Ted's Birthday Today

So the day started with a whimper from me, I hate getting out of bed now that I am not working and not sleeping well at night. Ted gets up bright and early, he tells me. His daughter made him breakfast and took him out to lunch. 


We talked after that, and he said what he wants to accomplish with this blog. I told him to make some talking points and write them down, but that today is his Birthday and should be enjoyed.


Ted's message today is to not stay in denial. We all have problems and things we would like to change about ourselves and our lives. Sometimes we look back over our lives and wish we'd done things differently. We talk ourselves into believing that we could fix now, if we could change the past. That is a lie, and we need to face it. If we want to make a change in our life today, then we have to start today.
If you want your life to be different, to change it for the better, you need to decide what you want to change, and then start doing it.


I wanted to quit smoking, but I kept trying to cut down first. The change I was making was a lie to myself. It was not quitting, or even trying to quit, it was cutting down. If you want to lose weight, you do not go on a diet, you change your habits. Going on a diet, is not going to work, because when the diet is over you go back to the old way of eating.
If you want to change your finances, so that you have more security, then you have to start by not spending more than you make. So look at your budget and figure out what you really need. Maybe you have more than one credit card and can transfer all of your balances to a single card. Perhaps you have a DVR and the shows you record are available on demand anyway. Maybe you have the A/C going when you are not even home, or you leave the TV on to keep the dog company while you're at work. Do not complain about your electric bill if you are not trying to conserve energy. Do something about it!


Ted's words for today are: "Quit denying the fact that you have the power to change your life for the better."


You can do it, and only you. No President or government or guide or doctor can do it for you. Your mom can't do it for you, and neither can your friends. Dwelling on what was and wishing for what might have been is not going to fix it either. 


In construction, and in the union, it's called woulda, shoulda, coulda thinking. The way we get things done is with Will Do, Shall Do, and Can Do thinking. 


Don't tell yourself what you would have, should have, or could have done by today. Decide what you will do, and do it. You can do it, if you quit telling yourself that you can't. Make your today count toward your better life tomorrow.


You have a right to be happy and prosper, do not deny yourself that right any longer.