1. Awareness I’ve had this week…
We had someone jump off the boat last weekend and, because it was so shallow, she scraped her leg in multiple places on an old tree stump in the water. When I heard the splash, I immediately hoped that whomever hit the water did not dive head first. I knew it was shallow, but she did not. Her injuries could have been MUCH worse. I then heard a story about a friend of a friend who dove into a lake this past weekend and broke his neck, again, not realizing it was as shallow as it was. Then yesterday, a patient told me about a co-worker who is now a paraplegic after diving into water that was too shallow. Why am I sharing this with you? Jumping or diving into water that you are unfamiliar with has to be among the top five ways to damage your spinal cord and become paralyzed. I have preached to my children since they were very little, and because we are always around water, to NEVER jump or dive into anything you are unfamiliar with. So… consider it a summer tip/reminder. And share that with your friends and family. Our situation last week could have been SO MUCH worse. I’m grateful it was just a scraped up leg. I’m a big fan of adventure, adrenalin boosts, and things that carry an element of risk… but they have to be calculated risks.
2. Quick way to boost your life…
Many years ago, I heard Tony Robbins say this… pick an area of your life and give it a score ranging from -10 to +10. No matter what the score, what would it take to make it a +10, or closer to it? Then, do those things and quickly improve that area of your life. Example… Let’s say you run for exercise, but when rating it, give it only a +2. What would it take to raise that number? Maybe listening to a really good playlist might bump it to +4. Running on a trail in the woods instead of on the road might bump it another few points to a +7. And running before work, when you are less tired, and it is cooler out might take it to a +9. Now… do THOSE things. And viola! Running just went from a +2 to a +9. You can do this with work, relationships, finances, health, or any other area of life. What would take your relationship or marriage to a +9 or +10? Planned date night? Quarterly trips away? Monthly couples massage? What would take your finances to a +9 or +10? Putting a certain amount of money away each week or month? Slowing down on frivolous purchases? Hire a financial planner to lay out a specific plan? Try it! Grade each area of your life from -10 to +10. Then list what you can do, specifically, to move those areas closer to a +10. Then… GO DO THOSE THINGS! It is GUARANTEED to improve your life.
3. Post I saw and LOVED…
This is great! (Thanks, Bonnie Z!)