Browsing December, 2009
5 Tips To Make 2010 Better Than 2009
2009 was a tough year for many folks. Here is a quick list of 5 things you can do to ensure that 2010 is much better. And if 2009 was a great year for you, these will take 2010 to new heights!
So let’s get to it…. here goes:
1. Write down your goals. This one thing, if you don’t already do it, can dramatically change your future. Why? Well, first of all it forces you to think about what you want. The problem for most people is they don’t know what it is they want. Most people just kind of wander through life aimlessly without any real direction, just reacting to what they feel is life acting upon them. By taking the time to figure out where you want to go, you put the wheels of creativity and imagination in motion. And your goals are not limited to financial goals. You could have a goal to visit another country, or learn another language, or even invent some groundbreaking device. Don’t limit yourself. Just make a list, then define which ones are most important to you.
2. Take action regarding your most important goals. If not defining goals is the number one stumbling block for people, I think not taking action to make their goals a reality is a close second. It’s one thing to say you want to get somewhere, or you want to be at a certain place, or you want to make a certain income; it’s a complete other thing to back it up with a plan of attack. This is why it is important to choose something that you can really go after with gusto, something that you are enthusiastic about getting up every day and working on. But you MUST have a plan, and you must actually take action and work towards making that goal/vision a reality.
3. Laugh more. Yeah, yeah, I know, not much to laugh about these days right? Actually, I disagree. You see, laughter, as they say, is the best medicine. If you are feeling down, what can be better than popping in your favorite comedy and laughing your butt off. Or getting together with your best friends and just goofing off. Laughter is contagious, and when done in a spirit of fun and happiness, you will bring in more fun and joy into your life.
4. Learn something new. If you feel “stuck in a rut”, maybe it’s time you give your brain a workout or two. Give yourself some mental stimulation, maybe learn a new language, or study quantum mechanics, or something that you have always wanted to learn. This doesn’t have to have anything to do with your current job, or income, it’s just something to stimulate your braincells, stimulate your creativity.
5. Find and stick to a good nutrition and exercise routine. Okay, yeah, I know you say you are going to do this every year, right? If you are someone who gets stuck at our number 2 tip (the taking action one) -maybe you get started, then don’t follow through, it’s probably the same reason why you don’t take action regarding where you would like to be in your life that you don’t stick to a nutrition and exercise plan. Maybe if you DO stick to this one, it will send a message to your subconscious self that “hey maybe I really can get that promotion, or maybe I really can start my own business.” Most times it is just fear that stops us; fear of failure, or fear of success.
But I cannot overstate the importance of good nutrition and exercise. You are what you eat, period. Don’t forget that. Put good fuel into your body, your body will reward you. Put bad food in, your body will punish you.
That’s it! I say bring on 2010! See ya later 2009. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
-Jamie
Wow, Christmas Week Already!
I cannot believe that Christmas week is here. Seems like we were just putting away last year’s decorations!
Time sure does fly. Well, I know for a lot of folks, 2009 was a tough year. Maybe a time of re-evaluating priorities, maybe a new beginning. Well, as one year ends and another begins, I am reminding myself that there is no better time than the present to reach toward your dreams, to go after what you truly want in life.
It only takes an instant to change your mind about something and decide that “yes, I am going to do this and there is no way I will fail.”
And don’t let a bad economy, a “well meaning” friend, parent or anyone else tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t go for it. Now is the time to take the action. Remember, success is not a destination, it is a journey.
Happy Holidays!
Jamie Hosmer
This can’t be correct…..1/2 a pound of sugar?
I read a statistic that said that the average American now consumes about 1/2 a pound of sugar every single day. Every single day, a half of a pound of sugar! I didn’t believe it. No way, that is impossible. Then I started checking into it. Turns out, that if you drink just 2 or 3 cans of soda a day, that would equal about 30 teaspoons of sugar, which is already over 1/4 of a pound.
I am just talking about the small 12 oz. cans of soda, not the 7-Eleven “Big Gulp” or a restaurant that keeps refilling in perpetuity. Now, add to that any other snacks you may eat during the day, a few cookies here, a candy bar there, even most “protein” bars are loaded with sugar. Add that all up and it’s pretty easy to reach that 1/2 pound of sugar a day. Wow!
So, what’s the big deal? Like, is sugar really that bad for us? I mean, yes, it rots our teeth, but that’s about it, right? Wrong. Here is what Dr. Joe Mercola has to say about the Dangers Of Sugar. It’s nasty stuff to be sure.
Sorry if I completely ruined your cookie break!
To your health and wellness,
Jamie
Holidays…Stressful, Restful, or Zestful?
So it is the Holiday season again….you know, that time of year in December when we celebrate lots of presents and shopping and commercials….I think it’s called Christmas, or Hanukkah, or something like that. Oh, wait- I can’t say anything but Holiday Season because of the huge group of folks who get so darn offended by the mere mention of Christmas. Oops! Said it!
Okay, I am joking, but really, maybe we could all just relax a little bit on the whole “don’t say this or that” thing; hey I am all for being sensitive to some-one’s belief systems, religion and political viewpoints, but I also am perfectly fine with someone who doesn’t believe what I believe or celebrate what I celebrate, doing their own thing and enjoying it. We have gotten far too cynical and judgmental these days, let’s take a deep breath and chill. AAaaahhhhh. There…..that feels better.
Okay, so I saw this horrible Nativity scene out in front of someone’s house today and I was so disgusted…..just kidding.
Seriously, the Holidays again….they show up every year, and what does it mean for you? Does it mean stress, rest, or zest? Do you celebrate the season, or do you just dread the thought of long lines at the malls, traffic congestion, yelling at the guy who got the last pair of slippers that you were going to buy for your Dad. “Hey, I was here first you @#%*&#!!”
EXHALE gently…..
You know, I had a thought. Some of my thoughts are insightful, some are probably just stupid, some I won’t share with you right now. But this one, hmmm, I think I will share.
I was thinking that maybe we might all have less stuff to buy this year. Like maybe the state of the economy is forcing us to cut back on our Holiday shopping. And maybe even re-examine what this whole thing means to us. I mean other than a long shopping season. (Did you know that FDR moved Thanksgiving up so that we would have a longer shopping season for Christmas?-doh! I said it again- er, the Holidays? It was a bit of a controversy -http://docs.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/thanksg.html)
But I digress…So my thought was that maybe this year is going to HELP us realize the (okay, forgive the cliche) TRUE meaning of the holidays. This year is, in a good way, forcing me to think about it. Maybe you can too. Please send me a comment with your thoughts.
Happy Holidays!
Jamie
Health and Wellness Survey!
I would love for you to participate in my Health and Wellness survey. Just click on this link to begin: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y6NXMBY
This survey will give me a bit of information on the challenges that you all face in regards to your overall health and wellbeing, as well as your careers and general fulfillment (or lack thereof!) I sincerely appreciate your participation!
Here is the link again: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y6NXMBY
Happy Holidays!
-Jamie Hosmer
The Most Difficult Job of All….
I just had a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with my beautiful wife Maria, my Mom & Dad, and my sister Mary Ellen and her 2 children. Mary Ellen, Lily, and Oscar (her kids, and of course our niece and nephew) stayed for the entire weekend. Oscar is 2 and Lily is 4. They are beautiful kids, and as you can imagine, at their ages, they are crazy! Bouncing off the walls, literally. Got us thinking that we need a little room with padded walls that they could just run around in for a few hours and tire out. (would that be wrong?)
My sister Mary Ellen is a single Mom, and it got me thinking about my own Mom and Dad, who raised us 4 kids. She would take us with her to the grocery store sometimes when we were little. We were pretty much all a year apart, so you can imagine my Mother and us at 2, 3, 4 and 5 in a store. My goodness, she should be sainted. We didn’t make it easy on her. My Dad one time said to my Mom, “let’s try to keep up with how much they are eating! Just keep filling up the cupboard and fridge, see if they stop.” We didn’t, and that little experiment of Dad’s lasted about 2 days.
To raise kids with 2 parents is hard enough. Being a single Mom in today’s world is even more difficult. But Mary Ellen wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
So, here is to ALL parents out there who love their kids and would do anything for them. You have the toughest job in the world. I salute you!
Jamie