LIFE

Funny how we take life for granted every single day.  When life is so precious and we are never guaranteed that we will have another day.  Over the past year, I have been reminded of this fact over and over. Yet everyone is so busy with making a living, making ends meet, meeting deadlines, rearing kids, ensuring their place in society. We worry about what our neighbors, co-workers, friends and the man on the street think of us that we tend to forget the most important aspect of life.

Being yourself, being happy with whom you are and accepting that God has a true purpose for you. We should be showing those in our lives just how much they mean to us every single day. We should be living our lives and not working ourselves into emotional and physical wrecks.

Oh sure, easy to say and even easier to type; but to truly enrich our lives, we should be focused on ourselves and those in our lives more so than our jobs and status among our peers, co-workers and the man on the street. I know when I was younger; I was focused on a career and my status among co-workers, peers and the man next door.  I see that all that was just an attempt to be accepted by the standards that society had set forth as being the norm.  Sure advancing in my career has provided a nice living. But over the years there were times that the job superseded family, friends and my personal wellbeing.

Anyone that knows me; knows I am far from being labeled as normal in today’s society. I have accepted who I am and I have grown to love the man I have become over the years. I take pride in my family because without them I would not be who I am today. I don’t really care what society says is normal, I don’t care what the man next door thinks.  I strive to show respect to my co-workers for we are all in the same struggle with corporate America. My friends know that they become part of my family and are cared for just as any other family member.

Oh sure everyone needs to be productive to simply survive in today’s society but we should not let our jobs rule our lives. We need to maintain a balance between the job and our personal life. We should not let Society dictate normal but accept that we are all unique individuals. We should not be concern what others think as long as we are true to ourselves and cause no harm to others.

I guess what I am trying to express this week is each of us need to take a step back and reassess our lives every chance possible. The bombing in Boston this week is just another example of how life can change in a heartbeat. Time to reassess, regroup and refocus on life...

Keep Dancin'   Larry B.

Evaluate Your Life Day

This is a bit scary. It sounds just a little bit too serious for my liking. Well that is what Evaluate Your Life Day is all about and October 19^th is that day. And, what if I evaluate my life, and find out that I don't like it????

Well, for starters, you can then make positive changes.

Evaluate Your Life Day gives us the opportunity to pause and reflect upon our life, where it's been, and where it’s going. Come on be honest with yourself. Are things going well? What is bothering you? What do you need, or want, to change? How's your appearance? Are you gaining too much weight?

With a self-evaluation you can then make big changes to improve the quality of your life, as necessary. Or if things are going well, just tinker with small adjustments.

After doing my own self-evaluation, I am on the right path for myself physically. A few months ago, we started a weight watchers program to change our eating habits to a more healthy way of eating. We started an exercise program not to bulk up but simply get ourselves in better shape. After all we are not getting any younger and plan to be together for a very long time.

Okay, so the body is getting under control, what about the mind? I love reading and read approximately 2-4 books a month. Everything I have read states those that read books for enjoyment have fewer issues with dementia with aging. So okay brain seems to be okay.

I have a great professional life at this time. I have been fortunate to have had an interesting career with a great group of people. Although at times the job is stressful and the pressure from those higher up can seem so unappreciative and oppressive, I am blessed with a great boss that is very supportive. So check off Professional life as status quo, no major changes at this time.

I started an Internet business several years ago and the economy knocked us out of making any major achievement with our Gift Basket/Unique Gift venture. We reorganized and continue to struggle to make the right moves to make something of our company.  So there is always changes and education going on with this aspect of my life.

Moving on to my personal life self-evaluation, I have a loving caring family that support and believe in my abilities. I have a great relationship with my best friend. I have a new custom built home. I am living in the area of the country that is feels home to me. I am happy, content and could not ask for anything more.

Oh sure, winning the lottery, becoming financially secure would always be nice benefit for myself and family.  Until then, I will continue to make Evaluate Your Life Day to take a moment to see if there are any changes that I can do to ensure I am on the right path for myself, partner and family.

I believe that Evaluate Your Life Day is the beginning of a happier and healthier you! So why not take a moment and do your own self-evaluation.

Keep Dancing  LB