GOYA!  Get Off Your Ass!  Respectfully speaking, it will do you good!   I can’t tell you how often I hear from friends and colleagues, “I’m so tired”, or “Where do you get your energy?” People that go home from a day at work to dinner, time on the sofa, soon off to bed….would not consider going to the gym, meeting up with a friend, taking a class, or accepting impromptu invitations…

Let me go back a few years….in my twenties and thirties – a time in life when we are considered young and full of energy – I remember going to work, then spending nearly every evening on the sofa, in front of the TV, sometimes reading a book. No exercising, no socializing, no pursuit of hobbies other than an occasional art class. Wow. When people talk about ‘regrets’ in life, that would be my one – wasted time when I was younger…….well, I have been making up for it in my ‘middle’ years and it feels great…The secret is simple: you must make up your mind and give yourself a little push. You MUST start with the push:  Remember the Law Of Inertia from Isaac Newton, 17th century scientist?  “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force”. This means there is a natural tendency for objects -or people – to keep doing what we are doing. So it’s not easy to change!

It all starts in your head. Do you want to change? Do you want to get in better shape? Do you want to meet someone new? Do you want to learn to dance or learn a new language? Whatever it is, as long as you are in basic good health, there is nothing to stop you.

Once you get yourself started – whether it be exercise or a hobby – you should feel more energetic simply by being engaged in something you enjoy, by learning something new, by meeting new people and making new friends….this is what life is all about. When you are passionate about something, you lose track of time, it clears your mind, it contributes to personal growth, it is healthy. I think it even makes you look better. 😉

Some tips toward the first push:

– Sometimes it will be scary; you are leaving your comfort zone. Recognize that and do it anyway.
– Don’t use working late as an excuse – fit in in your schedule. A well-balanced person is a more effective person at work.
– Spouse not interested? Go anyway. It’s alright to have separate interests.
– Cold outside? Snowing? No excuses. Wear your boots.
– Remember that life can change in an instant – get out and be active while you have your good health.

– As you face your fears, remind yourself of the multitude of benefits:  joy, maybe weight loss, new friends, romance, maybe a new source of income.

-Don’t use age as an excuse! As long as you are physically able, be adventurous. Pictured below is my 86 year old dad having fun with great-grandson Henry – years apart yet they both look for any opportunity to be active and have fun.

What is it that you have always wanted to do, but keeping putting off?   GOYA! 🙂