How to Apply Your Skills & Talent to Losing After 50

Get to know you through the seeming magic of journaling. Watch the gems spill forth.

Hello Everyone!

The last day of 2021!!

Pearl One

Today, let’s talk about one of your raging success stories.

I know.

You’d much prefer to hammer away at yourself remembering the many ways in which you’ve let yourself down through the years, but hear me out.

There are aspects of life that likely feel intuitive and “obvious” to you, but that are a serious challenge for me.

For example, I’m so impressed when I meet a friend who turns out to be an amazing housekeeper, a gardener-extraordinaire, or someone skilled with her budget.

I may have figured out this “lose and maintain after 50” thing, but you’ve had wild success in areas of life that perplex me.

But this is great news. Take a look.

Journal Gems.

Take out your journal and choose one success-experience — large or small — that you’re particularly proud of. (It might be I nailed that presentation or I’m in my element when I need media attention for my cause.)

Next pull apart your success-experience like it’s a LEGO castle piece. by. piece.

Spread your castle’s pieces all over the floor (in your mind’s eye). Now write about each piece. If two pieces are still stuck together un-stick them. Our goal is to learn the maximum amount possible – in granular detail — about how you created your success-experience.

I recently did this exercise and learned what “tools” lead to my success-experience.

Immersion. I likely drove everyone in my life crazy because I ate, slept and talked about my success-topic almost daily for years.

Growth. If I’d thought that a book, documentary, or a talk on the topic had merit, I was in. I was always up for learning.

Focus. Because I was so immersed in my success-topic I put other fun things in my life to the side.

Creativity. I was constantly looking for as many hacks as I could find: in my case that meant audiobooks in the car, a particular type of travel, and hanging out with others who shared my passion.

Pay It Forward. After my successful project was a done-deal, I reached out to others who were new to the path sharing ideas and support.

What lead to your success-experience? Break it down specifically as possible. (I hope you’ll share in the comments below.)

Finally, write about how you can apply your success tools to losing after 50.

This is your new superpower, use it to crush this difficult trek we’re making together. ♥

Pearl Two

When it comes to resolutions, I’m a fan of making positive New Year’s resolutions that add to my life versus making me feel annoyed with myself.

One year, I resolved to laugh big at least once a day. It couldn’t be a little smile or smirk. I had to really laugh (and yes, this resolution lasted all year. I’m stealing it for 2022).

Another year I resolved to give a wide berth to people in my life who appear to have NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Keep in mind that we all have narcissistic pockets – sure I can save 25 dogs who need a forever home, no problem –, I’m talking about people who approach every area in their life from a narcissistic, larger than life point of view).

Instead of resolutions, I’ve heard that some have great success in looking back over the past year at what worked and what didn’t make it. I love this idea because it’s essentially reverse-engineering the past year.

I’d love to hear in the comments section below what your positive resolution will be! ♥

Pearl Three

When I was young my mom often kept a small carton of cherry tomatoes right next to the kitchen sink. The idea was that each time she was washing her hands she’d quickly clean one or two tomatoes and pop them into her mouth. This resulted in eating a lot of cherry tomatoes several times a day.

Today I do the same. Have you found ways to get more vegetables into your life? I hope you’ll share because we’re all wondering. ♥

Pearl Four

Self-Sabotage. This is my last post on self-sabotage. We’ll have a new deeper-dive topic in 2022. Today’s self-sabotage: I don’t get into my bedroom early enough in the evening to actually have time to read before it’s time to turn the light off.

Say I’m trying to be asleep by 10 p.m.

I need to start my five evening chores at 8:30 p.m. (clean cat box, fresh water for River and so on). After the chores I head upstairs to clean my face, give River his ten minute massage (lol) and read for an hour.

Normally I don’t start my evening shut-down until 9 p.m. and don’t end up falling asleep until after 11 p.m. Which finds me zonked the next morning. Duh. Time to make some changes. (My new mantra: I manage the clock, the clock doesn’t manage me.) ♥

Pearl Five

Everything you want is just outside your comfort zone.” Jack Canfield ♥

Have a beautiful, safe weekend guys!

♥, Wendy

PS If you like the pearls, I’d love it if you’d share with a friend or family member.

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