The final cost of my trip to Chicago is almost paid.
Today is the 7th day in a row of work before I have a day off. My days off for the SMART Conference wrapped around last week’s schedule and so I have worked straight through since last Wednesday.
That’s 9 hours+ of actual work, plus almost three hours a day in total commuting time.
This is still a bargain compared to the value of what I received in Chicago.
And I do not mean to sound like I am complaining about having to work all these days in a row. However, I did notice yesterday and especially today, I am a little slower in getting out of bed than I normally am.
I know there are a lot of people who work a lot more than I do.
Many people leave their day job and then work a second job. Some people cram a third job on top of that. People have all kinds of occupations, too. Some involve a lot of mental thinking and planning, others are more physical and still, others have jobs that can be predictable, unpredictable, challenging, or boring beyond belief.
People seem to gravitate towards what works for them.
They may bitch about it, complain about their lot in life, but there they are doing it day after day after day. Most do not understand that their beliefs are often what is holding them back, not “the man,†“the system,†“the way it has always been.â€
I know we all have challenges of circumstances, but there are stories every day about people who rise above those challenges and lead successful, balanced lives. And for me, understanding that we can choose how we think about our condition has always been a key to any major success I have had in my life.
I have never thought, “oh, the world owes me a living.â€
My thoughts have always been on how I can get to where I want to be. What steps do I need to take? What tools do I need? What actions must I take to achieve my goals? Contrast that with someone who feels they are “owed†something.
They may feel they are owed a promotion, a raise, a better job, a less stressful life. And when it doesn’t happen, some people become bitter and blame everyone they meet for their own lack of success.
Every day, I am thankful for the chance to be alive.
Every day, I look forward to learning something new. I look forward to those teachable moments that come along at my job, giving me the chance to share my experience with someone so they can achieve success in their lives.
I’ve still got to finish laundry, iron my shirt, pack my lunch, and get ready for my commute to work. So, I will stop here. I need to leave time for my daily affirmations.
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