What time do you wake up in the morning? Do you sleep until the last possible moment before getting up rushing through a shower, getting dressed, getting the kids ready, and all the rest? Or do you wake up early enough to have time to really prepare yourself for a successful day?
Some people call me a freak because I am usually awake before 5:00AM and I do it without an alarm clock. On Saturday and Sunday, I sleep in, waking up around 6:00 or 6:30. Don't get me wrong, I have overslept on occasion but I can oversleep and still wake up before most people.
Why have we placed such a high premium on sleep? Is it tiredness or is it laziness. We're told to get 8 hours a night. I haven't had 8 hours since I was in grade school and I am not suffering for it. It's how my body is wired and I'm okay with it. Rising early provides "Me" time and productivity time.
My routine goes like this: I wake up on my own and I can usually tell, to within ten minutes, what time it is. Today is one of those days where it was earlier than I thought. I only know this because the computer tells me so.
I lay in bed for about 15-30 minutes. I have always let me thoughts wander during this time, but I have come to the realization that this is destructive so I now guide my thoughts. I guide them toward thoughts of happiness, fulfillment, success, and love. When my mind wanders in a direction I'd rather not go, I reel it back in, and begin the process again. I imagine my day going smoothly. I see myself having a successful day at work. I think about this blog.
This blog had become a source of stress for me. The thought of writing day after day had become a challenge. I changed my approach. I know I am going to write, I know the words will flow, and all I need to think about at that point is what thoughts I will be sharing with you.
Waking up and giving myself this time also relieves the stress of hurrying and gives me time to start missing my children. I think about waking them up and laying out their uniforms. I think about them brushing their teeth and putting on their uniforms. I get to appreciate them for the miracles they are. Why do I want to miss them? It helps me appreciate them.
I think about my sons, who live on their own, and I wonder how their morning will go. I send them love and blessings and positive thoughts. I let them know I am with them. I ask God to send angels to look after them. I declare their happiness and success.
I declare my own success. I declare blessings over my life and my family and friends. I pray for the president and the troops and the children of the world. I pray for peace and joy. I decide it will be a good day.
Then, I get out of bed. Look out world!
Make it your best day. God bless you.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Day # 125 - The Case for Optimism
I used to be of the belief that an optimist is someone who is always disappointed. Somehow that idea was stuck in my head at a young age and it stayed with me for a long time. I imagine the reasoning is that life can't meet optimistic expectations, better to be pessimistic and pleasantly surprised.
I know now what a load of crap that is.
Optimism is, of course, about positive expectations and outlook, but there's more to it than that. Optimism is making the best of what you are given. I expected X but got Y. Rather than complain, be thankful it wasn't Z. Oh, no! Anything but the dreaded Z! Optimism is a choice, it's not predetermined. Sure, some of us have a tendency to be darker than others. I know, I am one of those people who tend toward dark thoughts, anger, and cynicism. Positivity is a choice and it's sometimes hard work. Sometimes I have the need to vent my anger. The difference between now and a couple of years ago is that I get the anger out of my system and move on. I don't dwell on things.
My father always told me that temper tantrums will kill a person. I don't know how factual his statement is, but I tend to agree. Sure, you can have a heart attack even if you're the happiest guy in the world, but something tells me it's more likely if you're an angry sort of fellow. Besides, might as well have fun until the moment arrives. Angry people don't have fun. Pessimistic people don't have fun.
If misery loves company, isolate it and let it die. Choose happiness.
Today's Lessons:
- Choose optimism. I promise you will not be disappointed.
- Smile. It's the first step to a positive outlook.
- Hang around positive people. It's contagious.
Declarations:
- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- I am blessed with a positive outlook and positive expectations.
Make it your best day yet, and remember, the best way to do that is by making the best of whatever kind of day it is.
God bless you.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
I know now what a load of crap that is.
Optimism is, of course, about positive expectations and outlook, but there's more to it than that. Optimism is making the best of what you are given. I expected X but got Y. Rather than complain, be thankful it wasn't Z. Oh, no! Anything but the dreaded Z! Optimism is a choice, it's not predetermined. Sure, some of us have a tendency to be darker than others. I know, I am one of those people who tend toward dark thoughts, anger, and cynicism. Positivity is a choice and it's sometimes hard work. Sometimes I have the need to vent my anger. The difference between now and a couple of years ago is that I get the anger out of my system and move on. I don't dwell on things.
My father always told me that temper tantrums will kill a person. I don't know how factual his statement is, but I tend to agree. Sure, you can have a heart attack even if you're the happiest guy in the world, but something tells me it's more likely if you're an angry sort of fellow. Besides, might as well have fun until the moment arrives. Angry people don't have fun. Pessimistic people don't have fun.
If misery loves company, isolate it and let it die. Choose happiness.
Today's Lessons:
- Choose optimism. I promise you will not be disappointed.
- Smile. It's the first step to a positive outlook.
- Hang around positive people. It's contagious.
Declarations:
- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- I am blessed with a positive outlook and positive expectations.
Make it your best day yet, and remember, the best way to do that is by making the best of whatever kind of day it is.
God bless you.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Day # 124 - Get the Best Deal
We are trained by society to accept what is given to us. We don't go to a marketplace to buy our food and we don't trade the oranges we grew for the rice someone else grew. Everything is packaged, stocked neatly on shelves, and priced to sell. Car dealerships advertise their "No-Haggle" pricing. As if haggling was a bad thing. While I believe business should and could be friendly, I also believe that in order for you to get the best possible deal, you need to remember that the person across the table from you is not your friend. In fact, their interests are in direct conflict with yours.
Say you're buying a car. You find the model you want with the features you need. The sales guy tells you a price. Sure, it sounds like a good price, but is it the best possible deal? Of course not. So, you should haggle. Don't be embarrassed to do it. You are looking out for your best interests and there are plenty of other car dealers out there so be willing to walk away.
If you are offered a job, should you accept the first offer they give you? Absolutely not. Counteroffer. Know your value. If they tell you they are offering you the maximum amount budgeted, it's time to talk perks. Let them know you know what you know. You know?
Why is this important? If you don't negotiate the best possible deal, you will always feel unsatisfied. You will always have that nagging feeling in the back of your head. I am not talking about being greedy, I am talking about not being greedy. I am talking about knowing your value and the value of the things you wish to acquire.
Trust me, I've been on both ends of this. I have done a good job working out a deal, and I've felt the sting of regret several times to. The effort of hard bargaining is a lot easier to swallow.
Make it your best day in every way. God bless you.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Say you're buying a car. You find the model you want with the features you need. The sales guy tells you a price. Sure, it sounds like a good price, but is it the best possible deal? Of course not. So, you should haggle. Don't be embarrassed to do it. You are looking out for your best interests and there are plenty of other car dealers out there so be willing to walk away.
If you are offered a job, should you accept the first offer they give you? Absolutely not. Counteroffer. Know your value. If they tell you they are offering you the maximum amount budgeted, it's time to talk perks. Let them know you know what you know. You know?
Why is this important? If you don't negotiate the best possible deal, you will always feel unsatisfied. You will always have that nagging feeling in the back of your head. I am not talking about being greedy, I am talking about not being greedy. I am talking about knowing your value and the value of the things you wish to acquire.
Trust me, I've been on both ends of this. I have done a good job working out a deal, and I've felt the sting of regret several times to. The effort of hard bargaining is a lot easier to swallow.
Make it your best day in every way. God bless you.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Monday, September 27, 2010
Day # 123 - Show me the MONEY!
Have you ever noticed how rich you are? Seriously. Put down your $5 cup of coffee and your $1,000 computer and think about it for a moment. When was the last time you went to bed hungry? When was the last time you denied yourself something you wanted? The million-dollar Bugatti doesn't count! Do you know hunger? Do you know need? Have you ever worried that a lack of rain meant a lack of food for your family? Or do you complain that rain means no beach, no baseball game, a slower drive to your cushy job, or whatever?
Do you share your blessings? You know, 10% to church, a little to the homeless lady, sponsor a child, donate to a homeless shelter, any of that hokey stuff? Can't afford it? Wow, that must be rough.
I know as well as anyone that times are rough. I was unemployed for a while and fell behind, burned through my savings, etc. I understand the feeling that you have no money, but it is just a feeling. If you believe you are broke, you will always be broke. If you believe in abundance you will attract it into your life, and then you can do all the things I mentioned above. You will be able to make donations to charity and tithe to your church and help those less fortunate and then you will understand the true meaning of being rich. To hell with the toys, I want to touch lives. Think about it. Do you want a nice car in the driveway or an endowment with your name on it that will help kids get through college long after you've moved on to the next dimension?
Think of what you want and you will attract it. Share what you have and you will multiply it. Continue this pattern and God will bless you until your storehouses run over.
This works. I have experienced it. Be grateful for what you have and take care of it. Share it and reap the rewards. Forget recycling, if you want to save the planet, save the people.
God bless you. Make it your best day by making someone else's day better.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Do you share your blessings? You know, 10% to church, a little to the homeless lady, sponsor a child, donate to a homeless shelter, any of that hokey stuff? Can't afford it? Wow, that must be rough.
I know as well as anyone that times are rough. I was unemployed for a while and fell behind, burned through my savings, etc. I understand the feeling that you have no money, but it is just a feeling. If you believe you are broke, you will always be broke. If you believe in abundance you will attract it into your life, and then you can do all the things I mentioned above. You will be able to make donations to charity and tithe to your church and help those less fortunate and then you will understand the true meaning of being rich. To hell with the toys, I want to touch lives. Think about it. Do you want a nice car in the driveway or an endowment with your name on it that will help kids get through college long after you've moved on to the next dimension?
Think of what you want and you will attract it. Share what you have and you will multiply it. Continue this pattern and God will bless you until your storehouses run over.
This works. I have experienced it. Be grateful for what you have and take care of it. Share it and reap the rewards. Forget recycling, if you want to save the planet, save the people.
God bless you. Make it your best day by making someone else's day better.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Day # 122 - The Fight in the Dog
I haven't had a day off since Labor day (is that ironic? I can't decide) so I am getting a little tired. I worked the bar last night and had a little run in with a very scary individual. He was intimidating another patron. I asked him to take a seat and cool it and he mouthed off at me, seeing me as sort of a wimpy little restaurant manager type. I told him that if he didn't cool it not only would I have him removed, I would do it personally, physically. I stood real close and spoke softly, but firmly. No fear. He sat down and shut up.
I could tell he was a bully, maybe he really was a tough guy. He probably could have snapped me in two. But there was no way I would have backed down. Why? Not because I'm tough or spoiling for a fight, but because I was right. I also know that if I backed down once, it would have been the story for the rest of my life in that place. As Darren Hardy says, you make your choices and your choices make you.
He later came over to me, apologized, and told me I "castrated" him. I apologized for being harsh, explaining that it's my job to keep everyone in the place happy and safe. Sounds like a combination of clown and mall cop, doesn't it?
The point is that if you are willing to fight, you typically won't need to fight. If you are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve a goal, you won't have to do it all; life will step in and help you. Your confidence will carry you a long way - and save your neck. I am not talking about bar fights, I am talking about life. Be prepared, be confident, and be willing to do whatever you have to do. I was willing to grab that man by the neck if necessary. He saw that in my eyes and as a result we ended the evening with handshakes instead of handcuffs.
As Mark Twain once said, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
He was referring to attitude and will. We can all use more of those.
Make it your best day yet. God bless you. And as Billy Joel once said, "Don't take no s**t from nobody!"
-Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
I could tell he was a bully, maybe he really was a tough guy. He probably could have snapped me in two. But there was no way I would have backed down. Why? Not because I'm tough or spoiling for a fight, but because I was right. I also know that if I backed down once, it would have been the story for the rest of my life in that place. As Darren Hardy says, you make your choices and your choices make you.
He later came over to me, apologized, and told me I "castrated" him. I apologized for being harsh, explaining that it's my job to keep everyone in the place happy and safe. Sounds like a combination of clown and mall cop, doesn't it?
The point is that if you are willing to fight, you typically won't need to fight. If you are willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve a goal, you won't have to do it all; life will step in and help you. Your confidence will carry you a long way - and save your neck. I am not talking about bar fights, I am talking about life. Be prepared, be confident, and be willing to do whatever you have to do. I was willing to grab that man by the neck if necessary. He saw that in my eyes and as a result we ended the evening with handshakes instead of handcuffs.
As Mark Twain once said, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog."
He was referring to attitude and will. We can all use more of those.
Make it your best day yet. God bless you. And as Billy Joel once said, "Don't take no s**t from nobody!"
-Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Day # 121 - Bury the TV
So I worked an event last night. Wine and food - the usual. Beautiful people and not so beautiful people sipping wine, making conversation, and blah blah blah. I ran into a few old friends and made some new acquaintances and I was surprised at how often TV shows came up in conversation. It seems our "cleverness" is created by Hollywood writers.
Yesterday I wrote about TV for kids and how it's all sarcasm. TV for grown ups is basically the same but with sex added.
Oddly, I didn't feel deprived or even disengaged although I had nothing to say about current events or the latest sitcoms. I steered the conversation back to the banalities I am more familiar with.
Do not fear life without TV. I am proof that you will survive - even in social situations. Take the challenge: One hour of time you would normally spend in front of the tube dedicated to something else. See what a difference it makes.
You'll be glad you did.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Yesterday I wrote about TV for kids and how it's all sarcasm. TV for grown ups is basically the same but with sex added.
Oddly, I didn't feel deprived or even disengaged although I had nothing to say about current events or the latest sitcoms. I steered the conversation back to the banalities I am more familiar with.
Do not fear life without TV. I am proof that you will survive - even in social situations. Take the challenge: One hour of time you would normally spend in front of the tube dedicated to something else. See what a difference it makes.
You'll be glad you did.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
Friday, September 24, 2010
Day # 120 - Kill Your TV
With the exception of football, I have watched no TV for a couple of weeks. I'm sure I will occasionally watch the Travel Channel, sports, Discovery, etc., but what started off as a quest to live news-free has evolved.
My sister was right. She predicted that eventually I would do away with TV altogether. Ana doesn't watch TV at all. Her children have never seen a TV commercial. Seems impossible, doesn't it? Your initial reaction is that there's something wrong with that picture. Think about it a little more and you'll see there's nothing wrong with it. Everything about it is correct and perfect.
I haven't, until now, been so diligent about protecting my kids from negative influences. And yes, TV is a negative influence. My daughters are seven and five. They watch Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Have you ever watched these crap factories? The shows are all boring, with no basis in reality (Hannah Montana, iCarly) and instead of humor, they're sarcastic. (I know some of you will say TV is supposed to be an escape and therefore need not be based in reality. This is what cartoons are for. Those suck now, too, by the way.) I watch the girls watching these shows. They don't laugh, but they are convinced these shows are funny. Could it be the canned laughter played after every "joke" has them convinced that what they're watching is funny? That's my bet.
So, there's no TV for them either. Guess what? They're fine. I occupy their minds with other things. I convinced them to do their homework at Grandma's house immediately after school and I reward them with a trip to the park or the YMCA. Otherwise, they would sit in front of the Idiot Box for three hours while waiting to be picked up and do homework at home and go to bed. All crap - no exercise. A sure formula for failure and obesity. My kids deserve better and it's my responsibility to provide it.
Start with an hour a day. Turn off the TV and read a good book or take a walk or whatever. Feed your mind. Do the same for your kids if you have any. You'll be glad you did.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
My sister was right. She predicted that eventually I would do away with TV altogether. Ana doesn't watch TV at all. Her children have never seen a TV commercial. Seems impossible, doesn't it? Your initial reaction is that there's something wrong with that picture. Think about it a little more and you'll see there's nothing wrong with it. Everything about it is correct and perfect.
I haven't, until now, been so diligent about protecting my kids from negative influences. And yes, TV is a negative influence. My daughters are seven and five. They watch Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. Have you ever watched these crap factories? The shows are all boring, with no basis in reality (Hannah Montana, iCarly) and instead of humor, they're sarcastic. (I know some of you will say TV is supposed to be an escape and therefore need not be based in reality. This is what cartoons are for. Those suck now, too, by the way.) I watch the girls watching these shows. They don't laugh, but they are convinced these shows are funny. Could it be the canned laughter played after every "joke" has them convinced that what they're watching is funny? That's my bet.
So, there's no TV for them either. Guess what? They're fine. I occupy their minds with other things. I convinced them to do their homework at Grandma's house immediately after school and I reward them with a trip to the park or the YMCA. Otherwise, they would sit in front of the Idiot Box for three hours while waiting to be picked up and do homework at home and go to bed. All crap - no exercise. A sure formula for failure and obesity. My kids deserve better and it's my responsibility to provide it.
Start with an hour a day. Turn off the TV and read a good book or take a walk or whatever. Feed your mind. Do the same for your kids if you have any. You'll be glad you did.
- Adolfo
http://ayearwithoutnews.blogspot.com
http://www.honeybeepartyrental.com
http://www.facebook.com/adolfojimenez1
http://www.twitter.com/adolfojimenez
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