The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

That's an expression we've all heard.  I was thinking about it today.  When I think of that expression,  I assume that it's usually associated with someone who is facing a significant change in their life.  Maybe they're faced with some significant problem or issue, and they need to confront it head on.  Maybe the life they've lived in the past is not how they want to live in the future.  Maybe they're facing the prospect of a difficult disease.

All are valid and likely scenarios.  But then I wonder, have I set the bar too high?  Have I made it out in my mind that I'd have to be facing some dramatic situation in life in order to adopt this point-of-view.  And if I have, am I copping out?  Am I avoiding making simple, but necessary changes in my life?  The answer is, probably.  There are a number of improvements I could be making in my life - health, parenting, bad habits (Diet Coke - hello?).  But I don't HAVE to make any changes.  I haven't been confronted with circumstances that absolutely require that I make some life changes.  Nope, for me it's entirely voluntary.

So, does that mean I've gotten to a point where I've just accepted certain things in my life, and I'm unwilling to make the effort to change them?  Perhaps.  Which brings me back to the original thought - The First Day of the Rest of Your Life.  The more I've thought about it, the more I realize that any day, every day can be that day.  Carpe Diem and all that right?

Just four years ago I had made some real improvements in my health and fitness.  Today, I've completely lost those healthy habits, and I'm in worse shape then ever before.  So, I've decided, today can be the first day of the rest of my life.  I don't need some cataclysmic event to motivate me to change.  I just need me to motivate me to change.

Maybe you're in a similar situation. There's some change you've been wanting to make. It's not like a LIFE change.  It's just something you've been contemplating, and putting off because there's really no imperative to make the change.  Well, today is the first day of the rest of your life!  Think about that... It's freeing.  The first day.  There's no expectation.  It's just the first day.  You can't fail. It's only the first day.  No matter how small the change is that you make, it's still a great change because it's the first day. 

Let's get started!