Lessons from Sky
Last Monday we lost Sky, our lovebird, to the sky. For many of you who have ever lost a pet, you understand the loss. As I reflected on her life, I realized she had taught us!
Sky’s wings were clipped so she could not fly too high. Mostly she walked around the house. Sky followed Don everywhere, almost like our deceased dog, Rio.
If Don was brushing his teeth, Sky would be at Don’s feet. If he was in the closet getting his clothes, Sky walked into the closet to watch. She liked to sit on the edge of his shoes while he dressed – until he put his shoes on.
She would climb up his pants leg to get to his shoulder and stay there while he ate dinner or watched TV. Though I loved her and fed her, I could never touch her and was scared to have her climb on me.
We did have our own little habit: One day I opened the refrigerator door and Sky watched me take out a bag of lettuce and give her a piece. I dropped it in the corner. I am not sure she ever actually ate any of it, but she seemed to like biting 3 or 4 holes in it. I would put the rest in her cage and she would play with it later.
It became a habit. When I went to the refrigerator, Sky would stand near me. She would stretch her neck, almost like a dog begging, to let me know she was ready for her lettuce. Then I would drop it in the same corner of the kitchen, every day, and she would take her little bites. She trained me. We had a new habit.
Lesson 1: Stop/Start Method
When you keep doing something over and over again, it becomes a habit. It takes 18-21 days to make or break a habit.
If you want to STOP a habit, stop it daily for no less than a month.
If you want to START a new habit, start now and do it every day.
STOP dropping items anywhere.
START putting them in the same place every time.
STOP piling items on your desk (or chair, or floor!)
START filing items into folders.
STOP leaving the mail on a table.
START putting action items into the Take Action File.™
What do you need to STOP doing or START doing?
I needed to start this blog!
If you want more information on how to setup your own Take Action file, order the CD Mining the Mail. click here or go to Products tab If you need a system for your students, there is a brand new product called the Take Action File + Student File System.
Lesson 2 next month
Pictures of my new hobby will be up shortly.
Just got the blog started.
Eileen Roth
Your Tour Guide for Success
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