Happy Mick's up New Year

3... 2... 1... Happy New Year!!

How did you bring in the New Year?

It was fun to think of where around the globe it was turning 2013 at different hours throughout the day.  Even while I write this, it's still not 2013 where I am, and when it's completed and the first readers see it, the count-down will still be going in other parts of the world.


We look ahead, and the usual thing to do, of course, is to set goals for success and self-improvement.  I don't like to make New Year's Resolutions, because of a fear of failure, I think.  However, I do admit that I consider what habits I plan to change.  We all know, though, (don't we?) that a person is more likely to accomplish the goals, when they are written down. Maybe that should be my New Year's Resolution for 2013:  write down the goals!

However, not only is it good to look ahead.  It is also good to look back and see how we've grown.


This week, I have seen and heard several wonderful bits of advice for how to ring in the New Year.  As my 100th post in this Mick's up Life, what better way to celebrate than to be an encouragement for anyone wishing to make the most of the upcoming 365 days?!

Here are the tidbits I collected from some very wise sources:

• List out what God has done for you over the past year. Thank those who have been influential in your life. Forgive. ("How to End the Year" by Doug Phillips of  Vision Forum Ministries)
• Put on the right "clothing," as listed in Colossians 3:12-14: "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience... forgive... And over all these virtues put on love...." ("My New Wardrobe For 2013" by Rev. William Dillon II)
• Praise God for the history of His marvelous deeds. ("He Has Done Great Things" by Michaele Lavigne in Reflecting God: Devotions for Holy Living) 
• Keep focused on the big picture!  Don't let little stresses take your eyes off the real goal and what is truly important overall.  As Romans 15:13 says: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  ("The Big Picture" by Joni Eareckson Tada)

"Reflect upon your present blessings,

of which every man has many - 

not on your past misfortunes,

of which all men have some."

(Charles Dickens)

Take some time right now to reflect, praise, and move forward!

Happy New Year!

Enjoy this song I was just introduced to today:
Happy New Year by Steven Curtis Chapman.  

"The God who made everything is making everything new."

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

the new creation has come:

The old has gone,

the new is here!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

~

A Goal-setting Mick’s up

My husband and I are excited to start off the new year debt free!!  Whew!  What a load off our shoulders!

We have made many dumb decisions over the years, but with the help of family along the way and financial common-sense taught in settings like Financial Peace University, we dug ourselves out of the mess, and now we can have a fresh start, doing it all the RIGHT way.

It is a wonderful feeling to not be in debt:  no car payments, no business debt, no college debt, no credit card payments.  It is amazing how much stress we don’t even realize we are putting on our bodies, when we are under the weight of debt.

It’s the same with all areas of our lives.  Do you have dreams, goals, a mission in life?

God wants us to be successful.  Follow His guidance.  Seek His direction.  Write out goals and a mission statement to help you be more productive where God wants you to be, so you can bring glory to Him.

To be more successful at reaching our goals, Dave Ramsey gives us some goal-setting techniques:  set a time limit, make it specific, take ownership, make it measurable, put it in writing.  He also guides us in clarifying our dreams and missions.

If finances is an area of focus for you this year, start out with developing an emergency fund.  That is an extremely important first step! From there, work on a budget, maybe even learning along the way through a class, like Financial Peace University. 

Of course, Dave Ramsey isn’t the only resource out there, even though my husband and I found his M.O. to be the most effective. There are other resources, such as Larry Burkett’s Financial Matters renamed to Crown Ministries, as well as Kerry K. Taylor’s blog Squawkfox, where you can find budgeting tools and the free eBook Frugal Food and Fitness.

If workouts is an area of focus for you this year, try using a workout log, and remember to only do a short amount at a time.  (Don’t discourage yourself!)  Why not add nutrition to that focus?  It does, after all, work together with exercise to bring you fitness. 

Now, just add proper rest and a healthy nervous system, and you’ll find yourself heading toward overall wellness!

While the holiday memories are still fresh in your mind, why not make use of the Holiday Expense Tracking Worksheet and be a step ahead for planning next Christmas?

Well, one of the changes I’m making for 2012 is not posting daily.  I will be changing my schedule to one or two posts weekly, instead.  I truly enjoy sharing my research with Mick’s up Life readers, and I can still supply the same amount of information, while reaching goals in other areas of my life at the same time.  Let me know if there are certain days, topics, etc. that you prefer reading. 

Now, go set those goals!  Happy achieving!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

~

Mick's up Buddies

Do you have an exercise buddy?  When I coached at our local Curves®, a lot of the members enjoyed working out with a buddy.  It really helped them to keep up their visits at the gym... so much so, that if their workout buddy didn't make it to the gym, neither did they.  Even worse, if one buddy quit, both quit.  So, except for these last statements... the ones about not working out and quitting..., having a workout buddy really is a great thing.

We covered the importance of accountability earlier this week, so why not relate it to exercise?

"The average female will shed more than 10 pounds when she has girlfriends who are willing to eat healthily and train with her.  But a fifth of those who choose to go it alone don't drop a single pound." (Daily Mail Reporter)

That's enough of a reason!  Isn't it?

I must admit.  I do exercise on my own, more than with a buddy.  However, when dealing with factors like injuries or yucky weather, it's easier to talk myself out of my workout than if I have someone relying on me to back them up.

It's been a fun year, watching my family blossom into mini-athletes.  It really helps that my husband has more energy from our lifestyle change, and now initiates outside play with the kidderz, as well as MaxT3 workouts with me.  What a surprise to have a new workout buddy in my own house!

Even though it is more fun with a buddy, I did witness, as a coach, more talking than exertion at the gym.  (That doesn't happen at our house.  I don't allow any slacking.  Just ask my hubby.)  So, beware.  Make sure you are truly keeping each other accountable, if you're serious about making it worth your while and reaching your weight loss and fitness goals.

Do you need that extra boost from a buddy?  There are tips on seeking out the right person.

I don't know about you, but I certainly get more competitive when I'm working out with someone else.  That makes me work harder, which of course makes it a much better workout.

So, get a great workout, bring someone along, and have fun!

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.
They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

~

Mick’s up with Accountability

As we look at our stress levels and attitude toward each day’s events, let’s also look at who we hang around.

Dave Ramsey says in his lessons in Financial Peace University:  If you want to be rich, talk to rich people, and do what rich people do.

Why don’t we look at that for our health and wellness, too.  Doesn’t it make sense to seek out people you want to be like?  I’m not saying you should be judgmental and snobbish.  We certainly are placed in people’s lives to make a difference, for the glory of God.  However, you can’t constantly give without refueling… and how you refuel is important.  We can view this in a spiritual sense as well as in a health sense.

Think about it.  If weight loss is your goal, but you are regularly joining in get-togethers with friends who eat out constantly… and not healthily… then isn’t that going to have a negative impact on your health?

That’s why it’s always helpful to have an accountability partner… again, spiritual and wellness.  You know how difficult it is to “diet” and cook healthy meals at home, when the rest of the family is still eating the same stuff you are all familiar with… the stuff that you now realize is keeping you from being fit.  It’s not easy stepping out of that comfort zone with your family… so you can imagine it seems almost impossible to make the necessary changes without the support of your family.

Bring somebody along on the journey with you.

I explained this concept to my 8-year-old daughter last month.  After spending time with friends, I asked her if she noticed how addicting the munchies seemed to be to those we were with.  She did.  I then pointed out what ingredients made up the munchies, and I asked her if she thought those were what we like to include in our foods.  She knows they are not.  I asked her if she thought the friends seem to be a healthy bunch.  She understood that they are not.  I then explained that, just because the munchies had the word “veggie” in the name, the friends thought they were healthy.  To them, healthy and tasty meant they should eat more!  By not paying attention to the ingredients, the friends got pulled into thinking they were eating something good for them, and they allowed themselves to get hooked on the taste.

The moral of the story is:  Just because the name sounds healthy, and just because your friends are eating it, does not mean the food is guaranteed to be a healthy choice.  As I’ve said before, look at the ingredients, and know what you’re looking out for!  If you’re hanging around people with similar health goals, you can help each other out, and you won’t get drawn to bad eating habits… at least not without facing your accountability partner.

Seek out an accountability partner today!

…there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)

~

What’s a Good Read, Mick’s?

Driving in the car and running errands this morning was refreshing, as I listened to some great stuff on the radio.  It was a wonderful way to start the week.  Getting a good mindset on a Monday morning can mean nothing but a positive outlook for the rest of the week.

Setting goals, like we did in the meeting I attended this afternoon, can get the week off to an excellent start.  What do you plan to accomplish this week?  How about this month?  Take some time now to block out segments in your calendar to adequately get you on your way to success.

I have recently set for myself a goal of reading one nonfiction book every month - preferably on management, leadership, or lecturing - especially since a business acquaintance highly suggested it.  I plan to stick to it.  Being a mom, wife, and business lady, I run into challenges with the scheduled reading time.  I know you know how it is.  You probably have more challenges than I have.  I can almost guarantee it.  However, we owe it to ourselves, and those we are taking care of, to do our best to reach these self-improvement goals.  I’m going to do it!

"Nourish the mind like you would your body. The mind cannot survive on junk food." Jim Rohn

I’m going to start making a list of books and blocks of time.  I’ve already considered Dave Ramsey’s suggested reading list, as well as other good reads I hear about and write down.

A book mentioned on the radio this morning is “Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild.” I would not normally pick a book like this myself, if I just read the cover and brief introduction, but the reviews are good.  I might have to look into it.

Later on the radio, I was reminded of another book that has been suggested to me several times:  “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back, Deluxe Edition.”  I guess it’ll have to get put on my list, too, especially after I enjoyed reading a similar book this summer:  “The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven: A Remarkable Account of Miracles, Angels, and Life beyond This World.”

You might have some other goals in mind.  Write them down.  Visualize them.  Imagine the feeling of accomplishing the goals.  Use the formula I heard about today that is from an inexpensive e-book titled, “The God Formula.” 

Whatever you do, be sure to allow time in your schedule for you!

Mmmmmm… A nice cool evening is a great time to curl up with a good book!  What do you think?

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips;

meditate on it day and night,

so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

~