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by Fred C. Wilson III
January 1, 2013
“The way to get started is to quit talking and get doing.” -Walt Disney-
For successful people self-reinvention is essential. Pop icon Madonna does it; philanthropic-martial artist Jackie Chan, super-model Naomi Campbell, political consultant David Axelrod, above quoted artist-entertainment visionary Walter Disney and myriads of other successful people periodically junk their old ‘wine skins’ in exchange for new selves. But how do you make the best out of the rest of your life? Procrastination kills. The ‘manana’ mentality is obsolete.
New Year’s resolutions are great source material for change. When I was a child I remember our many house parties. My grandfather gave me my first thimble full of Gordon’s Gin when I was 4. Since then alcoholic beverages and I became forever friends. In time getting smashed became a ‘national past time’ with church activities, staying in trouble, stamp collecting, the Kelly Branch library, and baseball in close pursuit. Girls came later. A great way to initiate your reinvention process is habit control. Drink moderately. As a writer-artist I never drink when working; can’t drink and draw. Alcohol addiction is worse than controlled substance abuse; the latter will land you in jail the former is legal, ‘acceptable’ hence far more dangerous.
Healthy eating habits are plus factors in your arsenal of good habits. I’m the last person to tell anybody about eating healthy considering my generous girth. We’re living in a food toxic environment. Search: ‘Obesity in America/SweetSurprise.com’ and see the awful statistics yourself. This is what am I doing about my personal battle with fat. Last January, I weighed in at 346 lbs. now I’m at 312 pounds and dropping! I slipped this holiday season but I’m back on track. Reader get fit, stay in shape. I’m going swimming starting January!
Reeducation isn’t just a communist word for dissident control. Education has always been the key factor in self betterment. I’ve registered in two advanced art classes! Not only can’t I ‘drink and draw’ I can’t ‘pig out’ and draw either. The arts are fun, growth enhancing, and medicinal. Through the arts I inch closer towards my full growth potential. Reader you don’t have to be a writer/artist to develop as a person but taking classes for fun/vocational development is essential.
Hate your job? Are you a ‘minority,’ an ex-offender trying to make good, a woman who can’t crack that glass ceiling, checking your vocational growth because you can’t get past ‘The Man?’ Start your own company. Entrepreneurship is the prime mover in helping jump start our sluggish economy. Entrepreneurs provide more jobs than the public sector. According to Jason Daley’s article ‘The Entrepreneur Economy’ “while the corporate world struggles to find its footing, entrepreneurs are stepping up with new ideas.” The parasitical/corrupt corporate world is morally bankrupt and bereft of new ideas. As today’s industrial/business giants go the way of the dinosaur, highly motivated quick thinking action-oriented self-starters have stepped up to the plate. They’re demanding action, change and GOD willing they will get it despite a war mongering, increasingly tyrannical, tax thieving government seemingly hell bent on thwarting all growth and positive change. Start your New Year right by investing in a whole new you! Affect your own ‘trickle-down’ policy. When you grow and prosper so does society. You are the ‘salt of the earth’ the ‘leaven in the dough.’
How can you reinvent you if you’re head over heels in hock? In the past I’ve written a number of articles on debt control. Financial mismanagement is the root cause of marital failure. Crisis marriages have been known to survive adultery, spousal abuse, delinquent children, but rarely do they overcome fiscal mismanagement. How can homes be happy when the wolf of financial woe is always at the door? Fix your finances and you fix your marriage. It takes ‘two to tango.’ Married to spend-thrifty spouses undo the best marriages. While you may be convinced of the necessity of remaining debt free what about your significant other who think you’re a walking ATM machine?
Nobody can reinvent themselves if they’re sick, dying and dead. Stress management is vital. Maintaining mental health is necessary. Positive mental conditioning is required for growth. Sick minds produce tainted and twisted products. Think of the sick minds that reinvented themselves that resulted in the murders of millions throughout history. Ancient Roman Emperor Claudius reinvented himself from a scared, stuttering, clown of a man into one of cunning and cruelty rarely matched in the annuals of human infamy. Reinvention through positive mental action produces greatness. Search: Stress Management Techniques to learn more. If you smoke-quit. A Buddhist priest told me in Seoul, South Korea that “I stink!” He smelled stale cigar smoke in my clothes. During Lent of that year I quit smoking cold turkey. I sent that good man a letter of thanks. I’ve been smoke free going on 27 years! You can’t reinvent your new life with lung cancer. Need help? Search the Internet under whatever addiction that may be controlling your life and STOP-IT-NOW!
If you have intentions of revitalizing your life along entrepreneurial/educational lines you will need $$$$$. After bill payments: save your money, make due with less, reuse and repair household appliances instead of purchasing new ones. Think of mother Earth. Recycle trash and unwanted items. Why have a three closet wardrobe when a single one would do? Any credible reinvention program must exclude frivolity. The main thing the Third Order of St. Francis taught me, before I got kicked out for missing meetings, was to live the simple life. I took with me the primary lesson of Father Francis. Reader, don’t be miserly but if you can live below your means do so.
Vacations are prime sources of rejuvenation. You can’t afford Cancun, a week at Lake Geneva, skiing in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin; go somewhere affordable. Recharge your spiritual/mental/physical batteries. Take weekend trips to local spots; they say Galena’s nice this time of the year. The State of Illinois Thompson Building Downtown Chicago has an entire section on the ground floor that list affordable short term vacations. Go to: www.enjoyillinois.com/getaway, www.illinoisbeautiful.com, www.chicago.hyatt.com. If romance is on your agenda check out www.sybaris.com. Before you launch your ‘winter offensive’ make sure you’re well rested.
The ‘piece de resistance’ of any self-help program is helping others. Throughout my years of doing volunteer work I’ve found that the people I’ve worked with helped me more than I helped them. Doing volunteer work covers a multitude of sins against charity, provides spiritual development, enhances emotional growth, helps volunteers stay in shape, and enables them to develop much needed people skills. Any worth while reinvention program will ultimately influence family, friends, and larger society. Volunteering is like swimming; once in the ocean of life the total person benefits. To learn more on reinventing self go to www.us.gov. On behalf of Megascene, I wish you a safe, holy, happy, and growth filled New Year. Peace and all things good!