January 2 2021

It’s the second day of the year…I may not have a lot to say that is useful today, but I’m forming a habit. It’s like an exercise habit: you need to do it even when you’re slow, not feeling it, or measurably better.

I’m not measurably better at writing or anything since yesterday. However, I am at it again. It’s like my goals for fitness: you’re not going to compare the morning video from one day to the next day and see improvement, but hopefully you’ll see improvement from January 1 to April 1, and so forth.

It’s about marginal movement. We are a bit misinformed by those inspiring “training sequences” in movies or TV shows: where Burt Reynolds goes from being flabby and out-of-shape and back into full Bandit-form within the first 15 minutes of the movie, so that the rest of the film can show him driving a Trans Am and smuggling an elephant. (That’s the plot of Smokey and the Bandit 2)

So, having said that, let’s note that habits are the key to your overall success. “The Bandit,” of the aforementioned movie, likely eventually self-destructed in his alcoholism and lifestyle because it was his habit. He could pull out of it for a short time, for some flash and fame, but his habits were his making or his unmaking.

What does that have to do with you and I? Simple: we must examine our habits if we want to talk about changing our life on an ongoing basis.

For example:

I need to lose weight. I could choose to try some crash-fad diet and look good…and not break the “oh, look, there’s some cookies over here!” habit. OR I can find ways to make sure my environment doesn’t typically involve unfettered access to junk food.

One will lose weight quickly. One way will keep it off. Which one is better?

Or perhaps you need a new habit of reading? A crucial environment change: have books around. Not just a Kindle, though those are GREAT, and definitely not just “I have a book reading app on my phone.” You won’t read much with that. You’ll surf Facebook more. Get real books, those things that trees have given their lives that you may have, and stockpile a few of them.

Why? Because you’ll eventually pick them up and read them if they are there—you don’t have to have “important” or fancy books: get books that look interesting to you. Then read them. A bit at a time as necessary.

Because if you didn’t read any books last year and you read one book this year, that’s improvement. Oh, and if you only read one book this year but survive an onslaught of chaos, that’s success. If you veg out in front of the TV and watch all the Bachelor-type shows and read nothing, you need to rethink a few things…

Those are my thoughts for the day. Remember, as several preachers will tell you, Sunday church is a Saturday decision, so make it now.