A Boomer's Footprint

Author: D Kelly

  • What is your dream?

    What is your dream?  Not an unachievable fantasy or unconscious thoughts occurring during sleep but a realistic, attainable vision of how you truly want your life to be – your goals and aspirations, your desires, your accomplishments, the legacy you leave behind, the footprint you leave on the planet.

    Dreams which comes from your true spirit or essence, your reason for being. A dream you identify with, embrace and commit to achieving.

    The dream which is just right for our unique selves.

    Is the dream of a life filled with joy, meaning, living your passion, spending quality time with loved ones, relaxed, working in service of others and absolutely feeling great? Does the dream fulfill your purpose in life?

    We are all born with a true purpose. The purpose which uses our best skills, and talents. A purpose which inspires us, touches our soul and fills our heart with joy. When discover our true purpose we are blessed.

    The good news is – We deserve to have our biggest dreams come true.

    The sky is the limit!

    Such an unusual cloud pattern
    Such an unusual cloud pattern

    Follow along on this journey of self-discovery and inspiration to make all of your dreams come true.

  • New Year Resolutions

    Now is the time for our annual New Year’s resolutions.  Let’s be successful this year and make a change.

    For many years, I began the new year with my list of resolutions. You may have done this too. Then, I proceeded to do little or
    nothing to make them happen. Consequently, I ended up with a failed commitment to myself.  These resolutions were commitments to a goal, which I said I really, really wanted but I took no action to reach them.

    How about you? Do you make new year resolutions? What are yours? Are some of them recycled from unsuccessful attempts in the past?

    The word Resolve means “to come to a definite or earnest decision about, to determine to do something.  So by definition – first you decide and second you do something – take action!

    But to have, be, do and feel all we want in life, resolutions are part of be an ongoing process. During the year, we call resolutions – goals.

    How do we decide if your current resolutions are the best for us right now? Are they resolutions that will fulfill our purpose,
    our dreams, our vision of our life ahead.

    When I think about my goals on own my personal development journey, even in my writing this speech – I start with these three questions what, why, how.

    What exactly do I want to accomplish?

    Why – a critical questions – why is this I important, meaningful for me? The why is part of your motivation to accomplish your goal.

    How includes when, where, with whom – my action plan.

    These three questions are the format I use  in my monthly coaching program.

    Follow along each Thursday as I post a short article with helpful tips, tricks and techniques to help you achieve your resolutions and reach your goals.

    Next Thursday, we will create our dream board.

  • Leaving a legacy

    As you read this blog, post, begin to think about what is your legacy.

    We all are creating a legacy.  It will be reflected by the words spoken at our memorial service.

    – What will people say about us?
    – What will they remember years later?
    – What have we contributes, shared, taught to others?
    – How have we made a mark?

    Of course, in 100 years, little is left for many of us, beyond the family history and traditions passed down through the generations. But we are all leaving a footprint on the planet.

    Regardless of your accomplishments so far, it is never too late to create a  meaningful legacy.

    As you discover more about what a successful life means to you, you can connect your dreams, plans and actions to your legacy.

    Begin by writing down the three words which best describe your now. They can be verbs, nouns or adjectives. Try to be consistent with the part of speech you choose.

    Mine are I serve, I teach, I play.

    Refer back to your definition of successful life. Are your three words reflect in your successful life statement? If not, this is your starting point for change. Think about the one area of your life you want to work on first in the new year.

    In two weeks, we will commit to one resolution for 2013.

  • 6 Simple Steps to Make a Change

    “The only constant in life is change.”
    -Albert Einstein

    As you read this blog post, think about these simple steps to make a change.

    We are creatures of habit.  If we do not know what will happen in any given situation, we can go into a negative, fearful place.

    When we commit to change we are moving outside of our norm, our comfort level, our routine.

    The good news is change allows us to embrace about new possibilities, new blessings, open new doors, and to stay current with changes which are happening around us anyway.

    When we take time to review our life, there can end up with a long list of changes to make.  Pick one and get started. Six simple steps to make change happen are:

    -1- Stay focused – maintain a single minded focus until we reach our goal.  Choose only one item to work on at a time. Be very
    specific about what you want to change.  Write down your goal, post it where you can refer to it every day.

    -2- Be clear about your motivation – Make a list of the benefits you will receive when you complete your goal.  Write them down, posted it where to can read it every day.

    -3- Get started – Choosing one goal map out an action plan. Break this goal into smaller step.  Schedule some time each day, even 10 minutes, to work on your task.

    -4- Track you progress – This is a great use for your journal. Keep track of your actions.  Note what is working, and what is not. Both sides provide valuable insight for you.  You can create a checklist or calendar schedule with the daily tasks. Post your notes where you can see them every day.

    -5- Do not quit – It is common to run into a setback.  Do not let these obstacles derail you from reaching your goal. Think about what your goal – why did you get side tracked. Write about it in your journal for further study if necessary, and pick up where you left off from your plan.

    -6- Celebrate your victory – Plan your reward for success. Why not, you worked for it.

    Good Luck!

    In two week, we will empower ourselves to have, be and do all that we  deserve in life.

  • What it takes to change.

    As you read this blog post, think about what is standing in your way for change.

    Before we learn some simple steps to make changes in your life, let’s look at some common excuses, which stop us dead in our tracks.

    Change is hard because:

    – we are stuck in our ways
    – we fear the unknown
    – we are afraid to fail
    – we don’t believe we can succeed
    – we are unsupported in our journey
    – we have no self control
    – we are intimidated in trying something new
    – we are comfortable with what we know
    – we are stubborn
    – we are like the old
    – we are too old to change

    These statements may not sound like the blog post title “What it takes to change”, but these are shared excuses.  These beliefs do not mean what we can not succeed in making any small or large change we desire. They mean it is time to take a new approach, to step out of our habits and routines and to take a risk.

    We can successfully face these obstacles head on and persevere with making a change, if we are willing to embrace new ways
    of thinking and living.

    Next week, we will learn steps to make a lasting change.

  • Embracing Change

    As you read this blog post, focus on a small change you can make to live more a successful life.

    If you are not experiencing your ultimate success right now, are you ready to do something about it?

    If the answer is yes – you know what that means – something has to change!  YIKES.

    We are already in a state of personal development and growth. We are changing as we speak, as is the world around us. So why not embrace this change and go for what we want to be more successful. Enjoy this fall scene.

    Take a moment and read these two statements:

    “I HAVE to Change.”

    “I GET to Change”.

    Just by changing the verb “have” to “get”, we can immediately feel more empowered, in charge of our life and decision making
    options. We can alter our attitude, belief and motivation about life as we know it.

    Say it out loud – I “GET” to change.

    When we are on our treadmill of life, with each and every step we take we are making a choice.

    Are we choosing to stay the same, to follow our routines? We live by our habits, by the clock.  So we are getting things done,
    checking items off our to-do list but are we achieving the successes we want for ourselves.

    You can have the successes you want, by living with purpose, by deciding each and every day what your goals and priorities
    are and then doing them.

    What part of your life are you ready to change?

    Next week, we will read about what it takes to change.

  • Defining success

    As you read this blog post, think about your definition of a successful life?

    When we hear the word success, most often, we think of financial achievement.  But there are many more factors that create a successful life.

    We cheer for others but what about us?


    We each can define what is success means for us.

    Some of these statements may be true for you.  As you read through them, jot down two lists – what is currently true for you and what you want to be true for you.  Include other statements, which may apply for you.  And please take a few moments to add them in the comment box so I can share them with others.

    – I live fully each and every day
    – I discover my passions in life
    – I protect our planet
    – I take responsibility for all of my actions
    – I do what I love
    – I live joyfully
    – I have financial stability
    – I enjoy a full social life with great relationships
    – I create a meaningful life legacy
    – I follow my own spiritual path
    – I give back
    – I am creative
    – I have an attitude of abundance
    – I make the best use of my talents and skills
    – I use time wisely to achieve my best results
    – I experience excellent mental, emotional and physical health
    – I seek wisdom
    – I learn from my failures
    – I commit to my success
    – I WOW myself all the time

    Success is reached by making intentional, committed choices and by taking action to achieve our goals and dreams.

    Making new choices, may require change. So jump off of your treadmill and take a small step towards reaching a new success.

    Next week, we will look focus on that scary word –  “Change”.

  • Life on a Treadmill

    As you read this blog post, think – Are you happy and satisfied with your life right now?

    Life is a journey.

    This year, this week, this day, this moment – we are living our lives.

    The past is over. We can never it get back. We have good or bad memories.  We can have a do-over experiences. In fact, if we didn’t learn a life lesson the first time around, we may repeat it until we do.   But when we try again to get a different outcome, we may need to take different actions.

    The future is a promise of what lies ahead.  We can dream and plan for the future but there is no guarantee that it will come. Circumstances change, events happen that can change the course of our lives in an instant.

    So what we have is the NOW. The question is how is our “NOW” working for us.

    Am I happy or miserable, fulfilled or wanting, successful or struggling, passionate or complacent? Am I making the choices to create a life I want or letting life make them for me?

    For many of us, life happens on a treadmill.

    I don’t mean that dusty piece of gym equipment taking up too much space in your home, acting like a coat rack, bookshelves or junk pile, that continual reminder of wasted money and an unfulfilled desire, goal and commitment to be fit.

    I mean on the treadmill of the routines we created in our lives. Routines that may or may not be working to get desired results we want. We take the  same steps day after day, going round and round and round, taking one step at a time, moving fast or slow, changing the pace and the duration but essentially going along the same path without any significant variation.

    But to what end.  If we stay on your treadmill throughout this year and the next five, where will we be, what will be different?

    Taking small steps off the treadmill does encourage change, growth, choice and opportunities.

    Is NOW the time to get off of your treadmill and make the conscious decision to live the life you dream of?

    Next week, we will create statements that define what your successful life look like.

  • Breaking through an obstacle

    It has been too long since my last blog post. Sounds a bit like a confession statement.

    But I will confess, this act of writing is challenging.

    After having worked for years with facts and figures, I am transitioning to use the other side of my brain
    – more creative,
    – more language arts,
    – more spontaneity.

    I am finding this process takes commitment, dedication, consistency, focus and frankly hard work.

    Why is it hard? Because I am changing a big part of my life. I am asking myself to follow a new path, to try a new thing by writing.  So of course, I am in unfamiliar territory.

    We know what happens then.

    The roadblock appear, the obstacle magnify, the fears and doubts surface and procrastination comes out with a vengeance.

    But I will not be deterred.  I have found that I am inspired by writing and finding my own unique  expressive style.

    New is my 2012 word.  I am getting off of my own treadmill in life and committing to NEW.

    You can, too.  In fact, I am inviting you to join my team of folks to become educated, inspired and empowered to get off your own treadmill of life and get back into your life, your journey.

    Look for my email flyer or phone call this week as I encourage you to commit to your own dreams and visions – at the beginning of this new year of 2012.

  • Success with meditation

    I am so proud of my accomplishment. I have adopted a habit of meditation.

    I am on day 77 and am beginning to experience some of the benefits. The last tweak I will make in my practice is the timing of the activity.

    I took a small step outside of my comfort zone in October.  A visiting friend asked me if I wanted to practice a few yoga moves with her.

    Normally I would have said – No I have done yoga – as if I already knew enough about yoga.  (Sometimes my I know it all attitude kicks in.)

    But this time I said yes.  Marina showed me eight postures specifically for my back aches and pains. That day I learned simple movements which addressed my weakest areas in my body.

    I am happy to say that I have added these postures, plus a few additional ones to my morning practice.  Now my routine has extended to 30 minutes. It includes stretching and meditation. And I am feeling great.

    I find the meditation component is best used after my stretches because as I hold each pose, I mentally relax into the stretch with the accompanying deep breathing.

    And finally, I understand the importance of practicing my morning routine right away after waking before my mind get busy with the day’s tasks awaiting me.

    My next step is to practice a short meditation right before bed.