THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 2021 MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR-4

 THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2021 MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR - 4

Interesting: Old skin follicles do make up a portion of dust.  It is NOT the majority.  So as you sit in your favorite chair hour after hour, the skin follicles can fall out - and in effect “you” become dust!!

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This week I’ve been saying (mostly to myself), that choosing not to change is in effect a choice to deteriorate and weaken.  Can you get stronger watching an hour of television or working in your yard for an hour?  Can you get more oxygen flowing watching an hour of television or by walking (even slowly) for an hour?  

Inertia is a choice to stagnate (are you getting this Karen as you sit and type on your laptop in your favorite chair).  

I’ve used the Duolingo German story of the two younger ladies in an elevator that is falling and how they don’t want to die. They have goals of climbing Mount Everest or running in the New York Marathon - but when they safely get out of the elevator, those goals disappear like morning fog.  Do you (do I) want to be stronger, smarter, healthier, more spiritual, more motivated, then GET GOING!!!  (That is after you read today’s blog)!!!  

If you are NOT doing something towards your goals today, you need to check your priorities!!!  

“Miss one day of practice, I notice; miss two, the critics notice; miss three, the audience notices” (my sources credit about four people as saying this).  

Yes, I am trying to scare you (but especially me) to overcome the inertia.  (I am a master rationalizer)

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TIME WASTE CENTRAL

Alas, I am a professional at wasting time (I’m not sure of what it takes to be such a professional).  If I am on my laptop (where I do my writing), I can “sneak” over to the Microsoft Solitaire package (and, unfortunately, I do “sneak” over there!!!  In particular, is the Free Cell game (I think it has about all the thinking challenges of that package over luck).  In a 16 hour day (not counting sleep), I probably play 1.5 to 2 hours - on dumb solitaire games.  I spend from one to three hours writing and polishing my blog.  

I also do my Duolingo language lesson (German) - probably half an hour.  I do the online Set Game.  I spend about half an hour on Facebook, and another hour on Twitter (note, spread throughout the day - a little time here and a little time there.  Then a half-hour nap (which lately has become TWO half-hour naps).  I check out some of the news stories.  

My iPhone is less a game machine - I do a crossword puzzle there, some texting of friends, maybe 20 minutes of Words With Friends, my daily Bible reading (on YouVersion) - about a half-hour.  And, then I wonder why I didn’t have time to go to the gym? 

So, yes, I am an expert on wasting time.  (Just think how productive I would be if I had a television!!!!)

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So, (speaking mostly to myself).  What do I need to do to get out of my chair and move?

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I could “run” a timer on the laptop (and iPhone) where once I reach a certain level, I have to stop.  

I can stop my pride in having a 711-day streak on Duolingo (not quite two years).  Who cares if I miss a day.  

I can tell myself, “You can get a five-minute game break once you have written the blog for the next day”

I like PostIt notes.  I can post colorful notes (pink, yellow) around my apartment reminding me to get active.

I can penalize myself financially.  When I have reached too much time playing games, I have to send a donation to the Worldwide Hate League (if there is such a group).

I have to be honest with myself - have I been wasting time.

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I did make a slight change (and maybe a big change?) today.  I moved my laptop to my desk (where it should be anyway), and told myself, no laptop games while sitting in my favorite recliner chair.

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A motivational speaker has suggested I need to “HATE” the old habits that I want to change.  I need to hate playing games, and love exercise and walking.  “Pain” when I take too much time during a day playing games; “Pleasure” when I get at least three miles of walking!!!

In my case, where my sloth (laziness?) has also caused me to add weight, maybe no treats in the apartment (no ice cream?  No chocolate?) until I start to show improvement on the scale.  Can I be honest with myself?  I can rationalize breaks and rewards quite easily!!

So, (to Karen and all), I am going to find a better balance in my life!!

January 6, 2022

Karen