So, it is back to work day.

You’ve gotten through Christmas and New Years, had some time off, got to travel perhaps, maybe got caught up with some reading or other projects…

But today, it is back to work. So…

How are you feeling about it?

Are you excited? Can’t wait to get back? Feels like just another day in a rich, rewarding life?

Or are you dreading it? Depressed. Sad. And pissed off that you had to deal with the 7 degrees windchill (here in Atlanta) and morning rush hour?

Be very mindful about how you are feeling. If you are the latter, you need to think about your life. And your place in it.

Life is too damn short to be full of dread, depression, sadness, and being pissed off.

Stephanie and I have worked very hard to craft a life we love and relish. As you can see from our office above, we love what we do, we love working across from one another, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Be mindful in how you are feeling this morning. If you are unhappy, perhaps it is time to shake things up…

[this is part of my Be Mindful series...an examination about being more mindful about the little things in your life]

[this is part of my Be Mindful series...an examination about being more mindful about the little things in your life]

As of this writing, I’ve lost five pounds in 2011. That’s a moderately respectable accomplishment. And I’m proud of it.

When it comes to enjoying little victories like losing a few pounds, you need to celebrate: even the smallest of achievements.

For example, when I weigh myself on the scale and I lose a half pound, I allow myself to make it a BIG deal. Because it is after all, progress. The world is moving too fast and we all have too much going on not to celebrate and recognize little bits of progress here and there.

Because when I celebrate losing even a half-pound, I feel lighter. My clothes seem to fit better. And you know very well how good it feels when you feel like your outfit and appearance is working.

In the big scheme of things, to have dropped from 229 lbs to 224 lbs isn’t significant. But I allow myself to be happy with that.

When it comes to losing weight, clocking in more time with your spouse or your children, adding some distance on a run, or removing even a small percentage of unhealthy food from your diet, celebrate the little advancements.

Work towards a larger goal, of course. Celebrate BIG TIME when you get there. But there is nothing wrong about being mindful of each little mile post as they pass by.

It is evidence of moving in the right direction…

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[photo from flickr]

1. your email inbox

2. the amount of blogs you follow on your RSS reader…

3. the stacks of papers on your desk that need “filing”…

4. your DVD collection…i mean, DVDs are so old school…

5. some of the tools in your garage…

6. knick knacks too “important” to throw away, yet are covered with dust, buried deep in the basement…

7. your CD collection…old CDs aren’t cool.

7.5. vinyl? cool… [you are allowed to keep vinyl...]

8. songs on your iTunes list…

9. books on the bookshelves…seriously, if you aren’t going to read them again…

10. some of the christmas decorations and other holiday supplies…will you honestly put out the arbor day yard gnomes?

11. the bar glasses stacked in the basement…for that party you planned to host…but never have…

12. the linen closest with 42 sets of towels…

13. those tax records from 1993…

14. your box of business files from 2001, that you haven’t looked at since, well, 2001…

15. that pile of vanity fair magazines you were gonna keep and look at…not even once…

16. all those candles that look great…on the basement shelf…

17. that high school beer mug that you never really planned to show…ANYONE…

18. the amount of television shows stacked up in the DVR…

19. the stack of business cards you have collected…that’s been waiting for months to be entered into the database…

20. your rolodex/contacts database…how many of those people will you NEVER call on again…

21. furniture…i mean really, how long has it been since you/anyone used that chair…

22. the pantry and fridge…how much of that goop do you really need to eat…

23. the tangled mass of wires and cords under your desk….

24. your keys…as in, i don’t even own that house anymore…

25. the closets…

26. your dresser…

27. your shoe racks…you know the drill on numbers 25, 26, and 27…if you haven’t worn it in quite a while…donate it…

28. the guest room closet and dresser drawers. yeah, there is stuff in there too…

29. your glove box…ahhhhh, so that’s where that is…

30. that famous kitchen drawer…you know the one…officially known as the place where you put stuff that doesn’t quite belong anywhere else…

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[comment on Google+]

stephanie and i continue to seek to simplify our lives, and truly focus on only the things that truly matter. here is a guide for all of us, 10 things to simplify:

1. your work – focus only on what you love to do and what drives profits.

2. your bookshelf – if you honestly don’t plan to read that book again, donate it.

3. your kitchen pantry – if it is processed, trash it.

4. your basement and garage – if you haven’t used it over a year, donate it.

5. your wardrobe – if you haven’t worn it in over a year, donate it.

6. your linen closet – keep a few spare towels and bed linens for you and your guests, but most of what is here is excess.

7. your thinking – be in the moment. no matter what you are doing.

8. your network – keep only meaningful relationships that make life worth living.

9. your diet – eat smarter, remove processed, greasy, sugary, fast food gunk…

10. your time – only spend time on what matters. if you’ll regret it on your deathbed, don’t do it.

[comment on this post on Google+]