Thoughts for the New Year(cross post)

[Guest guest]

I think this year I have finally learned some life lessons and

wanted to share them with you! I realized that in life we make

choices on our roads/paths/journey based on a lot of factors – what

others want us to do, what we think we want to do, what is easiest

and what is expected of us. Looking back over the year I have

finally realized that not only are these all the wrong reasons to

approach life's journey - they are the wrong way to approach

anything.

Who every heard of someone taking off for a hike without planning,

figuring out if they had the right equipment, the right map, the

right tools and the right plan? But when most of us look back at

our life – that's not exactly how we have approached it. Mostly we

just punt – take the easy way – not a very smart approach when you

look back at it!

For the past two years I have been on a semi-planned journey! I

made some pretty important choices in my life to help me prepare for

what I wanted to achieve in this new year. For the first time I

have a plan for the year with all the pieces in place and even if

life throws a curve ball – I will be a healthy, strong and

emotionally balanced person who can handle what is thrown at me!

1. The band – a tool to help me address my issue of weight for once

and all.

2. I started to look for reasons that I had gained the weight – not

all of them were obvious – and not all of them were related to being

hungry either! Head issues are not always obvious – and don't all

show up at first. In fact some of the hardest issues showed up when

I got to goal weight!

3. Reviewed my relationship with others close to me – friends,

family and co-workers. If these people were not healthy, not

working towards health, not positive and focused – they were moved

out of my life. Yes it was hard – hurtful to some – hurtful to me

but in the long run much healthier for all of us! With my husband –

we are now in counseling – and moving forward – into a much

healthier relationship – and it was pretty decent to begin with!

4. Work – for the first time in my life I turned down a job that

made more money, had a great title and would have made me crazy if I

had taken it! Instead I took at job with a company that respects

me, that respects our customers and let's me enjoy my time spent

here. Yes it's less money and not a title that I would have ever

considered two years ago – but it makes me happy! Happy to be a

work! What a concept!

5. Focus – I have so much more energy now and was being a bit

scattered with what I did! I have cleaned out the path – and am

focusing on a few important areas – not on a lot of areas!

For the first time in my life I feel that I am making positive

changes and that I have started to gain control of my life and the

destination and path to it is mine in the making!

So – I challenge each of you! Take a strong look at your life and

what's in it. Are you really planning your journey? Are you taking

the steps to make yourself successful? It doesn't happen in a day –

it has taken me two years of work, sweat and baby steps – but what

an amazing feeling it is!

Happy new year to all of you! May your journey be fruitful and

planned with care!

DonnaC Seattle

Dr. Kuri 3/22/03

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