“Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again.” Frank Sinatra
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet.” Anne Shirley
And of course, “After all…tomorrow is another day.” Scarlet O’Hara.
The New Year is often a time for helpful quotations and affirmations. We may have overindulged during the festivities of last year, maybe returned to old habits, but we can leave behind the things that don’t bring us happiness and good health, try something new, start over, do better.
Building new habits and sticking with them is what “Take Off Pounds Sensibly” is all about. At TOPS we encourage taking small steps. We don’t expect changes to happen overnight. An important study by Dr. Phillipa Lally in 2019 found that on average, it takes 66 days before a new behavior becomes automatic. How long it takes to establish a new behavior can vary from 18 days to 254 days, depending on the behavior, our motivation, and how much effort it takes. At TOPS we help motivate you and encourage all your efforts.
Henry Ford said, “Failure is the opportunity to start over again more intelligently.” Ford’s Edsel (1958 – 1960) was a flop, but its engine was impressive. The early Edsel FE V-8 was the model for many later Ford engines, including those used in many classic Ford muscle cars. So, like Ford Motors, we can build on what we learn by trying, failing, and starting over.
When we slide backwards, we realize that our habit wasn’t as strong as we hoped it would be. Maybe the method we were using wasn’t right for us. Maybe it’s time to try a new method, one that suits us better. As Inquisition-accused Meister Eckhart said, “And suddenly, you know...It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”
Join us if we sound like a group you’d like to belong to. We’re an emotionally safe group for anyone who wants support to change their habits and improve their health. Every Wednesday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 we meet at the Community Centre, weigh in, learn something new, have lively discussions, sometimes play a game, and are present for each other. We’re an inexpensive, international program. Check out our website at www.tops.org. (Your first visit is free.) If you’d like to give it a try, call .
Submitted by Amber Harvey
References: https://tinyurl.com/ddsadk4e