Making change happen today

We all have it. The mile-long to-do list that keeps are lives perpetually moving toward getting something done, changing a situation, improving ourselves in some way. And for many people, including myself, it’s a to-do list that keeps growing and rarely shrinks except for forgetfulness. But here’s the rub: in order to actually create change—to make something happen—you have to change, you have to do something different.

Now, this may seem obvious, but really think about. How many times do you step back from a situation and actually try to do something differently? How many times do you simply write it down again on that everlasting to-do list of things you need to change? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the fuzzy, feel good, self-improvement cheerleader type. I’m far too pragmatic for that.

This is how I’m making change happen today.

  • 1. I’m doing the things I mean to do. Instead of wondering how others find the time to do yoga every day, I’m doing yoga. Instead of talking about when I’m going to start a daily routine of it, I just did it.
  • 2. I’m holding myself accountable. I’m making my intentions public so that I have someone besides myself to answer for when I look at that morning donut or think about skipping just one ______ session. There’s no better motivation than public humiliation. Might as well set myself up to show off excellent results.
  • 3. I’m not apologizing anymore. I hate sounding like a broken record. Apologies seem less sincere, less meaningful, when repeated time and again. Instead of apologizing for something for the umpteenth time, I’m going to balance the situation with action. Accept my mistake, change the behavior, move forward.

Street art

I was driving home a couple of months ago, passing several little corner shops—you know the ones, that mostly carry soda, cigarettes, and beer—when a stop sign gave me a second to pause and look around at my surroundings.  What I found was life, art, creativity, a vibrant excerpt of a unique urban experience.

Everyone has their own idea about what constitutes art.  My mom always complained about a guy who peed in a jar and put a crucifix in with it.  I agree, not art.  Kind of disgusting really.  But I’ve seen some…interesting examples of art in the numerous galleries and coffee shops and studios around town.  I’ve also seen some pretty amazing graffiti.  What I found I think measures somewhere in between.

streetart

115 days?!?!?

Could it really have been a 1/3 of a year since I last logged a weblog entry?  How is it that almost 4 months have passed without me writing down a jot?

Oh yeah, working full time really does suck up days.

I had gotten so used to the “more casual work schedule” shall we say?  I had forgotten what it was like to work every weekday, each week, for months.  I hadn’t even noticed so much time had passed since I had last visited my thoughts.  The public ones.  Here.  I have had thoughts……

Anywho, it did occur to me that it’s been quite some time since I had spent any REAL time worrying about getting these particular juices flowing, and I have to say, I’m really glad I’m taking the time now.  Working the 9 to 5 (again) you forget sometimes to take a step back, breath in, re-evaluate, breath out, and move on, move forward.  It’s not a bad thing to be busy, but it’s nice to make time for other things besides life maintenance items and lists, the commute, and the constant chatter in your brain that is left-over stress from the daily grind.  (Note to self: that’d be a GREAT coffee shop name!)  Honestly, it’s also nice to have the holidays over.  They’re always……a mixed bag.

Now that it’s March, it is, of course, easier for me to think.  The winter hazy is fading away.  The spring sneezes have moved in a little, though.  I’ve gone to working somewhere between part time and full time, and I like it.  I’ve been crafting, hot tubbing, traveling, crafting, but no sailing yet.  I rode my bike to work almost every day in February.  Life has kept moving along, even if I wasn’t paying attention to the time that was passing.  Friends got married, others fell in love, I gained and lost 5 pounds in a week, 1 year olds became 2 year olds and 3 year olds became 4 years olds, I found new family and re-visited old memories, and still time doesn’t care if I notice it at all.  It just keeps ticking by, little by little, second by second, minute to hour, days, nights……but not for another 115 days till I meet you again.

 

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