March Fourth: It's not Magic. It's a Starting Point.

picture from "Joe on Twitter"

"March Fourth didn't work for me.  My goal didn't come true."

I had someone tell me that today when I wished them a Happy March Fourth (What is March Fourth?  It is the only date on the calendar that is a command.  March Fourth . . . Move Forward . . . Get Moving . . . Go!!!).  Her statement caught me a little off guard.  Celebrating March Fourth isn't an instant solution to a problem or mean that you will change a bad habit overnight.  It's not an "Advance to Go and Collect $200" card from Monopoly.  There is no magic in celebrating March Fourth.

picture from www.boardgames.com 

However, I think that magic is exactly what people are searching for.  We want the pill that will take away the pain forever.  We want the shake that will shed the pounds without having to break a sweat.  We want the big office, the fancy car, the title at work without having to start at the bottom and work our way up.  We want to be able to state a goal or a dream and wake up the next morning to find ourselves magically living our best life. 

1. That is never going to happen.
2. That is not what March Fourth is about.

March Fourth is a reminder that in order to achieve your goals and dreams you have to keep moving forward - especially when it comes to your health.  Your goals and dreams are only going to "come true" when you work for them.

picture from bluejayblog.wordpress.com

For those of you who made a New Year's Resolution and gave-up because you messed up after a few days or weeks - This is the perfect day to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and give it another try.

For those of you who have just plain given up on ever making a healthy lifestyle change because you just can't do it for whatever reason - you have no willpower, you're too weak, you don't like carrots, the calling of the couch is too strong - This is the perfect day to set those feelings aside and try one more time.

For those of you who think that you don't have time to make healthy choices in your life right now - you'll think about that later when your kids are grown, when your bills are paid off, when you're done with school - This is the perfect day to challenge yourself to make one healthy addition to your day.

Today is the perfect day to throw all of the doubt and guilt and anxiety and frustration and worry and indifference away.  You can make healthy choices in your life.  You can create change.  Start small.  One small step + one small step + one small step = a BIG change.

Here we go . . . It's going to take some work.  It's going to be hard at times.  You're going to want to give up.  You're going to mess up!  But if you keep moving forward - marching forth toward your goal - you WILL succeed!

picture from www.frozenfruitco.com

Need some help?  Choose ONE of the goals listed below and challenge yourself to complete it within the next 24 hours:

1) Today I will drink THREE glasses of water.
2) Today I will do 25 jumping jacks (whether all at once or in 5 groups of 5).
3) Today I will eat ONE piece of fresh fruit.
4) Today I will high-five FIVE people that are not members of my family.

It won't take long and I know that you feel great when you have accomplished it.  Then, set another goal for yourself.  And then another.  And just keep going.

Today is the day to start . . . Today is YOUR day.
March Fourth . . . Move Forward . . . Get Going . . . GO . . . a life filled with healthy choices waits for you!

March Fourth treats in the Break Room today!