Take Aim! (Diet for Dreamers)

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We’ve all heard it: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Say what ?! Nobody in his right mind plans to fail. Not intentionally, anyway. But many of us do fail to plan. We fail to set goals, map out what we want to accomplish in life, and strategize how we’ll go about doing it.
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We’ve previously stated that if you don’t shoot for something in life, then you’re not living life to its fullest. Or to put it another way, if you don’t aim for something, then you’ll be … well, aimless! — just shuffling along with no purpose and no hope. Soon you’ll start to shrivel spiritually.

The  writer of Proverbs 29:18 teaches us that “Where there is no vision, the people perish”; so don’t keep living aimlessly. Take aim.

Now, are you ready to fire away? Once you do take aim, everything else boils down to strategy, your plan of attack. Think of a war. Great wars are won with smaller victories won in battles. Your goals will be achieved in much the same way, through the small victories and accomplishments that move you closer to winning your bigger dreams.

And indeed, achieving a truly big dream is much like waging a war, to overcome the obstacles imposed by time, resources, circumstances, and even people who don’t want to see you succeed (for various reasons). Are you strategizing to win the small battles you encounter each day?

So what should we do today? I dunno. How about a catnap?
So what should we do today?                I dunno. How about a catnap?

Every morning you should map out your day. Make a list of things you need to do and want to accomplish. Prioritize your “to do list.” Work to achieve something worthwhile every day. Little steps carefully planned each day can take you far along the path to success.

Novels are written a chapter at a time, chapters a few paragraphs at a time. And even four or five sentences a day can soon lead to an entire book. The key is: have a plan or a list or a strategy EVERY day to accomplish SOMETHING. Take aim in life for the long haul, but also take aim daily. Doing so will remind you of what most needs your attention, help you to stay focused and use your time wisely; and keep you moving forward and on the right track.

Today’s quote for those who dream great things:

Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity and fear of others. Never decide to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can. You would be surprised at what ‘little’ acts have done for our world.  Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

 

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Hump Day Hope & Humor: Almost There!

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We’re halfway to St. Valentine’s Day, a celebration inaugurated to honor a Third-Century Christian. We’ll have more on that story Friday. Today, however, we simply want to remind everyone that there’s no better time to spread a little love and happiness. The Feast of Saint Valentine is not just for married couples or people who are dating. In fact, the holiday didn’t become associated with romantic love until the High Middle Ages (around the 12th Century) when the bawdy storyteller Geoffrey Chaucer popularized the notion. So, feel free to spread some good cheer among your friends and coworkers. Yes, even if you’re not particularly imagecrazy about a few of them. Don’t have coworkers? Then hug your pooch! Don’t have a pooch? Then hug your neighbor’s pooch. Your neighbor doesn’t have a pooch? Then hug your neighbor. No, wait! That might not be the best advice!

Guys, remember that nothing says “I care” quite like flowers. There’s still time to order or grab some from the nearest market. Don’t wait until Saturday morning to arrange things for Saturday night. And if you don’t have enough coin for roses, you can usually find a small, mixed flower “Fun Bunch” at most grocers. Ahem, cards are nice, too.

Ladies, after you finish agreeing with us, please remind yourselves that gift giving is not gender specific. Some ideas: prepare a special meal or dessert; or pick up a little token that let’s him know you appreciate him — like a new pair of socks. (You know, something he can drop on the floor when he pulls them off.)

Make it a point to do something nice for the people you care about and/or appreciate. Help bring a smile to their faces. Make someone happy!

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”   (— Maya Angelou, American author, poet, singer and actress, 1928-2014)

Feeling down?  Get outdoors and enjoy God’s creation. Go for a walk in the park or on the beach. Find a nature trail. Take in a sunset (or a sunrise)! “A walk a day keeps the gloomies away!” (— Norman Vincent Peale)

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