So, while I am still writing my second book about Harold, I am also starting a book about the lessons I learned during my ninety years of living.
This means over seventy years of being an entrepreneur. .I am not sure about the final title but, here is sample of the beginning.
My mental tool box.
It is a given that in order to achieve anything worthwhile we need to know what we want.
Do you know what you want?
No?
Don’t feel bad. You are not alone. Very few people know exactly what they want.
If you would need to define, exactly what you want, you would be mentally challenged. I mean immediately.
Give it a try.
I am asking you again: “Do you know what you want?”
How long would it take you to decide upon it?
Still no answer?
OK. Let me give you some help.
“What are you passionate about?”
If you know the answer to this question, you are definitely already ahead of the curve.
Most of the time we know in general terms what we are passionate about. But are you willing to go the extra mile for it? Are you willing to sacrifice for it? How much?
If you are muddled by the many choices, and don’t arrive at a definite answer (like most of us) you need to decide.
There is no way around it.
Once you decide, you are willing, even happy, to put everything else on the back burner and trust ahead.
OK, now we are on the same page. We got a start.
We used already three of the most important tools in my box.
1) We asked ourselves what we want.
2) We asked ourselves what we are passionate about.
3) We made a decision.
Ouch, I know, you got stuck with the decision making process. We all do. It is extremely difficult to make an empowering decision.
So, let me help you again. You need to use your greatest gift which separates you from the animal kingdom. You need to use your imagination.
How?
If we use our imagination we need to picture the most beneficial outcome. We need to imagine how we will feel when we reach our objective. Anything less is counterproductive.
Matter of fact, if we don’t use our imagination in the most productive way possible, our mind will get the message that we don’t really want the best possible result. Our mind is essentially our servant and will bombard us with doubts. It is the job of our mind to assure our wellbeing. Therefore it wants to be sure of the most minute and last detail.
In other words: If you don’t use your imagination in the way it was created and intended to be used, your mind will stop you before you even start on the project. Whatever it comes up with, varies from individual to individual, but most of all it wants to be sure that you don’t fail.
You have to be aware of this, otherwise you are stuck in self-doubt. Period.
How do you get out of this catch 22?
“Easy, let me reach in my tool box.”
This should give you an idea about my work in progress.
Any and all comments are greatly appreciated.
Hope you are doing well in these trying times.
Horst
I hope you are all still doing well in these definitely trying times! I look forward to the new books when they are released.
Hi Judi,
Thank you for checking up on us. We are doing well and hopeful that the country will get back to normal.
You are correct, these are indeed trying times.
Please take good care of yourself and stay healthy.
Horst
Hello Horst,
I finished last book on Karl’s life about a month or so ago and it was just as good as all your other books. I am so excited to hear that you are working on not only one book but two. I cant wait to read more about Harold’s life and his journeys. I hope you and your wife are doing well and staying safe.
David
Hi David,
Nice to hear from you, and thank you for your encouraging comments.
I will do my best to live up to your expectations. Two weeks ago I developed something like
double vision. The Dr.’s try to figure it out. In the meantime it slowed down my writing, but I am
already getting better at coping with the side effects.
Stay safe, and all the best to your family,
Horst
Hello,
I am sorry to hear about your double vision. I hope that the Doctors are able to sort it out quickly and that you can be relieved of it. Until then I hope that it doesn’t disturb you daily life too much. Get well soon.
David
Thank you, David.
Your hopes for my health are greatly appreciated.
The good news is that every day I feel a bit better, and there is no bad news.
The side effects of the medications make me a bit drowsy, but I am getting used to the
new “normal”.
Thanks again, David, and take good care,
Horst
I hope you and yours are doing well, and have all avoided this virus. We stay away from crowds! Summer hasn’t been too rough in the south — it can be quite hot and humid, and other times warm, but comfortable.
Hi Judi,
Nice to hear from you, and I am glad that you are alright in all this circus.
We are pretty much isolated from the world and our animals are doing great.
My blood pressure is slowly responding to the medication, but the side effects continue to be unpleasant.
It is a riddle, for me, how a person is supposed to get used to this drowsy condition.
The summer had been great with plenty of sunshine and the temps are in the middle 70ties.
Last week we added another carport to our shelters and my next construction project is a wild life feeding station.
So far, so good.
We have now a regular herd of about 12 deer visiting us every day, even in the summer when there is plenty of food in the woods around us.
We figure that they have us adopted. No complains, we love them.
Please continue to stay in touch, Judi, and all the best to you and yours,
Horst.
I’m so glad all is well. We live in the city limits, but we put out deer corn and have had quite the herd come through for salt and corn, but they love the little wild bird seed the most, it seems. We have had two does with twin fawns and one doe with one fawn. The bucks come to eat at night!
Stay away from the crowds, enjoy your wildlife and continue to get better!
As far as the blood pressure, sometimes it takes a different kind of medicine. They have changed mine three times. Of course, I have something kin to narcolepsy, so I am also taking something to stay awake. It’s a pain to take the meds every day!
Take care and prayers to you all during this, what you’ve aptly named
the circus’ we are enduring!
It has been a while since we’ve heard from you. Hoping you and yours are doing well and avoiding all the viruses and germs going around!
Hello Judi,
Thank you for checking up on us. All is well in our neck of the woods. Except, that I don’t ski anymore.
Somehow, I am afraid of falling, so I stay away from the slopes. In a way it is kind of funny, how your priorities change when you are hitting 90.
Even something as simply crossing the street, becomes a challenge.
On the other hand, it makes you act more carefully, and I renewed my driver license without any problems.
If the above don’t sound like old folks talking, I don’t know what does.
It’s good to hear from you that you are doing well and I wish you the very best for a healthy 2021.
Let’s stay in touch.
Horst
I’m glad y’all are avoiding the plague. I only get out if I have doctor visits which are regular once a month knee injections and some nerve destruction (nerve ablation) procedures every six months.
I totally understand about falling. If I fall, I cannot get up alone and I am not even 70, yet. It is very frustrating after being an independent person! You are right, it does make one act more carefully! I’ve a walker, cane, wheelchair, etc. Our house is small, so a wheelchair is not a good choice at home but my husband helps me into the larger medical facilities in it! Life changes whether we like it or not!
I’ve never been skiing, so I don’t know about that, nor have I been around a lot of snow much. Stuff I did do I cannot do any longer like gardening. I can’t walk on uneven ground. Psh. It DOES sound old. More like frustrating. It’s ok. It’s life, I suppose. I’ve always got to remember it could be worse.
Take care, and stay happy and healthy for our 2021 and I pray this virus quits being a controlling factor in everyone’s lives!
Yes, stay in touch!
Judi
Hi Judi,
Your letter about your regular knee injections makes me realize how fortunate I am. Besides the side effects from the blood pressure medication, I have no complaints and I feel sorry for you that you have to endure this procedure every month. I can only hope that the injections help your condition. Getting older is not for sissies, a Dr. friend once told me. He was right.
By the way, I didn’t went skiing until I was late in my sixties, and started with some cross country skies. However, once I discovered ski lifts, everything changed and I enjoyed it so much that we even bought a ski cabin, close to Mt. Bachelor in Oregon. So, I enjoyed skiing for some 20 years. But, that was yesterday . . . . .
Now I enjoy my pets and a warm corner, close to the fire place.
Never knew that life could be so simple, and I am very thankful for every new sunrise.
I hope, that once I beat the blood pressure thingy, I’ll be ready to write again.
In the meantime we are staying away from the crowds and the media frenzy. Can do very well, with out either one.
All the best, Judi, keep your positive outlook alive. You are an inspiration.
Take good care,
Horst