My husband and I have been consistently hitting the trails for three weeks now. I lost four pounds last month. To say the least, I’m thrilled.

Part of the reason for our continued exercise is my husband. I play my role, and he takes up the cue. We motivate each other.

I haven’t asked him, but I believe in part that he is motivated by my own health issues with high blood pressure. I know that his own issues with heart disease led me to change our diets. Apparently, my diagnosis has given him the motivation to get active.

We both love the outdoors anyway. Hiking a wilderness trail is heave to both of us. We’ve easily conquered walking 5 miles at a stretch. I love the time outdoors, the endorphins racing through my body. It is addictive.

So, I’m taking time to notice the violets blooming or the rose-breasted grosbeaks singing, and I’m happy. We talk, we laugh. It’s great together time. All the while, we are improving each other’s health. Frankly, there is no greater gift that you can give your spouse.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

- Mark Twain

Photo by sveres

“There is only one success … to be able to spend your life in your own way, and not to give others absurd maddening claims upon it.”

- Christopher Morley

Today’s Motivational Tips is about taking charge. Far too often, we give away power. We give other people power over our lives. We may do this consciously to avoid a fight or to avoid hurting someone. We may do it subconsciously, not even realizing that we’re being passive and wishy-washy.

If you don’t like where you’re at, if you’re not happy at your present job or relationship, if you feel like you’re giving away too much of you, it’s time to take charge. Take back your life. Life is too short to waste it pleasing people you’re really don’t care if you please. It’s too short to waste it in a dead-end job.

No one is going to do it for you. You have to step up to the task. You have to make the move for change. Let knowing what you’ll gain motivate you. You can do it.

Photo by tiano69