HOPE:" Hope is not the closing of your eyes to the difficulty, the risk, or the failure. It is a trust that if I fail now, I shall not fail forever; And if I am hurt, I shall be healed. It is a trust that life is good, love is powerful and the future is full of promise! Author unknown Powerful words, don't you think? As I was struggling to write this month's newsletter, I stumbled across this quote I keep in my wallet. It really moved me this time and I kept coming back to it, because it reminds me of what the New Year holds for each of us; hope! Hope for a better tomorrow that is filled with greater health, love, peace and happiness, etc. The New Year represents a fresh start, clean slate or second chance. It's the time of year when we reflect on the past and renew our commitment to become our best selves and do more than we've previously done. To paraphrase Denzel Washington, "I really believe we are already great and destined to leave some kind of mark in this world. I also believe we're meant to walk a certain path at a certain time and meet up with certain people who help shape our lives. From time to time we hit bumps in the road, miss the marks along the way and need a push to get us back on track." Happy New Year MEME 2020 Getting back on track requires rest and reflection though so we can process where we've been, how much we've grown and how much stronger we are as a result of our successes and failures. With that knowledge, we then can gratefully and gracefully release the past and renew ourselves by creating a new course of action which opens doors to our future. So as you start fresh this New Year, I invite you to first reflect on all you've accomplished this past year. This is a great exercise to write down on paper because we don't always realize how much we've achieved and grown until we do so. You'll be amazed how much more you will remember and be proud of, which will only fuel you with more HOPE for an even better New Year! Let It Begin With YOU! Tips for creating successful resolutions Try Again. We've all broken past resolutions but that doesn't mean you can't be successful. Think positive and about what obstacles got in your way last time. How will this goal end differently this year? Or, do you need to let it go? Don't make too many resolutions. Deciding to lose weight, exercise more, get a new job and quit smoking is too much to tackle at once. Choose the most pressing issue and stick to it. Trying to do everything at once practically guarantees failure. Choose your own goal. Before you decide what to commit to make sure you are the primary reason for setting this goal vs. friends, family or society. Do I feel energized by this goal? Does this goal fit into my life purpose? Devise a plan and write it down. Plan what you'd like to accomplish in small increments. Small goals give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated. Write them down. It's a fact: writing down your goals gives you higher chance of success. Believe and visualize. There are hundreds of stories about the power of visualization in helping people achieve their goals. Hence the saying, if you can see it, you can believe it... so visualize once a day. What would it look like? How would it feel? Tell People. Let your biggest fans in on your new goals for the new year. Get Accountability. Better than telling others about your goals is getting accountability. Meet with a group or friends who will ask you, "how's your goal going." Hire a coach. Talk with your partner and ask for support! Focus with helpful reminders. Once you've got your goals in place, figure out ways to remind yourself. Put post it notes on your bathroom mirror, in your car, on your calendar. Find ways that work for you. Forgive yourself. If you get off track, don't give up.. No one is perfect and persistence is the key. Review your plan, make necessary adjustments and get back on track. Celebrate. Reward yourself when you reach your goals! Amy Coughlin is a Certified Wellness Coach whose practice is designed to educate and empower individuals to take significant and preventative steps in their long-term health and wellness. Ultimately, her education, coupled with her expertise in corporate training and recruitment, has inspired her to coach individuals and corporate groups in wellness education programs. If you want to improve your food, mood, and life, call me to experience a complimentary health history. You will be glad you did!
One of the most memorable New Year's Eve celebrations I have ever attended was in Pietralunga, Italy. My husband, Bert, and I had left the States the day after Christmas and arrived at our house, Caifiordi, on Dec. 27th. Our initial plan had been to spend a quiet New Year's Eve with a home cooked Italian meal by the fireplace at Caifiordi. Nothing wrong with that plan; it would have been delightful. Our sense of adventure took over, however, when we heard that one of the hotels in Pietralunga had a huge New Year's Eve celebration including dinner and dance. At this point in time, our Italian was deplorable so we were very uncertain as to the details of this celebration. The only thing we knew for certain was the location. So we dressed in our finery and made our way to the Candeletto, the Swiss looking hotel in the tourist zone outside Pietralunga. We arrived a little after 8, which we thought would be in keeping with the normal Italian custom of eating dinner late. W...