All work and no play makes Barb a dull gal!
According to Zorka Hereford in her book, “Essential Life Skills,” a well-balanced life is essential for personal effectiveness, peace of mind and living well.
Her five basic tips for living a well-balanced life are definitely a good point from which to begin our journey.
1. Take care of and nurture yourself.
2. Know what your priorities are.
3. Create an efficient mindset.
4. Expect the unexpected.
5. Maintain a positive mental attitude.
Each of the areas require focus, adaptability and action. If you’ve ever tried to keep your balance walking across a board laid across a creek in order to get to the other side without falling into the water, you get the idea. If you do not maintain constant vigilance, recognize small changes in position and act quickly, you will go splashing into the cold water of the creek in a millisecond.
Get out your notebook to assess, evaluate and improve the balance in your life.
What steps are you taking to be physically strong and healthy? Do you work your plan every day? What do you most respect about yourself as a person? Are there areas you feel you can strengthen and improve? How are you going about this?
What things are most important in your life? Are you devoting enough energy to see the priorities bear fruition? Where is living your best life on your priority list?
What is your plan as to how to stay on track: to manage, cope with, adapt and adjust to meet your goals?
When changes occur that are beyond your ability to foresee, are you confident in your flexibility and adaptability to manage such events and continue? Do you have a support system in place to help when needed, and would you be willing to use such help?
With self-respect and self-confidence, what areas can you identify for continuing growth and improvement?
Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet as you work to balance what you must do with what you enjoy and want to do. Keep your heart open wide and your eye on your goal!
I Care, Barb
By Billie Hull May 20, 2020
as leader of my chapter I try really hard to do different programs and involve all our members. I bring up different things tell us your worse day this week and how did you handle it or just that would have something to do withstaying on track or y we join tops what has it done for me, you or us. What do we do diff if we are having health problems or cant exceries So many things we can talk about or bring someone in to talk to us about diff things. Wish you could join us
By Barbara Maas May 24, 2020
Billie, You bring up good issues. It’s hard to develop programs that reach everyone. I’m sure they appreciate what you do. When I lost 30 lbs, I found it absolutely necessary that I check my progress over time as opposed to just a weekly weigh in. What was my weekly or monthly average, etc. 3 months, 6 months. Doing that gave me a larger, accurate ‘pattern’ to see & while I would gain from time to time, it kept me on track. I didn’t want to see time pass with no results. Right now is such a difficult time as you wrote. I’m getting motivated to get back in that weight loss mode, despite the pandemic now. It’s time for my reality check again. I need to lose 100 lbs so another 30 is the goal I’ve realistically set. Good luck &, again, I’m sure your chapter understands & appreciates the effort you are making on everyone’s behalf. Good luck.
By Barbara Cady May 24, 2020
I would love to be able to join your chapter and others to discuss the many paths that lead us to living our healthiest, happiest lives!! Together we can accomplish amazing results.
I Care, Barb
By LaVern Swisher May 14, 2020
We especially need this moment of truth in these uncertain times. Thank you Barb it’s always a god read!
By Barbara L Maas May 12, 2020
Another thank you! It would be worth its weight in gold if only Chapter Leadership would cover your type of blog topics. There is so much MORE to weight loss than pounds but all my chapter does is weigh in, everyone gives weight update, brief program on food labels, etc., recites pledge & leaves. We seldom, if ever, address or talk together about the ‘whys’ of weight except for calorie counts & exercise. I’m not sure I will renew my TOPS membership unless I can find people who actually discuss weight issues. I’m so disappointed paying to be in a group but never addressing anything other than calorie counts, recipes, exercise. I expected the types of things online, or in Real Self booklet but those are seldom, if ever, even used. TOPS is excellent but that doesn’t seem to trickle down to chapters I’ve seen. Wish regional mgt leaders were more on top of these kind of issues or checked to see whether individual chapters are actually successful or unsuccessful & didn’t focus on who needs membership renewal. They offer very little except for games & tracking events, membership dues. Mtgs feel like good old girls networks or senior citizen day care get togethers more than weight loss groups. I expected REAL support with all aspects of weight loss but I have to go it alone with TOPS publications to get what I need . 🙁
By Ruby Baney May 15, 2020
Barbara I’m so sorry your chapter doesn’t address the need of members:( I am with a chapter who weighs then has an hour of teaching from my real life. I also have a subjection jar where members put in topics they are having trouble with. Example reading food labels, Food exchanges, (starches are the worst because it’s kind of a catch all), helping each member find how many calories they need to loose & our KOPS to maintain. Our programs allow members add what they do etc. Wish you could be here for us too help. We are a small chapter but caring, helping,& supporting each other. You may e-mail me if you want. energynone@aol.com TOPS is a great way to Win by
losing 🙂 Ruby Pa. Mt. Pleasant Mills
By Kathleen Gordon June 29, 2020
Sorry to read about your experience. I belong to a very supportive group. The majority of the members are seniors, and age doesn’t matter as we discuss many current topics and learn from the experience of others. Do the members in your chapter take turns making presentations? We volunteer to read an article or bring a topic to discuss. The article may be taken from the news, the TOPS magazine, online, or wherever something interesting is found. If no one volunteers, the leader will make the presentation. It’s usually about 10 minutes long and then we talk and discuss the topic (ex. avoiding temptation during COVID-19; why we make excuses and ideas to improve our motivation (in life in general, not just in weight loss); meatless burgers & vegetable substitutes; etc. Try volunteering to make a presentation or two and see if you can generate some interest in various issues. If all else fails, perhaps try another group.
By Carolyn Mary Campbell May 12, 2020
Very inspirational Barb. Your posts are always so helpful. Thank you.
By DIANA TRAMELL May 12, 2020
We all need to be reminded of what is really important. We are all bombarded with all this negativity not really knowing when we get back to our new normal. You keep us focused on the right steps. Thank You for all you do.
By Rosie Tyler May 12, 2020
Thanks for the timely message.
By Sandy Vobian, leader of 0840 May 12, 2020
Thank you. I need all the supportive advice I can get for me to stay on track during this mind boggling pandemic. I find myself struggling with the craving to eat all the time and messing up all the weight I lost in 2019. It’s making me think that I may not go back to our weekly in person meetings if we’re ever able to do that again. It would so embaresing to go back with a big gain. Starting yesterday I decided to get back on the path to health. Pray for me.
By Mary Boehm May 12, 2020
Thank you for your posts. They are a big help at this time. Keep them coming,
By Janet Long May 11, 2020
Thanks for the encouragement. During these times its sometimes hard to focus on our Tops journey. We must stay positive & keep going. Thanks again.