Aim High in 2014!!!

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll  land among the stars.” – Jim Rohn

Time to have fun! The Holidays are over; Super Bowl is this weekend; Valentine’s Day is next week; and can you believe this weather we’ve been having!  Spectacular! Living in Southern California is awesome!

So, to kick off 2014, I made three tough decisions. 1) Break off a relationship that was not healthy. 2) Increase my dating activity. 3) Go on a detox program.

Now before we all get a bit carried away, it’s not what you think.

Yes, it was tough to let go at first. I had to say goodbye to my iPhone and iPad, when I was at home. I admit I was addicted. Somehow these items just fit so comfortably in my hand. One can get lost in the pursuit of more and more information, while time just slips by. So yes, I cut the cord, and now a few weeks later I feel a whole lot better for it. I even moved the charging station to the garage, away from the bedrooms. Talk about going cold turkey.

I know I’m not the only one who faces this addiction. It’s a slippery slope, and when one starts realizing just how much time we spend on our iPads/phones/game boxes, etc. sometimes we justify the time spent, rather than looking for a balance. I believe it’s the year to invest more time in people; “real” people around us. People that work with us; good friends; people that matter to us; ourselves!  I also want to set a good example for my daughter, Tayla, because I know that during her lifetime, she will be tempted with many wonderous hi-tech contraptions, which may be even harder to let go of and find a healthy balance.  Latest research suggests that 13 to 17 year olds send 4000 text messages a month, that’s 1 every 6 minutes. Seriously?

So now, a few weeks into my decision to spend less time on the internet and more time with people who matter, I have noticed the benefits, and I feel great. I feel more balanced in my daily life, and strangely, I feel more relaxed and in control. Our family time is different too. We play games; we watch less TV; we go on walks to watch the sunset; we plan our vacations with much more care; we roughhouse more on the lawn with the family pets, and life is great!

Second, my dating activity with my wife has resumed after the holidays. It’s nice to go out and just talk; to be a couple again. The holidays have a way of consuming one with rushing from party to party, or place to place. I love Friday nights because it’s our date night. We both really look forward to it. It’s like my reward for all the effort of the week. It doesn’t have to be some expensive restaurant. Last Friday we went to Lookout Point in Corona del Mar, and had a picnic while watching the sunset. No distractions, just the two of us. Even after 18 years of marriage, I still feel that rush inside when I see my wife and we are going on a date. It’s like the first time.

Third , the detox. Yes, downing Dr .Oz’s detox drinks daily, made in my new juicer; and drinking my lemon, ginger, and turmeric; then the MSM, fulvic acid, ocean minerals, and Shilajit; then the spirilina in coconut water; then Ron Teeguarden’s 91 in 1 every morning, and so on; but also a lot less TV, less news, less movies, less watching other people’s drama. It feels great to have the power to know that one can say no to the constant bombardment that distracts our daily lives and take back control. I’m sleeping better, training harder and loving work.

I have this feeling that 2014 is going to be a great year! It’s up to us to take advantage of this momentum and push ourselves further than we thought possible. Set big goals and go after them with no fear. As the saying goes, shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars!

“It’s the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind which determines which way we will go!” – Jim Rohn 

Go spend time with people!

Ralph Harris, Editor