Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Strike A Pose

Welcome to the New Year! We're finally having beautiful sunny January days here in Northern Michigan. December is often pretty cloudy and dreary. But with the colder temperatures of January comes sunshine! We've had three days in a row of sunshine and I'm celebrating. The dogs and I have a whole new winter attitude.

We're full swing into the New Year. How are your goals and resolutions? You know I frown on New Year's resolutions. But attitude, now that's something I can embrace!

February 9, 2005 is the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rooster.

2004 was the Chinese year of the Monkey. And my January 2004 post  encouraged some playful Monkey Business. It was fun to write that post so I was looking forward to writing about the 2005 Chinese New Year. But when I discovered it was the Year of The Rooster, I was initially a bit stuck. However, over the years, I have actually had quite a few chickens. And one of my favorites was a big bad rooster given to me by my friend, Susan. His name was Roo. So I started pondering Roo. And the one thing I can definitely say Roo had was Attitude, a magnificent, marvelous and obsessive attitude! So let's talk about Attitude in the Year of the Rooster.

Just because our parents often told us to “Drop the Attitude,” when we were children does not make Attitude a bad thing. In fact, one of the keys of success is Attitude. I’d dare say it's all Attitude. Attitude breaks down fear, the one emotion that most often causes us to procrastinate. Take on the attitude, and suddenly the fear and indecision are under our control, allowing us to forget the old, reach for the new, and perform the task at hand.

Here's my dictionary's definition of Attitude: 

A manner or disposition, feeling, position, etc. with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, esp. of the mind.

Position or posture or pose of the body appropriate to or expressive of an action, emotion, etc.

The thing I like about the definition is that it includes the mind (the way we think) the body (the way we move and hold ourselves) and the emotions (the way we feel). And most of you know I like to access my strengths through my body. The mind sometimes confuses me with its constant analyzing of the situation. So I'm suggesting you Strike a Pose, your New Year Attitude Pose, let your emotions kick in, and let the mind follow. Use your pose to accomplish the task at hand.

Don't know what your pose is? Well, you can borrow one from yoga. I'm especially fond of The Warrior. Or, better yet, ask a bud. He or she will likely be able to tell you the pose you most often take on before strong action.

With an Attitude, anyone can achieve great things. Attitude gives you all the power you will ever need. Feed your attitude. Then, just like Roo, you have a Magnificent and Marvelous Obsession!

Strike the pose, call up your Attitude in an instant and follow it. Soon it will become second nature.

"I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it." ~ Rita Mae Brown