Happy New Years Eve!!

A little over a year ago I joined a club called Toastmasters, and it is to help strengthen your public speaking skills. Anyways, last December I gave this speech and won first place that day... and I thought I would share it with all of you, to help with your New Years Resolutions!! YOU CAN DO EET!!




Don't be a New Year's Resolution Loser!

One evening my sister and I were driving to the gym and nothing was out of the ordinary, the day was a normal day, the weather was nice and cool, and we were chatting and before I knew it, we were at the gym. So, I pulled into the parking lot, and I couldn't find ONE parking spot!! So, I ended up waiting and then getting a parking spot in the very back! I turned to my sister, and I said, I wonder what is going on here tonight? Then it dawned on me!! Of course, these are all the New Years people trying to get fit! Then I thought to myself, well the gym will be back to normal in April! Yes-- the busiest day at the gym is January 1st!! And by April, 70% of the people who joined for to get fit this year, no longer go! So, madame toastmaster, fellow toast masters and guests. How is it that we can keep our New Years resolutions this year, and not be a statistic? First you have to envision your resolution and make it realistic, then you have to map it out, and last you need to JUST DO IT!!!

Some of the most common New Year's resolutions are: Get into shape, pay down your debt and have better money management, give up a habit such as smoking or drinking or biting your nails and be more organized! Which one do you commonly have down on your list as a New Year's resolution? What do you want it to be? I know for me, it is to not procrastinate! Every year, without fail, that is on my list! Obviously, I'm doing something wrong, if I haven't accomplished it yet! So, this year, not only am I going to set it as a resolution- I'm going to make it realistic, and instead of saying I'm not going to procrastinate, I'll change it to I won't wait til' the night before anymore, I'll have to do whatever it is, at least 2 days in advance!

Once your goal is in sight and you know exactly what you want it to be, how do you make it happen? Well, if you fail to plan, then plan to fail! In order to help accomplish your New Years resolution, you need to map it out from here to there! 3 years ago, my friend Laura, called me ecstaticly to let me know she had joined the local gym that I was a member at as well! Laura and her husband had gone 2 weeks before Christmas to get the membership to begin their journey to a fitter lifestyle starting in 2004. On January 1st, I got a call from Laura, saying how she was lost trying to get to the gym, as Bill had driven them to the gym the first time they went, and she did not remember how to get there, when for sure she thought she did know how. I thought, you can't really get from point A to point B without a map, and if without a map or directions from someone, how would she get to the gym to fulfill her New Years resolution? So, map out your goal, even if you think you know how to get there in your head, put it down on paper and figure out the exact route you are going to take, and don't deviate from that route. For example, if one of your resolutions this year is to get in better shape, set a time, everday that you are going to go to the gym. Set up little specific goals as steps to reach the big one and set up a time line, to accomplish each goal. Maybe have a friend call you to keep you accountable, and make sure that you know what you are going to do in order to get yourself out of a rut, if you don't feel like going to the gym, or if you are tempted by a really sweet treat!

Now, you have envisioned your goal, you have mapped it out! Now- All you have to do is DO IT!!! So many days go by, when I know exactly what I want to do, i even plan for it and how I'm gonna do it- then when the time comes around to go to the gym or whatever it may be I'm too tired, or something comes up, and I don't do it. Well, what good is the planning and envisioning if it is just going to stay a dream? You have to walk out that door, or put down that treat no matter what, and just do it! No more excuses! You have everything you need in order to accomplish what you want- but only you can make it happen! So, get to work, and do!!

Let's not be a part of the 70% statistic of people who do not keep their New Years Resolution! Let's envision, plan, and do! Think of those 3 steps as a camera tripod, take away any one of those little steps, no matter how well you think you can do with just 2, and the camera will topple! Envision, plan, DO, and be a New Year's resolution winner!