12.28.2015 Walking in Winter Wonder

1

With a temperature of 27 degrees f. outside, it was fun to walk around in crunchy deep snow because the mid-day sun was beaming down on Omak.  Extra confidence for safety was found by strapping spiked tread attachments on the soles of my boots. After an hour of sipping coffee over conversations with friends, it felt good to walk to the post office and the computer shop before the weekly trip to the grocery store on my day off work.  A Monday, three days after Christmas, with lights and colors of “Seasons Greetings” still glowing, and the spirit of a special birth still in the air.  

This close to year’s end, former New Year’s Resolutions come to mind, such as, Eat Right, More Exercise, Do Better… resolutions which were usually soon forgotten.  So this year-end, the aim is also sustainability of change.

An August 2015 article in Journal of Experimental Psychology  (by Suri and Gross) described behavioral experiments showing individuals often make healthier choices when simply reminded of options in front of them. The study suggested that "changing our behavior may be as simple as changing what we pay attention to."  My goals are going to be about paying more attention to my intentions in 2016.

Instead of resolving to generally eat right, exercise more, do better, I'm going to pay closer attention to my daily choices starting now:  1) Today I enjoyed eating fresh fruit, and vegetables; 2) Today I was invigorated by walking outside in the fresh air for 20 minutes;  3) Today I wrap up a good day by writing 250 words, toward my goal of publishing one blog a day.

The late Author Zig Ziglar once said, “It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it that counts.”  

My purpose for resolutions includes practicing ways to be healthier, and stronger over time.  In preparation for crossing over the threshold from 2015 into 2016, I will look for ways to serve by seeing the uncommon in the common, participating extraordinarily in the ordinary, seeking wholeness as holiness, and becoming more alive each day, through the spirit of loving kindness.