Happy New Year
I hope that 2012 is a wonderful year for everyone. As I was reflecting on the past year and listening to the commentators on the TV talk about their “New Year’s Resolutions” I began to think that this is familiar. Each year you hear about the same resolutions. I will eat less, I will go to the gym, I will write thank you notes and so on. But in reality very few of these resolutions are actually implemented long term. I think we want to improve, but we are just not committed to do what is necessary. This past year was a very interesting year for me personally. I started a new company, my daughter started college, and I was diagnosed with Diabetes. I was able to plan for the new company and Meg going to college (but you can never plan enough), the challenge came with the Diabetes. For many years I have struggled with my weight. I knew that I should lose about 30 or 40 pounds and each year I would start at the gym and go on the South Beach Diet and loose 10 or so pounds. It was an annual tradition to show up at the YMCA for about a month and then life got busy and it was soon cut out of my routine. In August I went to urgent care because I thought I had broken my arm and needed an x-ray, I mentioned that I had some cramps in my legs and the doctor took some blood to see what was going on and was going to have a radiologist read the x-ray. The next day we took Meg to college and I got a phone call from my doctor. He told me there was no problem with my arm but I was a diabetic and I needed to get medicine right away. Needless to say this was a shock to me and the next week was quite an education as I read all I could about diabetes. While meeting with my primary doctor she said something that changed the way I approached my weight. She told me either I manage the diabetes or it will manage me. In reality it quickly moved from the resolution to a commitment. I have lost over 40 pounds and have about 10 more to go, but I feel better and watch what I eat as well as when I eat. The lesson I learned from this experience is that when you truly commit to something amazing results can happen. What are the resolutions that you have made that really need to be commitments. If they involve financial planning let me know and I would love to help. The second lesson I learned is don’t wait for it to be a major problem before you commit to addressing the problem. I had known for several years that I needed to do something about my weight. Now my cholesterol, blood pressure and weight are all at normal or better levels and I look forward to the great year ahead.
I wish everyone a healthful and prosperous New Year and let’s move some of those resolutions to commitments.
Steve