HOW GOOD DO YOU THINK YOU LOOK? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 146

We live in a society that used to be very concerned with looks and appearance.  People used to "dress up" to go to work, school, church, meetings, and events.  Now we seem to have become a nation of slobs which I think has contributed to the demise of so many of the wonderful independent retailers we used to enjoy. Celebrities dress up to walk the red carpet, and people interested in fashion dress for success.  The rest of the people not so much.

It all starts when a person decides to have confidence in his or her looks.  We all look different, but each one of us brings something good to the world even if we do not think so.  It is time to take a good look at yourself in the mirror.  Is your hair combed?  Are your teeth clean?  Is your skin clean and fresh looking? If you wear make up, are you consistent about using it daily?  Do you shave every day?  Do you need a haircut?  Are your clothes clean and pressed?  Do you live in t-shirts, jeans or baggy shorts?  Those items of apparel can have a place in your wardrobe but not for daily use. You don't have to have a huge wardrobe, and you can shop at thrift stores if need be to find appropriate outfits for whatever your activities are.  Once you start paying attention to your appearance you will be amazed at the things that will happen for you.

If you want to make your mark, achieve your dreams, pursue your goals, gain the attention of influential people, be admired, and be an example for others to emulate, then you first must decide that you are who you are, and no matter what happens on each day depending on your gender tell yourself:

I AM BEAUTIFUL!

OR

I AM HANDSOME!

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HOW DO YOU RESIST IT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 139

Most of my life I have known that I have a very short attention span.  When I was growing up no one knew anything about ADHD, and I doubt I would have been diagnosed with it.  I was able to behave myself in school and in Brownies/Girl Scouts, and Choir practice.  I loved being busy, and fortunately in school there were enough subjects to hold my interest and homework was not as voluminous as it seems to be for today's children.  My career was great because I was promoted 11 times in the 20 years I worked for one company.  I found I was very good at cleaning up other people's messes, making their departments run very smoothly, and selecting good people for job openings.  Just as I would get things going very well I would be offered another promotion because I was very results oriented.  I never was bored in my jobs and went on to a new one before boredom could occur.

In my personal life I was interested in many hobbies and started many things that I never finished. I found I would get bored with the project before it was completed.  I did not discipline myself to finish one project before allowing myself to start another one.  I would blame this on not having enough time because of my jobs or because of my children needing more of my time.  Then the children grew up and did not need me anymore so my excuse became lack of time due to more demanding positions.

The first red flag appeared when my older sister was getting married, and I was going to crochet an afghan for the new couple.  I started it and tried numerous times to get back to it.  She is now married for the third time, and her husband is 94 and she is 79.  They have been married 35 years, and she still has never received a finished afghan from me.  I married, had children, moved a number of times, divorced my husband, and still never finished the afghan.  In fact, it somehow got stored in the attic of a brand new house and mice came in out of the cold winter and chewed much of the yarn.  It then went into the garbage.

I am sorry to admit that I have numerous UFO's (unfinished objects) in bags, boxes, closets, and even the garage.  Every week I tell myself that this should be the week that I finish at least one item.  I do manage to take one out of a bag or box, but somehow it ends up still unfinished on one of the beds in my guest room (which is currently covered with many projects).  I do plan to finish them, but my attention span is short so it may take awhile to get them finished.

I would love to hear from any of you as to how you

RESIST BOREDOM

WHEN DO YOU START A NEW YEAR? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 95

Today is September 1 here in the United States.  For me this date has always seemed like the start of a brand new year because when my children were growing up it was the start of a new school year for them.  The lazy heat-filled days of summer would be over, and the cool crisp days of fall would be welcomed as the prelude to all of the holiday celebrations.  January 1 never seemed to me like the start of a new year except for the date changes.

As adults when my son and daughter talk about things which happened in the past they identify the timing as what grade they were in school.  They don't refer to a calendar year but rather to 3rd Grade, 6th Grade, or junior high or high school years.  September is the month when families get organized, clean closets, make master calendars to keep up with all the activities, enjoy the start of football season, and see trees turn from green to orange and gold.

September is a new beginning so what plans do you have?  What changes will you make?  Will this be a memorable year for your children or grandchildren?  Although times have changed and the world is in great turmoil, life still goes on so make the most of it

YEAR BY YEAR