Place Your Bets. Place Your Bets.

"I will eat healthy and exercise" says Resolution.

“You will not” says Habit.

 

Who will win?

Who will win?

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

 A straight bet. A parley bet. An exotic bet. A Goliath bet.

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

"I will be punctual" says Resolution.

“You will not” says Habit.

 

Who will win?

Who will win?

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

Who is the Bismarck? Who is the Chalk? Who is the Jolly?

Resolution or Habit?

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

"I will keep my promises and commitments to those who mean the

 most to me" says Resolution.

“You will not” says Habit.

 

Who will win?

Who will win?

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

Put up a Monkey.

Or put up a Pony.

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

"I will get my act together" says Resolution.

“You will not” says Habit.

 

Who will win?

Who will win?

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

The odds are on Habit.

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

Habit knows...

Habits not broken in your teens

Become habits of your 20’s.

Habits not broken in your 20’s

Become habits of your 30’s.

Habits not broken in your 30’s

Become habits of your 40’s.

Habits not broken in your 40’s

Become habits of your 50’s.

Habits not broken in your…..

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

I will talk less and listen more.

I will not lose my temper.

I will read more.

I will work harder.

I will whine less.

I will not get into another loser relationship.

I will learn to meditate.

I will spend less.

I will save more.

I will drink less.

I will get rid of stuff I don't need.

I will...(fill in the blanks).

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

 

A life event can sometimes break one or more habits.

Sometimes people say "I'm done!" and habits are broken.

Barring that...

 

Place your bets.

Place your bets.

Don't Wait Until You Are Perfect or Bullet-Proof

 

Don't wait until you are perfect or bulletproof

To step into the ring

Take your chances, enter the race

And see what victories and advances that will bring.

 

Be prepared to have a tough time

And don't worry if you miss your step, or fail

You will grow in the things you know and can do

And through future rough seas, you will be strengthened to sail.

 

Look for and dream of new possibilities and things

Remove from your stock of words, the word "scarce"

Don't talk yourself out of doing anything

Because the path ahead makes you scared.

In most circumstances, you truly have nothing to lose

Except your energy and time.

So don't worry if nothing comes of your efforts, or your progress is slow

Sooner or later, you will reach a point that's worthwhile.

 

If you are willing to say yes to new things

And if you are willing to try

You will never get stuck in a rut, that's a guarantee

And you will be able to navigate the roughest roads and seas of life.

 

Yes, it comes down to your willingness to give things a try

Even if what’s beyond the horizon can’t be seen

Fears, worries, excuses, and hesitations can keep us frozen as a block of ice

Hold a torch to them until they melt, and go forward with your dreams.

 

Are you ready to show the kind of fierce courage, humility, and will

To make the best of ideas, opportunities, and the options available?

Knowing that when you take a calculated chance

The likelihood is that the rewards will rarely be nil.

 

Know that you cannot know in advance

Whether you will survive, thrive, sink, or swim.

Go forward even without knowing

Whether you stand to lose, or you stand to win.

 

In the trying, you will find out many things

Including being surprised by what people most value in you

Personality and attitude may count just as much

As the work that you were hired to do.

 

So…don't wait until you are perfect or bulletproof, dear reader

Just step into the ring

Take your chances, enter the arena

And find out what victories and advances that brings.

The Crucible Of Life

 

The crucible of life

Will bring many people into our midst

If we think of those who have impacted us

There will be many on the list.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

In every area of our lives

We will find someone has had a part to play

Parents, friends, teachers, neighbors, spouses, co-workers, bosses, children, in-laws, siblings, even siblings' friends, and friends of friends

Will have made a difference along the way.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

Experiences that they shared

Or books that they  lent

Things that they taught us

Or advice well meant.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

Ideas they communicated

Or skills and insights

Connections they made for us

That changed our futures, slowly or overnight.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

Activities we took up

Groups we were invited to belong to

Behind them was a person or persons

Who helped support and develop us, and to whom we owe a thank you.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

It is amazing all the incredible people

With whom we are thrown together

Some who will make a temporary impact

And some who will make an impact that lasts forever.

 

To all of them we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

Angels are watching over us

Is what some of us would say

Indeed it's good to count every person we meet as a divine blessing

For faith in people keeps cynicism at bay.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

Isn't it amazing?

That people can enter your world

And change your whole direction

Even cause a new you to unfurl?

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

We go through life accumulating debts to people

In big and small ways

The crucible of life

Guarantees this will happen through all our days.

 

To all of them, we should say…

Happy Valentine's Day.

 

So let's use this moment

To acknowledge them today

Do join me in saying to everyone in your life...

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Yes the crucible of life

Will bring many people into our midst

We should cherish each one of them

Their presence is a gift.

 

So once again, do join me 

In wishing a heartfelt and sincere wish to everyone...

Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day, 2021!

Dear Good Health,

 

Dear Good Health,

You are cordially invited to attend every event of my life, every waking moment of my life.

Dress Code: Lulu Lemons.Come as you are. Comfortable clothes and footwear.

No gifts please. You are the gift.

                                              

                                                                Ò

Dear Good Cheer,

You are cordially invited to attend every waking moment of my life, and more importantly, all the times when I am around others.

Dress Code: A smile (or at least a non-frown face) is essential.

                                                             Ò

Dear Self-Confidence,

You are cordially invited to attend every scary moment in my life, from interviews ,to learning something new, to times when I have to deal with deep-seated fears.

Dress Code: Appropriately formal - confidence building. 

                                                              Ò
 Dear Patience,

You are cordially invited to attend all the waiting moments in my life, and all the testing moments in my life.

Dress Code: Calm colors worn serenely.

  

                                                        Ò

Dear Acceptance,

You are cordially invited to attend all the disappointing and devastating moments of my life.

Dress Code: Appropriately comfortable and comforting attire.

                                                       Ò
 

Dear Peace, Mindfulness, and Loving Kindness,

You are cordially invited to attend all of  my life, from the time I wake up till the time I go to bed, even if you have to bust down the door of my ingrained attitudes and habits of mind to get in.

Dress Code: Armor? Nah! Angel wings.