Don’t know what this picture would inspire besides the title of the post “Stop and smell the garbage.” So what is garbage. Today I’m going to select “excuses”, as garbage. Every once in a while, I like to check myself professionally and personally for excuses. Over the years its easy to get worn down on the job. Sometimes its a bad manager, sometime a co-worker, another endless course change, or rah-rah effort by HR. It’s also easy to get to comfortable in what you know. And thinking you’re good, is very dangerous also. You’re making an excuse to stop learning and trying to improve every day.

I have no excuses and nobody to blame other than myself for not pursuing my artistic interest earlier in life. Now that I’ve started working on it for a few years now I’m finding its something I think I would have enjoyed also as a profession had I followed my original path. So when we make excuses we only cut ourselves short.

When we use others, as excuses it’s still an excuse, that is personal for you. Now keep in mind, I’m not saying there aren’t entirely valid reasons for not being able to do your best intentions. Medical situations for instance. Sometimes its opportunities or financial limits that are difficult to fight or overcome. But that shouldn’t stop you from giving it your best. A lesson I wished I had learned earlier in life.

When I returned to work after a 2 week absence, I felt refreshed. Because I was renewed in my spirit to learn and do more again, not rest on past accomplishments. Realizing how that has served me well in my past, why not ride it to the finish line.

So as I’ve aged I’ve learned not to make as many excuses. Yesterday I had a relapse though. I let not feeling my best keep me from doing my best. Yeah maybe I couldn’t crank out all the things on the to do list that I normally get to, but I could have done a few more things. Don’t get me wrong, getting some proper rest is a good thing. But there was wasted time also and I’m responsible for that.

Today, no excuses. Lots to do and accomplish. Some of it will be some very fun activities and some work related. So I’m entirely focused on those goals, and even though that last back spasm stopped me on the stairs, I made it up. Mind over muscles and nerves. Like I’ve said before, I feel very lucky and need to live every minute with fun, energy, and activities, for those who can’t.

And that reminds me, this coming week I need to focus on giving. I haven’t done anything in that regard beyond the day-to-day. So time to share something out of the norm. Just thinking of something different brings a smile to my face, because that is the effect I hope it has on others.