A Kinder, Gentler Life Diet

Courtesy Mad Penguin Creative

I'd love to tell you I embraced the plan flawlessly. Alas, I'm not that kinda girl. In the past, I thought a lot about change but did very little of it. Bobbing and weaving from one crisis to another kept me from making long term plans beyond necessary decisions re schooling our boys. After that, my long term goal was to survive. Am I alone in that living-to-survive experience? Something tells me I'm not.

I know I must be in good company because Reader's Digest released a diet book a few years ago aptly titled Change One. The premise is simple: change one eating habit a day, beginning with breakfast menus, and gradually take control of your weight loss battle. I thought that book was made for people like me who had a hard time with grand revisions of life. It was a plan that was so easy a slacker like me could not fail. I did make some changes. I sold the book in a yard sale. It seemed like a great improvement at the time.

Courtesy B. Creasy

That book has come back to haunt me as 2011 has become 2012. Every time I turn around, I hear it whisper, “Change one.” I'm a slow learner but, eventually, I got what my memory was trying to tell me. It is time to embrace change and to begin doing so in a kinder, gentler way...one thing at the time. Time for the Change One Thing at a Time Life Diet, it is.

If I pursue that goal only 5 days a week, I will have moved 20 steps toward new goals and a new life in only a month. If it works, I might write a book. After I think of a new title. Reader's Digest took mine.

I decided to set only 3 goals this week. You know how afraid I am of goals and lists. May I, at this point, advise you to invest in smelling salt stock? I see myself going through a lot of them in the next few days. If I last that long. Don't say I didn't warn you if you don't get rich quick.

Courtesy B. Creasy

How is it kinder you ask? Because if I did my usual Type A thing, I'd make a notebook full of lists which would reduce me to hyperventilation by the time my pen ran out of ink. So, I did make a list of long term and short term ideas to tackle over the next few months. But, I picked ONLY 3 as goals for the week. Ok...I admit. I was light-headed from the stress, but I got it under control with some bag-therapy. You know, breathing into a bag really does help.

In case you are having trouble jump starting your New Year, I'll share my plan in hopes it will inspire you to join me in my kinder, gentler life plan. If you think I wanna set off on this journey all by myself, you are C-R-A-Z-Y. I want to be able to blame it on you when I...I mean...IF I fail to reach my destination.

Goal #1: Keep a daily relationship report card.

Courtesy A. Squires

Just in case anyone out there in the dark and cold of cyberspace is paying attention, I figure I better put up or shut up. So, today, I put my daily report card into practice. As I went through the day, I was mindful of my grading Rubric: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. I can't say that I was a shining success and broke new ground in these areas. I can say I don't think I totally blew it in any area with the folks around me today. Whew. What a relief.

Goal #2: Make a list of long term and short term goals for both business and personal pursuits. Pick 3 short term goals to complete this week.

• Declutter our house of Christmas finery and then go thru the drawers of a desk in our living room.

• Conference call with a writer friend as we brainstorm about ways to ramp up our freelance writing businesses.
• Exercise 5 days this week and track my eating.

Courtesy D. Scott

Goal #3: Work toward a better routine in hopes of solving my insomnia issues.

There! That wasn't so hard was it? The only troublesome issue is that my notebook is staring at me. Really hard. Trying to bring out the Type A in me. Old habits die hard, but I have determined that this will be a kinder, gentler year. Starting today.

So, what are you waiting for? Let's de-clutter our lives together. Fraidy cats are almost always afraid of change. You don't think I can make all this happen by myself do you? Take a few minutes and ponder a gentler, kinder life. Get ready to put yours into action along with me. What do you say? We are fraidy cats. Hear us roar.

M-E-O-W

Proverbs 22: 29 (Amplified Bible)

Courtesy B. Creasy

Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 31: 27 (Amplified Bible)

She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. 

If you, like me, struggle to escape the chains of the past, consider this truth as we face the future together!