Stuck on Step #2

I used to believe that I had life all figured out. As I saw life, it was a pretty straight forward three step process:

Step #1 - Observe and determine what needs to be done.
Step #2 - Do it.
Step #3 - Reap the benefits.

I guess maybe that philosphy might be accurate, but I think I need to add some detail to some steps. For instance, at the moment I seem to be stuck at step two. But I think that's nothing new. I think I've been stuck at step two for quite some time. Most people can probably identify with me here. For example, as difficult as losing weight may be, it's a piece of cake (note sweet food reference) compared to keeping the weight off. I know of some people who can truthfully say they've lost TONS of weight over several years. Of course as soon as they've lost the weight, they seem to find it again. The best goals in the world won't help a person who for whatever reason refuses to move toward that goal AT THIS MOMENT.

Take me for example. I know what I need to do in order to lose weight, have a super marriage, get rich, etc. I just seem to refuse to do it AT THIS MOMENT.

This causes me to wonder. Why do I not do what I 'want' to do? Do I not want it bad enough? Do I truly NOT want it at all? Am I just plain lazy?

I think maybe I'm just undiciplined. Which begs the question "How does one develop self-discipline?"

Stick around as I try to figure this one out.

Check back soon (and often),

Dave and (The Princess) Julie

Now What....

One week ago today I graduated from the University of Findlay. If you were a fan of the TV show "The Wonder Years" then you remember the character Kevin's observation on life "Life never goes quite the way you have it planned". Once again, I'm living proof of that. This degree is, and has always been, considered a waypoint on the educational portion of my journey through life. Unfortunately, having reached that waypoint I find that I'm "out of fuel" (that being money) to continue my educational journey for the time being.
So I find myself with a decision to make. What should I do with my life while I wait to assemble the financial resources to continue on to graduate school? Borrowing an idea from the folks in Real Estate, I'm looking for the "highest and best use" of my time and my life. I have a few ideas I'd like to share (and have your comments on)

1. Take better care of this body I've been loaned. - In the course of only taking two semesters off over the the last five years, I've really let my health go. I spent too much time living on fast food, heavy metal 'motivational' music, and MASSIVE amounts of caffeine.
2. Get my financial house in order. - Like my physical health, while I was running 'helter skelter' through classes (and the rest of life) I only payed the absolute minimum of attention to finances, reducing debt, budgeting, planning, saving, etc. In short, I created a mess. Now I need to clean it up.
3. Spend appropriate time on the vineyard and developing landscaping here on the farm. - I can't thank my mom and dad enough for the hours they've spent in the vineyard while I was reading, writing, researching, or just collapsed in exhaustion.
4. Practice what I preach!
Early in my blogging history I said I wanted to focus on living a 'balanced' life. What I have done over the past few years is the absolute OPPOSITE of that. I need to bring my focus back to my Family, my Faith, and my Friends.
And I have to thank The Princess beyond all. A lesser woman would have 'bailed out' to save herself. The Princess has been my biggest supporter, cheerleader and 'cattle prodder' when necessary. I can't thank her enough.
One of my goals in regaining balance is to blog more often. I hope you'll all continue to stick with me through "Mi Vida Loca".

Check back soon (and often),
Dave and (The Perpetually Patient Princess) Julie

Reboot

Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”

4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.

6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”

7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.

10. You will forget all this.