Tag / get a life

by Blog Writer

Take a family vacation – the entire family

“Success takes time, effort, perseverance, and patience.”  ~ Jack Canfield

This one is tough to write but worth the effort. Dad had received “bad news” on a health problem. It was time for all his children to place personal and professional issues to the side and circle the wagons to support him. We needed to make the time that was left quality time. One of our decisions was to take a vacation together which included the whole clan. We rented cabins on a lake. During this special time, we fished, enjoyed boat rides, cooked together, and ate meals together. Dad had a great time and years later we take pride in making that decision. Stepping up and making a tough time better – not only for Dad, but for each other. After Dad passed, we made it a point to continue to make sure Mom is included in at least one vacation per year. She appreciates that and gives her another thing to look forward to. My advice is don’t wait for “bad news”. Begin the tradition now, this year. Making things happen is part of “getting a life.”

“There is more to life than increasing its speed.”  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

by Blog Writer

The purple pie place

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”  ~ George Elliot

Vacations have always been a big deal to me. Wherever we go, we establish rituals that everyone looks forward to. It might be daily trips to that special coffee shop every morning, letting the kids explore for money in the pool (making sure there is some to be found), or an ongoing game of Monopoly. One vacation that still holds special significance for me was a trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota. My parents had flown in to meet us. Dad was ill and we knew his time was growing short. We discovered a unique establishment that sold homemade pie and ice cream called “The Purple Pie Place”. A daily evening visit became a much anticipated event for all of us. Even today, years later, I’m so glad we took the time to establish that ritual. Learn to take the time for rituals. It’s not too late to start the habit. Put some thought and effort into it. You’ll find yourself ‘getting a life’.


“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

by Blog Writer

You don’t have to come in first to be a winner

“Sometimes it will be like driving through the fog, where you can only see the road 10 yards ahead of you. But if you keep moving forward, more of the road will be revealed, and eventually, you will arrive at the goal.”  ~ Jack Canfield

Our culture celebrates only 1st place. Anything less and you are viewed as a loser. Think about how our society views the 2nd place team at a Super Bowl and a World Series –  losers. There used to be a commercial that referred to the Olympics. While I don’t remember the product, I do remember the line, “You didn’t win the silver, you lost the gold.” Take a few moments and think about what that is saying. Here’s my interpretation. On a given day, an athlete delivered the 2nd best performance in a sport on the planet. Yet they are diminished and labeled a loser. 

This philosophy is pervasive in our society. We can never have enough, be enough, or accomplish enough. There will always be someone who has more and on some level, we’ll continue to think of ourselves as losers. This sets us up for a lifetime of unhappiness, resentment of others, envy, and in general, a self-defeating, unhappy existence. Objectively and critically viewing this can only lead to one conclusion. People that subscribe to this philosophy are getting a dangerously high reading on the dumbass meter. Unlike Wimbledon, in the game of life, there is more than one winner. In fact, we all can and should win at the game of life. I should not view your success as in any way diminishing me. In turn, my success simply involves playing the hand I was dealt. My job is to take my circumstances and find ways, large and small, to improve things on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly scale. Winning is not about being #1. Winning is about constantly improving! To be happy, consciously decide what winning is for YOU rather than letting our culture set the rules. When I need an emotional lift, I will go back and look at old goal lists, sometimes years old. As I review them, I’m reminded of how much things have improved and how much has been accomplished. This helps re-energize and inspire me. Adopting healthy attitudes combined with constant improvement in all parts of your life will equal “getting a life”.

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.”  ~Booker T. Washington

by Blog Writer

Maintain Balance

“The four greatest virtues are moderation, wisdom, justice, and fortitude, and if a man is able to cultivate those, that’s all he needs to live a happy successful life.”  ~ Marcus Aurelius

There’s a yoga philosophy in my five yoga dvds with Tracey Rich and Ganga White that states: “Finding balance is not fixed, but rather constantly shifts and adjusts to the moment.” True, true, true. Our culture tends to approach things as a checkoff list. We want precision. Set the goal, get the result, check it off the list, and move on. Life is not like that. Marital relationships, child rearing, health, friendships, businesses, etc. all require a more flexible attitude. Being willing to adjust to the moment gives you a huge advantage in achieving and maintaining desirable results. For example, if your child is traveling through a rough patch, they need more of your time to navigate troubled waters. As things get better, resume a more normal routine. Simply accept that maintaining a balanced life will require constant, deliberate, and thoughtful shifting on your part. This reduces stress, makes for better decisions, and moves you towards “getting a life”.

“Trust thyself.”  ~ Emerson

by Blog Writer

Purchase Post-It notes and put them to work

“Good or bad, habits always deliver results.”  ~ Jack Canfield

There are quite a number of tools to help us humans stay organized. It seems that our phones, Ipads and laptops, along with a multitude of available apps has helped millions in this area. However, the Post-It Note is my preferred method as the visual reminder placed in a strategic place works best. 

In part, ‘getting a life’ means having control over your time, and that means growing better habits. For me, the Post-It notes are a very useful tool and habit. I keep them, along with mechanical pencils next to all the phones, at my desk (both home and office), on the refrigerator, in all vehicles, and the business folder I carry with me. 

When an idea comes to mind, write it down. Don’t spend mental energy trying to remember things. Phone messages, ideas, and reminders are all written on a Post-It, then stuck in the appropriate place. A reminder of an early meeting is on the kitchen cabinet. The “hose is on” reminder gets stuck on the back door. Ideas that occur while in the car are written down then brought to my office or placed in my planner. Phone messages are never forgotten because they are on a Post-It and placed in the kitchen. Use this method to reduce screwups, save mental energy, and function more efficiently. Finally, wisely use the time saved rather than  piling more stuff into your day, and you will be a step closer to “getting a life”.  

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.”  ~ Ben Franklin

by Blog Writer

Hire a cleaning service

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”  ~ Mark Twain

Just because you can do something and do it well does not mean you should be doing it. This lesson may be very difficult for some to accept. One of the more discouraging things for me is to come home to a house in chaos. Clutter everywhere, bathrooms needing cleaned – you know the drill. It drains my energy, creativity, and creates a negative environment. We do a certain amount of weekly maintenance, but the outcome is predictable with a young child in 

the home. The last thing I want to do is dedicate three hours a week to a deep clean. For a reasonable price, we can hire someone to handle a task that we find unpleasant. Three hours per week, multiplied by 52 weeks, translates into 156 hours a year. We’re talking almost four work weeks annually saved to be invested into either income producing activities or personal time. This is only one example where having a little extra money can buy a big chunk of your life back. I hired help as soon as I got out of college and continue this valuable service to this day. Maybe your budget only allows for a cleaning service every two weeks – or once a month – or even once a quarter year. Go with what works for you. You can always cancel the service if you see it’s not worth it. Getting control of your time is a necessary component of “getting a life”.

“The great challenge of life is to control the process of our own thinking.”  ~ Jim Rohn