CYBER MONDAY and some MONDAY MOTIVATION

IT'S CYBER MONDAY!  That means lots of folks will be sitting at their computers trying to get some shopping done, taking advantage of the deals out there and saving on time and gas money by being in the comfort of their very own home.  That's how I like to shop!  I don't know about you, but I think it's genius.  To help you out a wee bit, here is the link to My Favorite Things.  Just in case you want an idea for someone on your list . . . . And, since it's Monday, and the Monday after a Holiday, I know some of you may be lacking in a little motivations.  I know I can be right there with you.  Here are some of my favorite, "buck up", get up a go, keep it going, Motivational Quotes and why they resonate with me.  Hope they bring you a bit of Motivation too on this Monday!  Motivation is like everything else - you have to work at it, make it part of your day and your routine.  Some people are better at that than others.  Here are a few things to keep in mind and keep your motivation each day.Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People DoWhether you are going through a hard time, or a hard run up a crazy hill, or  just having a bad morning, know that it will pass.  Whatever physical pain there is, emotional pain, or wall in your way, it will pass.  But if you move forward, make it up that hill, you will have accomplished something.  That's a great feeling!  It can carry you throughout your entire day!Whether or not you think you can or you can’t – you’re right.I'm sure you've seen this one.  Wish I'd come up with it  myself as it's so very simple!  It all comes down to our own mindset.  Yes, you can finish that project, you can meet that deadline, lift that heavy weight, run that 5k, make it through a dinner with that awful relative, but only if you think you can.  Don't let yourself down before you've even started!You were given this life because you are strong enough to live it.It's your life and no one else's.  It's your gift and, yes, you have the strength to live it.  Your health and fitness is there for you to help you live your life.  There is nothing more important than keeping yourself healthy and strong for whatever you have to tackle today and tomorrow!One of the favorite truths I've run across is the following.We can all look around us and see bad things happen - to really good people. What makes these people stand out? What keeps them going? What makes us admire them? It's how they handle their circumstances - it's how they get up from the fall. It can be any fall - a bad grade on a test, a lost game, an injury right before that marathon, a life event, a personal challenge, all sorts of circumstances challenge us and work to make us.It's up to us to get back up.I found this quote recently and love it.I know how important it is for us to stay interested, stay engaged in life. To continue to challenge ourselves and keep using our minds by learning, asking questions, reading, anything to keep ourselves sharp. As our generation gets older it's even more important to keep ourselves from getting bored, stagnant and uninterested. How quickly we will decline if we stop learning! I've seen it and I'll bet you have too.  And we have to remember to live each day! It's out there for us to experience, enjoy and conquer. Each day is such a gift. We have to grab it and make it our own. We can't do that by sitting on our rears . . .One of our first obstacles when we begin losing our motivation is our own heads. When things get a bit difficult and sweaty in a workout class, I tell my folks to stop listening to their heads! Oftentimes,  if we listen to our heads we'd still be sitting in a chair just watching mindless TV. You have the toughness in you to make it through, whether it's getting out for a brisk walk, turning down that second helping, or finishing that project. I'm guilty as anyone here. Sometimes I have to force myself to just get out of my head. It's amazing what we can accomplish sometimes if we ignore our own words! This is often the time of year when we let our routines go out the window. It's cold outside, there's so much to get done, there's more treats around, it's just not easy to keep the motivation. The EASY button has a place at times, but we can't let it take over!       Every single day is out there. We have to begin our days with new motivation and new sparkle. Where do you get your motivation?  What keeps you going?  What stops you?  How much shopping are you doing today?  And how did it get to be December already??