An Update
Before we get under way with today’s installment on medotcom, just a quick update on the Craig and Johnnie (and Vive) Road-show. That’s right; along with Baldy and Miss Bossy Boots, I will be traversing this big brown (and greenish) land of ours over the next few months to share some craigharperdotcom love via our RYL (Renovate Your Life) and RYB (Renovate Your Body) workshops. We are still finalising details with the venues and ticketing in the various states (will be done within the next week) but we do know where we’ll be and when…
Perth – Sept. 14
Adelaide -Sept. 21
Brisbane – Oct. 19
Sydney – Oct. 26
Melbourne – Nov. 2
We’re not sure about Hobart yet… but it’s a definitely, maybe, perhaps.
So hopefully, I’ll get to meet you in person over the next few months. And to my international friends… we’re workin’ on it! (Johnnie’s scared of planes… and there’s a small matter of his criminal record).
And…
Thanks for all your feedback on the photo question. Now I’m really confused. Just kidding. We’re gonna go with the T-Shirt look for the time being. Until I get my head transplant later in the year that is. I may crop the Diesel logo as some of you suggested. Okay, someone with skills which I don’t have (Johnnie)… may do some cropping.
On with today’s post…
G’day Groovers. Happy Thursday! Today is an amazing day because it’s the first, last and only July 17, 2008 that you and I will ever have. Ever! I’m pretty excited about that. So perhaps you and I should make the most of this once-in-a-life-time day. Waddya think? I’m up for it. Yes, it kinda looks, feels and smells like other days but that’s just our mind getting in the way of our possibilities. Again.
Change-Your-Life Thursday
Sure we’ve had lots of Thursdays before but we’ve never had this Thursday have we? Imagine wasting another day. And another opportunity. And a bit more of our potential. Or even, wasting a life. As if we’d ever do that. That’s not how you and I are wired is it? In many ways, today could be spectacular and unique if we choose to make it that. It could be a defining day for us. A life-changing day. It could be a cross-road where we stop and make that turn we should have made years ago. Or it could be just another typical Thursday. Before another typical Friday. In another typical life.
It’s a Choice
“But Craig, it’s Thursday and I don’t really do spectacular or amazing on Thursdays. I usually save spectacular for special occasions. Christmas or maybe New Year. At the very least, it’s gotta be a Monday. Definitely not a Thursday. Besides, I’m busy. Today’s not so good for me. I wasn’t really planning on doing or being anything special today. I thought I’d take a quick peek at your site and then continue on with my average, not-particularly-special day. Just like every other Thursday. I didn’t really expect this kind of full frontal assault. My head’s not really in the right place at the moment and to be honest, I’m not feeling that great. And I’m kinda busy. Did I mention that already? And my therapist said I should pace myself and not to put myself under too much pressure while I work through my issues. Anyway, if a good or bad day (and life) is determined by ‘me’ then who can I blame and get mad at for all those bad days I have? You know that blaming and getting mad is healthy right?”
What if…
A great day is not about what happens to us or around us on a given day, but about what we do on that day (today). The decisions we make (and don’t make), the mindset we adopt, our conscious behaviours and how we deal with the events of that day.
“It’s not what happens that matters, it’s how we react to what happens that matters. “
It’s about the attitude we consciously take into every situation, circumstance and conversation for that day. I can have a great day every day by choice. Even on a Thursday. The quality of my day will not be determined by things over which I have no control. I can’t control what other people think, say or do. I can’t control the weather. I can’t control most of what happens around me. I can’t change what happened yesterday, last month or last decade but I can change how I let that affect me today. The quality of my day will be determined by me. Today will be a good day because that’s my choice.
An Opportunity
Today you and I have an opportunity to choose to do something we’ve never done. Doing different to create different. We can choose to face that fear which has held us captive for too long. We can stop waiting and procrastinating and start doing. We can stop feeling sorry for ourselves. We can stop justifying and rationalising all that destructive crap we do. We can get responsible and proactive instead of offended and hurt. We can stop being victims and start being warriors. We can work through the uncomfortable stuff and grow, learn, adapt and change in the process. And we can consciously, strategically and courageously change our life.
Or we could do what we did last Thursday. And the one before.
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Please come to Hobart. Please, please, please….I have a large family. I will make sure they all attend. In fact we are all related down here so 500000 people will show up….all looking very similar!!
Michelle TAS
Hi Craig,
I’m going to have an amazing Thursday… no matter how I choose to spend it ! I know you will too.
{HUGS} Tina
Hi Craig
Sometimes i forget to have a good day. I wake up with the intention of having a positive attitude and doing something great but then i forget. Maybe i should get one of those stickers people put on cars that says ‘don’t forget to have a great day today’ and stick it on my forehead that way people will remind me during the day ‘what’s that thing on your forehead?’, ‘oh yeah i forgot i’m supposed to be having a great day.’
We currently have all these ‘world youth week’ pilgrims in sydney and as much as i hate religion i gotta admit the atmosphere in this concrete hellhole has changed this week. There’s all these young people singing and playing guitars on the train and on the main streets, saying hello and they just have this really enthusiastic attitude. Everyone seems happy to be here and i think it’s rubbing off on some of us. At first i was resentful that they were clogging up the transport system cause how am i going to get to work on time ya know? How stupid. Yes these pilgrims are ruining another boring lifeless working day by being happy, chatty and singing. Makes me realise what a miserable bunch we really are.
By the way i wanted to say how great the forum you guys set up is. I’m constantly struggling to change my life and failing miserable and sometimes wish i had people around me who wanted more from life that i could talk to about this stuff but i don’t. So it’s been great having these guys to share stuff with. They encourage me and i gotta admit they seem to be bring out the competitive side of me. When i read how well some of them are doing and how they are tackling their own issues i think ‘i better get my butt in gear i can’t let them beat me to it’. That’s normal right? So i just wanted to say thanks for setting up the forum.
If i attend your sydney workshop your not gonna embarrass me are you? I don’t like being embarrassed.
Ange
Morning
Adelaide, Sept 21 – clashes with the City Bay Run!! Disappointing – I was so looking forward to attending the workshop……
An amazing Thursday hey?! Why the hell not? Time to step through the fear and express the thoughts running around my head to the man in my life. Different for me – sharing face to face!!
Karen
HI Michelle from Tas.
If you bring all your family and all your friends and all your enemies… I’ll think about it!
Seriously, we’re exploring it as we need certain numbers to make it viable… but I LOVE Tassie (I lived there for six years) so I wanna get there.
You find me an amazing venue that seats a few hundred for next-to-no-money and that will help!!
Hugs…
Good for you Tina ( )
Hi Ange.
We all need enouragement, support and someone who gives a shit. Even you and me. You need to be around positive people and maybe in some small way the forum is where you find those people (for now).
I’m glad the forum has been good for you and no, I won’t embarrass you ever. Your world will change when you change… and it sounds like you’re making real progress. Well done.
Enjoy your day… and the pilgrims.
Hi Karen.
Doh! Really?
Hmmm. I’ll get back to you. Thanks for the heads-up.
( )
Craig Baby,
I don’t see the thriving metropolis of Canberra on your Rock Star tour schedule. I imagine that was just an oversight that will soon be corrected….
Yours in early morning dumping…
Gunna
Craig you will be in Adelaide on the day of the City to Bay. Are you going to join us?
I echo Ange’s sentiments about the forum too. There is some really great stuff going on, and the encouragement is awesome.
Hi Gunna.
I would love to come to Canberra but I don’t know that an audience of six is even going to cover Johnnie’s drinking habit, let alone venue hire, airfares… etc.
I think you’re the only person in Canberra who knows who I am!
( )
Okay Leanne… a change is in the wind re that date. I will eat cheesecake with you all… not sure about the run.
Glad you enjoy the forum.. it’s a great opportunity for our readers to hang out together and to build a cyber-support-network.
( )
Hmmm… September…. 14th… locked in…. BYO cheesecake??
I'm going to have a marvellous Thursday. I've kick started the day with a yummy porridge, organised my PT session, cancelled a drinking session…. I'm organised & my day is going fabulously… tra la la la…
Pet
xoxo
Hey Craig! Sept 14 sounds AWESOME! Since it’s on a SUNDAY I can even manage to make it!!!
Looking forward to it!
Yep, today IS an amazing day…………stay tuned!!!
Pip
Hi Craig,
Today is the first day i have been out of bed in a week. So already it is better than last week. I was operated on last week for Ovarian Cancer. I am waiting for the pathology results today or tomorrow. I am staying positive & have my family around me for support.
You know i love you & i try really hard to use your words to inspire me but today i just can't quite get there. I have smiled whilst reading this & laughed at Anges comments on the Pilgrims in Sydney, because my kids are up there. But lifting myself to have an amazing day is difficult. I AM a warrior not a victim but I guess amazing comes in a variety of degrees.
So today my amazing is being out of bed. Sitting in the sun, listening to the birds, kissing my nephews, hugging my sister, eating chocolate fudge pudding, and breathing in the country air. Amazing can be the simplest things but can change the very moment you are living in.
Love & Hugs,
Shelley XXXX
Craig, Great Post! I laughed my head off when I read about Johnny! Between your haircut, and his criminal record, you two have gotta be the wildest, outta control pair of cowboys on the motivational circuit!
How Aussie is that?
I hope the rest of the world is ready for the two of you…
Cheers,
Gb
Hi Craig….make sure there is a spot with my name on it for the november gig.
michelle of malmsbury
YEAHHHHHHHH excitement in the west!
Very happy to find out the Perth date Craig.
Loved your post today. I’m seriously considering quitting my well paid job to go to a job i know i’ll love for half the money – aaarrgghh both exciting and daunting at the same time. Been doing this job i hate for years – but it’s what i know….time for a change!
cheers
K-Girl
Craig, one word of caution-if you continue offering this kind of REALLY PRACTICAL advice and help on your site completely for free, be warned, you might just be out of business…
Just kidding!
I’m a regular visitor to your site and have tried to put to use as many of your priniciples as possible, and it’s really helped me in the process of changing my life.
And i can’t believe that all of this is free!
You’re a superstar, Craig!:)
Yes please with the overcoming of the plane fear, New Zealand needs you!
Sus