Use These Five Little Words to Improve 2010

Welcome to the first year of the second decade of the first century of the third millennium.

That New Year’s greeting couldn’t have been more confusing if three overpriced lawyers had spent 12 billable hours creating it.

But now I’ll make things easy for you by giving you five basic words to help you make this the healthiest and hap-hap-happiest New Year since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny freakin’ Kaye.
1. The first in my compendium of words for this new year is TODAY.
Mark Twain was quoted as saying, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.” Get your vaccination now against this procrastination virus. The best way to get something done is to begin. Every day brings with it challenges that can shelved until a later day. But life is so much easier when you stop, drop, and do it today!
2. It takes less effort to SMILE than to frown.
Smile when you see the mailman. Smile when you get to work in the morning. Smile at the Wal-Mart cashier who hasn’t had anything to smile about in 10 days and would rather be anywhere else. You can put yourself and others around you in a great frame of mind with a sweet little ol’ smile. Writer George Eliot said, “Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.” Life is so much easier when you leave home with that smile!
3. Lights, camera, ACTION! Go out and make your life happen.
Author Alfred A. Montapert said, “Your life will be no better than the plans you make and the action you take. You are the architect and builder of your own life, fortune, and destiny.” You won’t be able to have sex with that hot tenant in apartment 5B if you don’t introduce yourself first. Good intentions are not good enough. Ultimately we are measured by our actions. Life is so much easier with action!
4. DREAM a little dream with me!
Get excited about life and what can happen. It’s perfectly acceptable and healthy for you to dream big. Henry David Thoreau said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” It’s OK to sit in traffic and dream about a new Lexus. It’s OK to dream about vacations while reading Conde Nast Traveler magazine. It’s OK to dream about becoming CEO while enjoying how commodious your cubicle is. Life is so much easier when you dream!
5. You only need to be human to be a WINNER!
It’s a rough world out there. Don’t expect a blue ribbon and a dozen roses for a lackluster performance. You can be a winner in the classroom, at your workplace or in the poetry-writing contest. Zig Ziglar once said, “If you don’t see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.” Life is so much easier when you want to be a winner!
So sit down today and dream about becoming a winner, then take action to make it a reality. When you’re done, just sit back and smile!
Ron Blake, a personal fitness trainer in Phoenix, has been training individuals and groups for 15 years. He has also coached high school cross-country and track teams in Indiana and California. He was born in Gary, Ind., and Indiana University awarded him bachelor’s and master’s degrees (as long as he agreed to quietly leave the state!). Visit www.myblakefitness.com for more information.