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Do Less Better - Volume II, Issue 6

Welcome to Do Less Better, a monthly-ish newsletter from Wells Street Consulting.

MAKE SOMEDAY TODAY
Unlike other resources, time cannot be bought or sold, borrowed or stolen, stocked up or saved, manufactured, reproduced or modified. All we can do is make use of it. And whether we use it or not, it nevertheless slips away.
John-Louis Servan-Schreiber

I hate New Year's resolutions and not just because they usually don't make it past the Rose Bowl Game. I hate them because they always seem to focus on something we should do rather than something we truly want to do. As you head into 2004, I am inviting you to think about all the things you are waiting to do . . . down the road.

My husband and I just got back from France. That is the topic for this issue, not going to France but Make "Someday" Today. Let me explain. One Wednesday, not too long ago, I received my typical weekly "deal" update from Northwest (some say Northworst - but travel tips will need to come in a future issue) and I noticed a deep discount airfare to Europe. Discount airfare (or frequent flyer miles) and off-season hotel rates make France cheaper than visiting our daughters in Boston. In any event, I knew that finding time to avail ourselves of this "deal" would not be easy and that trying to get to France, however cheaply, was not at all practical. I made tentative-cancel-within-24-hours-reservations anyway. Here is how the conversation went:

"What a deal! Air and car combined cheaper than I have ever seen before."

"Yes, true, but how can you possibly shoehorn this in?"

"It isn't shoehorning, it's planning. I would find it renewing if not restful. Looking forward to travel, especially Paris, is one of my favorite things."

"Can we really afford it? With Kendall having a year left of school and Ben starting next fall couldn't that money be spent in a more practical way?"

That was the showstopper. Now, it may sound as if the above conversation took place between my husband and me but actually it was just me - the "Live for Today" me arguing with the "Be Cautious" me.

So, how did we ultimately decide? The "Be Cautious" me won the argument. I walked in the house and headed to the computer to cancel the reservations. I popped CNN up to get to "My Favorites" internet list and saw that John Ritter had died suddenly at 54. I took one look at Russ and said, "We're going to France."

Plan like you will live forever,
live like you will die tomorrow.

I am not suggesting that you or we should live irresponsibly, but I suspect there is something out there waiting for you to catch up to it and maybe, just maybe, someday could become today.

Now YOU:

1) Take a few minutes and list at least 5 things (10 is better) that live in "The Someday". Activities or desires that you carry with you but never seem to find time to do. They do not need to include Europe, airplanes, or even leaving your zip code. They could be learning the piano, inviting your very best friends over for a fancy dinner, ordering pizza with your kids and having a pajama party in the family room.

PICK ONE and tell everyone you know that you are going to do it. Going public helps motivation and may even spur them on to their "Someday." Then set a date and time - be specific - and put it in your calendar, on the wall, a place where you are sure to see it.

2) If that is too hard, start with baby steps. Take a piece of paper and fill in at least 5 things in each column that you enjoy and can do in:

As you do them, fill in more. Once you have gotten to the point where you gotten good at these short "joy breaks", look back at your first list and join the big leagues.

3) If you really, truly, honestly, cannot do any of the above (check with your significant other or a close friend to be sure that you aren't just on hyper-speed and can't stop) at least BREATHE. Reports say you can live longer and far healthier if you learn to breathe well. Do a Google search; there are a whole host of resources. One good one is hypnotherapy.net/breath.html

The Provocative Quote:

If not now, when?
The Talmud