“Why do I put off to tomorrow what I could do today? If it is due, then do it until it’s done!”
I can almost hear my mom saying those words when I was a teenager with chores to be done, and I certainly remember her words flowing from my mouth as I asked my teenage sons the same thing! The answer then and now is … I really didn’t want to do it! So, I procrastinated.
Of course, there are other reasons for this. Sometimes I resisted doing something because I was afraid I might fail. I soon discovered that I learned more with each attempt whether it was successful or not. Swimming classes brought this lesson home! I simply had to get into the water in order to swim. Much to my delight, I found that my body would float if I just relaxed. Fighting the process just wasted my energy and time. If I wanted to swim, I had to get wet. There was no way around it.
I had to own my choices and actions (or lack thereof) if I wanted to swim. I pictured Olympic swimmers gliding through the water and the lifeguard at the lake where I learned to swim. He helped me break down my goal into manageable steps that actually built my confidence as each skill was mastered. My inner voice began to say, “You are a swimmer.” Eventually, I certified as a lifeguard, receiving that special patch from the Red Cross to wear on my swimsuit and pay the gift forward.
This lesson has served me well throughout my life. The steps are simple and move me forward when I seem to be stalling out. If you have something you have been putting off, maybe this basic approach will help you in moving forward.
I invite you to get out your notebook and write down what you say you want but have not been doing or have been avoiding. What are some reasons that you have been delaying? How can you remove these blocks to moving forward? How will you feel as you take the first step, the second, the third? Maybe, like me, you will begin to “swim” on your own surrounded by friends!
Remember, once you start, it is always your choice to continue, regroup or stop. But waiting until tomorrow never works because “tomorrow never comes!”
I Care, Barb
By Janet Long June 16, 2019
Thanks for the advice, very helpful.
By Mary Rismeyer June 12, 2019
Love that saying. Tomorrow never really comes as when it is tomorrow it is today. I was listening to a book on tape about discipline.and it stated that we sometimes are overshooting our goals and thus we give up. I like your analogy of if you want to swim you have to get wet. This book said that if you want to lift 300 lbs and you can only lift 10 lbs then you don’t start at 300 lbs. Start at 10, then add a pound each day to build up to the 300. It also said that if we do our toughest things at the start of the day the rest of the day is ours. So exercise will set the mood for the start of the day. Even if you just do a little bit like a 10 minute walk it will set the tone of the day.
By Theresa June 11, 2019
Great advice!!
By margie dean June 11, 2019
Thank you, Barb, for this great “day starter”. These are words of wisdom I recall from mentors from my younger days that I have carried throughout life. You reinforced them. I will share with my TOPS friends tonight.
By Wendy Heidbrink June 10, 2019
This is just what I needed to read, thank you! I reached KOPS with a loss of 51 lbs but lost it before I even made my first year. I have been bouncing around in the 10 lbs to goal range for 2 years and 9 months!! This is nuts!!! I set goal after goal but keep procrastinating getting back to what I did when I lost the weight-food journaling and daily exercise. No more procrastinating!!!! The time is right and the time is NOW!!!
By Gloria June 10, 2019
Thank you Barb for your wise words ❤️ I am going to use this for a meeting at our chapter! It should get us sharing our goals and our blocks to overcome!
By Stacey Fox June 10, 2019
Thanks Barb, I am good at finding excuses. Just because it is too hot to swim now, I can go out today later.
By Cindy L. Dixon June 10, 2019
In TOPS, we can share our own story, but can never fully know what another person’s “block” to progress is. It could be as basic as fear of success or as complicated as past abuse (Thank you to TOPS magazine for the new Recovery Room feature..) What we CAN do is encourage and support each other on the journey…After 5+ years in TOPS (which included a 2+ year weight-loss plateau) I had to ask myself, “So what is preventing me from actually getting to goal???” The answer came in hearing a definition of “What is an excuse?” A lie wrapped up in the skin of a reason!
By Kathie Friesen June 10, 2019
“If tomorrow never comes” wow isn’t this the truth. 40+ years have gone by & tomorrow is now today. Every today had its challenge that I thought tomorrow would fix but that tomorrow is today, now I need to get into action before there are no tomorrow’s left.
By audrey June 10, 2019
I agree with Kathy Frieson….it’s been 30 + years! I need to get started! Even though I’m maintaining a 35 lb. loss, I’m not at goal and I need to work harder!
By Lois Reed June 10, 2019
Love all your Blogs Barb, Thank You & have a Wonderful Summer. And Yes, my Mom had some fabulous sayings also, that got me up & doing.
By Laura Lewis Area Captain Oh June 10, 2019
Great advice.