoy these little outings. It brings some variety to my day and allows me to serve others.

When I am out, I pay attention to things, like the hue of the store. I pay attention to the people that are walking about. I pay attention to the smells and sounds. When you really pay attention to what you are doing and where you are, the experience is dramatically different from walking through a store unconsciously merely to get our product and walk back out.

 

 

I started a regimen this week of walking after I eat a meal. I walk for about 10 minutes just to settle the stomach and think. Today, I saw the most beautiful colors in the trees. Two kids went by. One riding a bike; the other on a skateboard. I remembered when I was a kid in this neighborhood, playing hockey, baseball, hide and seek, all of it. There is something magical about growing up in a neighborhood like mine, particularly when the leaves start to turn.

Pay attention to the little things. The colors, sounds, smells, and textures. It makes a huge difference in all you do. I wish you a terrific Saturday.

Until next time…

Dave