2013 will be what you make it
Article content
A happy and healthy New Year to Tillsonburg! Now, I figure, that if you are healthy and happy that you will have a great year for they are the two main ingredients of life and two that you have greatest control over.
It is true! No one is control of your happiness but yourself. What, you think that your debt problems are because of the bank? You can’t be happy because you can’t go to Florida this year? Your girlfriend just dumped you? Do you think you are the only one in life that has problems? Every day can present a problem but they don’t have to ruin your day, week or life. First, stop whining about it. Oh yes, even your best friend, parents or spouse get tired of the constant whine on how tough life has been for you. Suck it up. If you listen to others you would probably find they have more problems than you.
After you stop whining, start figuring out how you can alter the situation. The key word there was YOU. Not your boss, not your spouse or brother: you. Take responsibility for your own actions. If there is a real problem you can’t change, ask respectfully for some ideas or assistance. You may not be able to change the problem but you can change your attitude. Instead of complaining about your crappy job, that doesn’t pay enough and works you to hard, just start considering the alternative with no job and no money coming in. Start being thankful for what you have. Change your attitude and the job suddenly becomes better!
You can make your day a ‘good day’ by finding something good in it like waking up. That is a good start. How about trying to make every one of your co-workers or people you meet smile. It isn’t very hard, you know. Do something nice for someone else for a change. You will find that nice things begin happening to you! If things are not going they way you thought they should be, stop take responsibility of the situation and change it or walk away.
You don’t have to hang around with people who do nothing but complain, they won’t change with you then find people to be with that are upbeat, laugh and enjoy life and do what they do.
Now many would not think you have much control over your health, but you do. You can start right now to stop doing the things you know are unhealthy. Don’t look so innocent, you know them: smoking, drinking, junk food, too much coffee, too many energy drinks and too much television.
I hate ‘New Year’s resolutions’ so don’t voice one, instead just start getting rid of the bad and start doing the good. Get out of the house, go for a walk or head over the Tillsonburg Community Centre because they can find a program to energize your life that suites you. That could be working out, or aerobics or if you need something gentler (like me) there is Aqua Fit and other programs I know nothing about.
You may feel that your chance at a healthy New Year is already thwarted with bad health, but you will be surprised at how much better you feel by altering your diet, habits and getting even a wee bit of exercise. The whole point is making your body the best it can be. Whether you are fighting cancer; recovering from heart problems; have a chronic debilitating disease like Crohn’s disease or Fibromyalgia, you can still feel better by making your body the best it can be. How can your fight the big illness when you weigh it down with smoking or stimulants or you not feeding the proper foods to help heal?
Like your happiness, your health allows you the other alternative. If you can’t change the problem you need to change your attitude toward your problem.
You don’t need to tell me that that is very easy to say and very hard to do. I have not only been there and done that, I must continue to do it all the time. I started having surgeries in public school on my feet and knees. I could never run or kneel or play sports. So? I did music and theatre. I had to leave nursing because of my health so I became a travel agent. Then I couldn’t even do that with Fibromyalgia.
So I had to make that choice. Do I curl up in a ball on the bed, cry and whine that my life will never be the same? Or do I find something else I can do? So now I design scenery and write articles and do historical research from my lazy boy chair with my laptop and can still manage to rehabilitate one litter of orphaned skunks in a season. But I am still being useful. I am still helping in my community. That gives me self worth and joy.
I had difficulty with each new downward turn but I have surrounded myself with others who support me and help me figure out how to change things so I can do them. I hang out with people who are uplifting.
One of the best places I’ve learned how to change my attitude was from the Alpha Course which strengthened my faith and helped me realize there are many ways you can be healed. Hey! When you are a mess, what have you got to lose by trying? Think about it.
I am not wishing you a healthy and happy New Year I want you to go out and make 2013 a healthy and happy New Year!