Find the Fun in It
“The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have, and should have.” – Louis E. Boone
A few days ago, I was listening to a podcast with a personal trainer who discussed his approach to following a challenging workout routine. The more he shared his ideas, the more I realized that his plan can easily be applied to other aspects of my life.
The Game Plan
Here are a few of the takeaways from this fitness trainer:
“The bottom line is that sticking to a workout routine is going to be tough. You have to think about what you are getting out of it.”
“I find that some people, including myself sometimes, often go through the motions of working out. There must be a game plan in place so that we get the most out of it.”
“There is no doubt that getting into the gym and doing the routine will become tough. When this happens, we need to remember that personal fitness requires a strong mind. We must be committed, otherwise we can kiss all the New Year’s resolutions goodbye!”
Near the end of the podcast, he said something that landed with me, and I would like to share it with you as it applies to how we can tackle 2024 head-on …
“Maintaining a workout routine over the rest of your lifetime will be challenging, so let’s find the fun in it!”
Finding the Fun!
I’m fortunate to have a home gym, and I have the weights and the machines I need to get my workouts done without having to travel. While I like the convenience, there are still some days that I just want to pass on it.
As I thought about the personal trainer’s advice, I realized there are many “fun” results I can think about after doing the difficult tasks, and here are some examples …
I remember taking a tough undergraduate Finance course at St. Mary’s University, and it seemed like the work was overwhelming, especially during finals. However, the big reward was becoming the first person in my family to graduate from college. Fun!
My wife and I shuttled the kids to the many school and extracurricular activities for nearly two decades, and it was extremely difficult to do, especially because of work commitments. However, as we look back at it now, these activities prepared them to have a productive life. So … yes, fun!
Over the past few years, I have been much more involved with our parish ministries, and this work can occupy significant time. The huge benefit is that being of service to others has made me a better person, and I have benefitted from beautiful friendships. Very fun!
As 2024 comes into view, I realize that many challenges lie ahead.
A good way for me to approach the difficult stuff is to keep the end in mind.
I won’t be perfect, but as long as I keep a positive and humble approach, I’m sure I will find the fun in whatever I decide to do!
Happy 2024!
Inspiring Quotes
“The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.” – James Taylor
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: What challenge will you overcome?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you,
please share this link with others!
See you next week!
Dr. Jimmie Flores