Ahhhh, January….

… that time of year when all the excitement of the holidays has come and gone, when the weather starts getting serious, and when we have the time to concentrate on….. yes, ourselves. Maybe we indulged a little to enthusiastically at the Holiday Tables… maybe we really do need to lose a pound or two… or get into the rhythm of a regular exercise program… or get after that store room that holds the box of photographs that Aunt Maggie left in our “capable hands.”

So, that becomes our New Year’s Resolution and we, each year, are bound and determined to stick to it, come hell or high water… We demand of ourselves an immediate success and when that success is elusive????? Well, the “hell and high water” win once again.

One problem is that we think we have to drastically change our habits in order to succeed at whatever promise we made to ourselves to be “better,” when in fact, we can only “Start From Where [We] Are.” By making small strides, reaping small successes, we organically and naturally flow into the habits that bring the success we so desperately wanted, but gave up on when the success was not immediate.

Remember, “time takes time…” and really, you can only “Start From Where You Are.”

START FROM WHERE YOU ARE

“Of course, you say, most incredulously,
“Where else would one start from, anyway?”
You’d be surprised at the amount of time
People wait for conditions to be okay
Before springing into action on the rest of their lives;
Before starting on the road to make things happen.
Don’t wait until you think conditions are perfect.
The opportunity to move on doesn’t come that often.

Start where you are and use what you have.
You’ll gain more as you continue to move.
If you stand still, the world will pass you by,
But as you progress, conditions will improve.

Motion is where your ideas will come from.
You’re your own rhythm section as you continue your way.
Your dance of life will move effortlessly
As you pursue your endeavors with an attitude of play.

Explore and thrive, always challenging yourself
To greater and higher participation as you grow.
Don’t sit idly by, watching the world whirl past.
Be alert. Join the dance. Be the flow.