My favorite time of year is
4/10/2014 8:21:31 AM
...today! There is nothing I can do about the past, and I can only anticipate the future... but I can LIVE in today - live in the moment, and enjoy what I see, what I choose to do, and how I choose to feel.
I know I've only got right now to make a difference. What I choose to do, and how I choose to handle the now will determine my future. So I have to plan my life accordingly if I am to accomplish great things. We've adopted an execution strategy to meet our company's goals where I work. I recently learned by committing to taking small steps each day, I can focus on the day and the now, and at the end of each day, know whether or not I have been successful in making my contribution to the overall goal of the company. It has been a life-changer for me, and has gotten me to appreciate the company I work for, and gives me a feeling of accomplishment on a daily basis. I'm glad for my job - it pays for a lot of art supplies, and lets me enjoy a comfortable life.
I've applied this method of execution to making myself a better artist. Recently, I decided if I would commit to at least an hour a day to work on my painting, and commit to learning things to improve my techniques and developing my skill, I will not only produce more paintings, but I will become a better painter. I've committed to doing things I've never done, using colors I've never used, making bigger paintings, and generally moving out of my comfort zone. And the results are beginning to show. An hour a day may not seem like a lot, especially to a full-time artist, that may spend hours each day on their craft, but that one hour of focused effort represents about 10% of my working day. And it's rare that I only spend an hour in the studio after a 9-10 hour work day. Usually it's 2 or 3 hours, but it's that one hour of FOCUSED effort that's making the difference. And when I've met my minimum commitment, I then have time to spend with my wife, relax, love on my dog, and write newsletters...
So regardless of the season, the weather, or how I feel, my daily commitments let me live the kind of life I want to live, and move me toward the life by which I'll be remembered. Yeah, my favorite time of year is today.
