Showing posts with label time. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time. Show all posts

Monday, August 2, 2010

Day # 67 - Happy solitude

There's a song, "The Spirit of Radio" by Rush. The song, for some reason or other, has always inspired me. Back around the time my son Steven was born, in 1990, this song was playing all the time. I came to believe that any time I heard this song, something good would happen. I used to be a superstitious lad. That's all behind me.

I heard the song on Saturday as I was working and reminded myself that good things always would happen when I heard it so I knew Saturday was going to be a good day. Then I realized how screwy my thinking was.

Now, Saturday was a good day, but that had nothing to do with the music playing on the radio, it had to do with the message playing in my head. If my thoughts are positive, my day will be too. Negative thoughts will equal a lousy day. What plays on your car stereo will invariably color your thoughts. This is why I don't listen to news any more. How can you be happy when your ears are constantly assaulted by rape, murder, economic depression, and war. I heard July 2010 was the deadliest month yet for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. This saddens me. Had I read every detail and listened to every report as I would have 67 days ago, it would have depressed the hell out of me. It's bad enough to hear bad news, but to dwell on it... I choose not to anymore.

I love being with my family. I love my friends, but I love myself, too. I am the person I get along with best. Time alone with me is a pretty cool thing. (Many would disagree, I'm sure.) There's something about being alone without music, without TV, without people. It's good to listen to your own thoughts, to pray, meditate, focus, or not focus at all. Make time to do it. Don't say you have no time. If you can update Facebook 20 times a day and watch TV, you can find the time to listen to your mind. Even just a few extra minutes in the shower. Just let the water run over your head and listen to the sound it makes. The extra buck on your water bill is more than worth it and the environment will not be affected. I promise you.

Back to Rush. "The Spirit of Radio" was a catalyst. I was convinced that some outside force determined the kind of day (therefore the kind of life) I would have. I never even played the song although I owned the CD. I am learning day by day about the choices I have to make. I don't live in the past and the only reason I go back to it is to learn. Who cares what's on the radio? What difference can it possibly make? If a song makes you happy, blast it. If it sours your mood, change it! This is why radios bring volume and tuning controls. Use them. And don't forget the radio has an on / off switch. Use that, too. Enjoy the happy solitude.

Today's Lessons:

- You determine the effect of every little thing on your life.
- Spend a little time alone. Get reacquainted with yourself.
- External stimuli can be ignored - especially if they are negative.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- I determine my mood. I decide what kind of day I'm going to have.
- I am happy.

Right now, switch off the computer and spend a couple of minutes alone without TV or radio or people around. Let your mind wander to happy places, your kids, the person you love. Then try to clear your mind. Close your eyes and focus on the dark. Relax. Enjoy. Let me know how it went.

Make it your best day yet. God bless you.

- Adolfo

Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook
Follow A Year Without News

Monday, July 12, 2010

Day # 46 - Habits revisited

Monday and I am draggin' my behind. I don't really feel like writing but here I am. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. I have done 21 days twice and I can tell you writing this blog - writing, period - has become a habit. I am reading more than ever before and it has become a habit for me like it used to be. I have always read, it's just that I'm back to reading like my life depends on it, which it does if you think about it.

I haven't had caffeine in 30 days. I don't miss it. I feel as energetic as ever, and I am sleeping better.

I am eating better. I decided to lose weight, but I knew a diet wasn't the way to go. As long as I was changing my life, I decided to change what I put into my body. I was at my father-in-law's church yesterday and after service we sat down to eat. There were cans of Coke all over the place and it was about 100 degrees in the shade. We ate typical latin food: steak, rice and beans, etc. A Coke would have been outstanding. I stuck to water. Sure, I knew the Coke would have tasted great, but I chose to stick to my plan. Even my dad, on several occasions, offered me a coke. Abby had one. The girls had one. I stuck to water. Not judging anyone, just made my choice and I plan to stick to it.

I slept like a baby last night, by the way.

I am reading a book, "The Billionaire's Vinegar," about the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction. It was a 1787 Chateaux Lafitte which had belonged to Thomas Jefferson. Or had it. I am also continuing my education. I am averaging 2 - 3 hours per day. Less than I would like but more than I'm used to. My goal was 854 hours in 365 days. I am confident I will surpass the goal.

Lessons:

- Stick to your plans, peer pressure and temptation will always be a factor. Rise above.
- Don't judge others. We are all on our own journey.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- I am in control of every aspect of my life.
- There is no habit I cannot break. Nothing is as strong as my will.

Keep it up. Stick to your guns. I know I will. And in 319 days, I will be a better man as a result. What habits are you struggling with? What are you doing about it?

Make today your best day yet! God bless you.

- Adolfo

Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

Friday, July 2, 2010

Day # 36 - A day of rest

Too tired to be inspired. Well, not exactly, but I am tired. Yesterday was a long day that started around 4:00 AM and I didn't get home last night until after 9:00 PM. There was more than the usual amount of stress, some of it involving family. Everything will work out fine, but it's tough in the moment.

So many things happened and the ironic result is that I am left with nothing to write about. But it got me to thinking. (Terrifying, I know.) After 35 straight days of this, I am tired. Just like exercise. If you don't rest between workouts, your body can't recover. Since this is an exercise regimen for the mind, perhaps my mind is a little tired.

I need a break.

I intend to continue this journey and I will continue writing about it, but for today, I am going to go easy. No profound discoveries, no philosophy. Just one word of advice: Rest.

For years I have lived with insomnia. It's gotten better lately and I believe that quitting caffeine and eating better is part of the reason for this improvement. I accepted the condition, never seeing a doctor, always making the most of the extra time it gave me. I still don't plan on doing anything, my self-medication (hooray chamomile - boo caffeine) is working just fine.

But listen to your body and your mind. When you need a break take it. Sometimes you have to push a little farther, but sometimes you have to just let go.

Lessons:

- Rest. Even God took a break on the 7th day.
- Your inbox is supposed to be full. Go home. The work will be there tomorrow.
- You can't be productive if you're exhausted.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better
- I understand the importance of resting my mind and body and I will give both the rest they need
- I will do my best and I accept that I can't do everything. This is why God invented tomorrow

Remember, I am not saying you should quit your job and go surfing. You also shouldn't ignore deadlines. You should, however, find balance and take a nap.

Make it your best day ever. God bless you.


Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Day # 28 - It's a marathon. Not a sprint.

I have never been a patient person. I was always short-tempered, fidgety, it's just my nature. I have no patience. Well, I do now. I am learning it, but it's a long-time habit that won't be broken completely in a mere 28 days. I have been working on improving my patience for a long time and I'm learning tricks. I would like to share them with you.

1. Let it go. Recognize that you can't make everything happen at the speed you want it to happen. Impatience is about not accepting that things are out of your control.
2. Find a distraction. If all you focus on is whatever is causing the impatience, it will only seem worse. For example, if I am ever going any place where I know I'll have to wait, I bring a book. Sure, I could play solitaire on my phone, but that seems like a waste of time.
3. Give yourself time. If you tend to run into traffic every morning, and it causes you stress because you're nervous about being late, give yourself a little time. Listen to a book on CD, use the time wisely. I also find tuning in to classical music helps me. Classical music feeds your imagination in a way that contemporary music just can't.

There are more, but these are the three biggies that pop into mind.

I've been thinking all day about Steve Prefontaine. Prefontaine was a runner who died in the 1970's. He is widely considered to be one of the best runners ever, having won 120 races. I watched a film of his life a couple of years ago and until then I thought running was simply a matter of who was fastest and had the greater endurance. I never would have guessed there was strategy beyond left foot, right foot, repeat.

The truth is there is a lot of strategy that goes into something as simple as a race. There is pacing, there is a time to draft, a time to attack. You need to know what your opponent is doing and what he's capable of. All while pounding the pavement while your lungs overflow with battery acid. For me, a walk to the mailbox is enough to get my lungs aching, but I'm no Prefontaine.

I am impatient. I know that I have a long way to go before my year is up and even longer to be the man I wish to be. My goals are a million miles away and while I am traveling at high speed and have plenty of fuel for the journey, I am becoming bored and my impatience, my ridiculous impatience, is rearing its ugly head.

I know this is a test. I know that this is another withdrawal symptom. I know this is not failure or even a stumbling block. It's part of the detoxification of my character. It's a part of the cleansing of my mind, body, and soul.

Knowing it's a test is no guarantee that I will pass. I know I am vulnerable. I have taken on a lot. In the midst of this experiment, I decided to give up caffeine. It's been 12 days since I've had it and I feel more energized than ever before. In fact, here I am, wide awake. I have not had any fast food in as many days and neither have my children. I am committed to their health and well-being, too. Although, I know they get soda pop at grandma's house. Yeah, I called it soda pop. So what? But in my house, and in my presence, it's water, milk, juice. In that order. We are all feeling better, thank you very much.

So, like a runner, a fat runner with bad knees, I am trudging along. I am tempted to stop and rest, to take a break. No one's watching. No one will ever know, right? Wrong. God knows. I know. This is bigger than one day. This is bigger than one year. This is about all the years that will follow this one. This is about whether the rest of my life will be something of value or just another life.

Lessons:

- It's a marathon. Not a sprint. Plan out the run. Pace yourself.
- There will always be tests. Keep your pencil sharpened and eat a healthy breakfast.
- It's not about the bad. It's about the good. Become a hunter of silver linings.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- I will be patient.
- I will pace myself.
- I will do the right thing because it is the right thing.

Remember, with patience grass becomes milk.

Make it your best day ever. God bless you.

- Adolfo

Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

Monday, June 21, 2010

Day # 25 - So what if it's Father's Day?

Okay, so I got a really nice shirt and a beautiful necktie. Loved them both. Of course, I don't wear ties to work anymore so let me know if anyone's having a wedding I can crash. It was sweet to be with the girls in the morning. AJ came by and spent the afternoon with us and helped me with some work I had to do (yes, I worked on Father's Day - business owners understand.)

AJ is 18 today. We talked about what he's going to do now that high school is fading into glory day status and the future beckons. He mentioned going to school in Europe. I think it's a wonderful idea and I support him a hundred percent. Of course, I immediately shifted into Dad mode, talking about how he needs to find and apply to schools now because we are in the post 9-11 world and the processing could take months if not years and on and on I went.

I think I over did it. He shut down on me. I forget how much like me he is. I also was reminded of how much like my father I am so I know that this will correct itself with time.

Yesterday I wrote about sharing your wisdom. I guess I should have mentioned that sharing and force-feeding are not the same thing. He is a very mature (now 18 year old) boy. Wise beyond his years. But he is still my child and I feel like I have to help him. Sometimes the best way to help is by not helping at all. Sometimes you just have to be there and hope you have answers when they have questions.

When AJ's mother and I went our separate ways, I went into a deep depression. Steven, my oldest, was in New York and I new nothing of him, my marriage had fallen apart, and I was alone, living in my mother's house, divorced with two sons in two different states. I was 21 years old.

I was a high school dropout. I quit my job because I was working for the uncle of the woman who'd just left me. Honestly, that part is hazy. I don't remember how it happened. All I do know is I was unemployed.

In my depression, only one thing kept me together, and that was AJ. I call him Junior, but he now prefers AJ. He kept me from going off the deep end. He kept me sane. He kept me from doing anything stupid.

The point of this is: That while I had failed at so many things by the time I was old enough to have a beer, it was something that was added to my life by a power bigger than myself, something that I didn't ask for or expect, that made my life worth living. It was because of AJ that I didn't give up. Eventually I would drive to New York and reconnect with Steven. I would earn my GED and go to college. I would climb the corporate and social ladder, start businesses, write, and lead organizations. All because a little boy who had no idea how much he meant to his father was placed in my care. All because God entrusted me with one of his angels.

Lessons:

- Tell your parents you love them.
- Tell your children you love them. Tell them as part of your greeting and when you say good-bye. Say it out of the blue. It means more than you know.
- Fathers: You are the model for the man your daughters will marry and the man your sons will be.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.
- Today I will be the parent my children deserve.
- Today I will be the child my parents deserve.
- I am blessed with infinite love, and I will share it.
- I am a positive role model for my children.

When I started writing this morning, I had no ide where I would go with this. It's all stream-of-consciousness, and I don't edit. If it doesn't make sense, that is why. If it does, then that is why.

Make it your best day ever. God bless you.

- Adolfo

Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Day # 20 - Making the moment count.

So, here I am. It's 1:46 AM as I begin to write this. I am exhausted so I hope this will be coherent. If it's not, apologize do truly I. Okay, so exhaustion doesn't make me witty. I get it. Let's move on. I have had insomnia for years. I have a hyperactive mind and it screams during the small hours. Often I supress it and get my five or six (or more) hours and all's good. Other times it becomes too much work to sleep and well, here we are...

I could lay in bed, staring at the darkness, allowing my mind to wander, but I am not at a point where a wandering mind would necessarily be a good thing. I am still learning to master my thoughts and train my mind. So, until I learn to calm the voices in my head, I let them tell me what to write.

I am making these moments count.

I started a new job on Monday and it's, shall we say, challenging. I know the stress and pressure of the new job have to do with it, and it will pass as I settle in, but since I can't fight it - I embrace it.

You may be wondering, so I'll answer: because I don't like taking pills. MaybeI should have had a cup of tea. I will definitely start the tea thing. Chamomille, perhaps.

But what I am doing with these hours is something we should do with every moment in our lives. Don't waste your time. You never get it back. Don't watch the news - again. Don't stare at the TV when there's nothing on. Of course you do that. We've all griped that there's nothing good on TV while sitting our butts on the couch and continuing to watch the nothing.

Pick up a book, for God's sake! It will not kill you, I promise. Unless you pick it up while driving or operating heavy machinery in which case it could kill you, or injure you. But seriously. I know most of you reading this read books - or have in the past. If you've gotten out of that habit, get back into it. Ease into it with an old favorite. I recommend "Green Eggs and Ham," by Dr. Seuss. I mean it. One of the best books I've ever read and I've read thousands of them.

Please understand, I am not talking about any time you can't sleep. I am talking about finding time where you think you don't have any. And I don't mean the only way to spend this time is by reading. Spend time with your family. Take a walk. Work out. Have a conversation with someone you love. Make the moment count.

NEWS FLASH: You ain't gonna live forever. You hear it all the time. No one lays on their deathbed wishing they had watched more TV or spent more time in the office. They would all trade everything they had for more time - with family, friends, lovers, hobbies. The good news is that you don't have to wait until you're on your way out. Make the choice now.

I don't want to die with regrets. Do you? I don't want to wonder what could have been. I don't want to look at my kids and wonder where the time went. I want to look at them and remember how we spent the time.

Lessons:

- Live each day to the fullest.
- Make time for what truly matters. Who cares about the damn oil spill?
- In real life, there are no reruns. If you miss something, you've missed it forever.

Today's Declarations:

- Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better.
- Today, I will begin making each moment count.
- Today, I will align my time with my priorities.
- Today, I will take time wasted on the banal and invest it in tomorrow's memories.

I think I'll read a bit and try to get a few hours of sleep. Very few. I don't want to miss anything.

Make it your best day ever! God bless you.

- Adolfo

Start building your Success Library!
Follow me on Twitter
Friend me on Facebook