Today Is The First Day…

Today is the first day of the New Year. Today is the first day of a new month.

Yes, I can sense your eyes rolling at my keen grasp of the obvious all the way over here.

Look, I’m a jarhead, so you have to allow me some leeway. Besides, there is a point to all this, I promise.

I know the topic of “New Year, New Me” has been beaten to death. New Year’s Resolutions are far beyond being a cliche at this stage of the game.

But again, I state the obvious here.

My point is, I don’t care if you are reading this post on January 1st, January 2nd or December Freaking 1st, 2024, 2025, etc.

Any damn day you choose can be the first day for anything you want. It’s totally up to you.

That said, I will pose this one question to you: Why not today?

Why can’t today be the day you start working out?

Can’t find the right workout plan? Start with a 10-20 minute walk and then do your research later to find the workout plan that best suits you. But in the meantime, take that first step and do something, hell…anything. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it doesn’t have to be Hugh Jackman’s workout for Wolverine either.

Why can’t today be the day you start eating better?

You’ve got a ton of holiday leftovers that need to be eaten? OK, cool. I get it. But is there anything stopping you from having a piece of fruit or two in place of the leftover cake once a day? Or a small glass of water instead of all that soda that’s taking up space in the fridge?

Why can’t today be the day you start learning more?

Can’t afford classes? Neither can I. But there’s a ton of free info out there just waiting to be devoured. A lot of local colleges offer free courses to the public, and of course, there is a ton of free info available right here online. I’m starting a free 8-week course at a local college tomorrow. Sure, it’s not going to get me into Harvard, but it’s a step in the right direction. It’s progress. It’s growth.

Why can’t today be the day you start that blog?

Don’t know jack about blogging? Hey, welcome to the club! I started this with zero clue what the hell I was doing, and frankly, I still don’t. I look at some of the powerhouse blogs here on WP and I feel pretty damned incompetent, let me tell you. But I am learning and I enjoy it. It’s a start. If you’ve got thoughts you want to share with the world, just jump in and do it. You have a voice, so use it! Perhaps your words are exactly what someone out there needs to hear right now.

Just like a lot of you out there, I have struggles too. I am no grand authority on getting your shit together and I do not have the directions to Easy Street. I’m sitting here today all kinds of nervous about starting that class tomorrow. I’m excited, but damn, I’m nervous. A big part of me would love to no-show the whole damned thing.

But seriously, y’all…why not? What the hell, right?

Why shouldn’t you take that first step towards something better?

Aren’t you entitled to your dreams just like everyone else?

Why should you settle for a less than ideal situation?

Is sitting up all night thinking about it going to get you any closer to what you really want?

Take a small step. Just one. Then one more. And keep going.

And if you fall? So freaking what. Get back up and take another step. Now you know what not to do next time.

Only you can decide when your “first day” will be.

But whatever day you choose, grab life by the throat and don’t let go. It’s gonna kick and fight some, sure.

Just don’t let go.

Peace.