5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Retirement

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I have been retired for seven years now, and I enjoy every minute of it. I retired when I was 53 years old but could have (and should have) retired at the age of 50. There has been a lot to learn in my retirement. I can describe my retirement in one word, options. There are unlimited options for me now that I didn’t have when I worked for the government. I can be or do anything I want now. Listen and learn about 5 things I wish I knew before retirement.

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5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Retirement Episode 9

When I was working, I attended a pre-retirement seminar a couple of years before I retired. We were allowed to request attendance five years before our minimum retirement date. At the end of the seminar, I wrote on my evaluation that it was great information. The only problem was we needed the information sooner. It was too late for a lot of people to do what was needed for a comfortable retirement. Here are five things to do for a comfortable retirement.

  1. Begin Planning Early.
  2. Develop Specialized Knowledge and Skills.
  3. Find a Good Financial Planner.
  4. Begin Saving Early.
  5. Pay off Your Mortgage.

Start Planning For Retirement Early

When I started my career, I was 23 years old. Two things that I never thought were going to happen back then were: I would retire; I would get old. When you are young you never think about getting old, but it is inevitable. It happens to all of us. Starting your career is when you should start planning for your retirement. Begin thinking about what you want to do and how you want to live when that day finally comes.

Beginning your plan early will allow you to adjust to everything life throws your way. Sometimes life throws you the good things, marriage, children, etc. Other times the bad things are death, injury, sickness, etc. Good things and bad will affect your retirement. By planning for the future early in your career, you can minimize the impact.

Things To Do Before Retirement

During my 30 year career, I developed certain skills and knowledge. After I retired, I learned that most of my skills and knowledge did not transfer to my new life. If you have generalized skills and knowledge, you will learn that every retiree has the same skillset. There is a lot of competition. Finding your niche will help you stand out against the competition. I suggest that you research, throughout your career, skills that are needed in the private sector. Take courses and study those skills to gain the knowledge that you need.

Find a good financial planner. Unless you are an expert on finances, you will need a financial planner. They can help you make the right decisions with your money. This step will allow you to keep as much money as you can before retirement. It is a big change to go from knowing a check comes every two weeks to a smaller check arriving once a month. You will need to supplement your retirement with other sources of income if you want to maintain your current lifestyle.

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Save

Begin saving as early as you can. The earlier you begin, the more money you will have in retirement. I always put money into my Thrift Savings Account, which is the government 401(k). If I had to do it over again, I would maximize my contributions. In retirement, you can use your savings to supplement your retirement. I withdraw a certain amount every month. Because the stock market has done so well, my savings have increased.

Saving early is probably the most important thing you can do. I recommend setting a goal for the amount of money you want to save before retirement. For me, the best thing was having it withdrawn from my paycheck and placed into my account. Out of sight, out of mind. Since I never saw the money, it was like it never existed. My savings account would grow every two weeks without me doing anything.

Pay Off The House

Pay off your mortgage. My mortgage is my largest expense, as it is for most people. Since I transferred a lot during my career, I was not able to pay off my last mortgage. I bought houses and sold houses; made and lost money. If I had stayed in one location, in the same house, I would not have to worry about a mortgage now. I think about what I could do in the places I could go if I did not have a mortgage. If at all possible, pay off your mortgage before you retire.

These are just 5 things I wish I knew before retirement. I am not an expert on retirement or financial planning. I hope you will begin thinking about retirement now that you are young and not wait until it is too late. Do your research, make a plan, and find a financial planner to help you. Always remember to start saving early.

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What Matters More?

Developing the right habits is essential if you want to change your situation. Doing the same things that you are currently doing will get you nowhere. You must change your mindset. This includes developing new habits. If you are having trouble developing new habits, remember this question. What matters more?

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Kobe Responded, What Matters More?

A great story to illustrate this point comes from the late, great Kobe Bryant. He was being interviewed by a reporter who was questioning him about what time he wakes up. When Kobe told him he wakes up at 3 AM to get to the gym at 4 AM, the reporter was stupefied. Why so early? He asked. Kobe replied because my competitor gets to the gym at 5 AM.

The reporter couldn’t believe Kobe would wake up so early. He said, don’t you like to sleep? I know I do. Kobe didn’t reply, so the reporter asked him if this was a trait with which he was born. Did his father wake up early? Kobe replied, no. Then how do you get up so early, he asked? Calmly, Kobe responded, it comes down to what matters more.

Sleep or Winning

What matters more, sleep or winning? For Kobe, it was winning. He developed the habit of waking up early so he could get in more practice time than his opponents. Whatever type of person you want to become, you must develop new habits. If you desire to be a great athlete, research the habits of great athletes. Are you an artist? Then research habits of great artists. Here is a post about the habits of the wealthy.

Develop New Habits

Developing new habits is difficult. You must be consistent in practicing these new habits. It takes 21 days in a row before a habit will start to form. Some days are going to be more difficult than others. When you go through these days, ask yourself, what matters more?

Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Changing your routine means getting out of that zone of comfort you are currently living in. For example, most successful people wake up early. Just like Kobe, they want to take advantage of every minute of the day. But sleeping is good, and your bed is oh so comfy. You are safe and warm in your bed.

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You are feeling so good that it is simple to close your eyes and go back to sleep. At that moment, ask yourself, what matters more? Becoming the person you want to be or going back to sleep? By getting up, you have time to read, meditate, exercise, journal, etc. One decision will change your lifestyle, while the other will keep you where you’re at in life. What matters more?

Irene Sendler

Look at my post about the heroic deeds of Irene Sendler. Irene risked her life during World War II by smuggling Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto. For Irene, what mattered more, was the lives of innocent children over her life.

Are you happy where you are at this point in your life? If not, you must change and begin stretching your comfort zone. Get a little comfortable being uncomfortable. Begin your change by researching and developing the habits of the person you want to become. If you want to improve your relationship, develop habits of people in good relationships. Do you want to be wealthy? Research the habits of rich people. If it becomes difficult to change, remember to ask yourself, what matters more?

Cites

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What Action Can Do For You

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All right, you have decided to become the person others want to be. You’ve taken that first step on your journey. Your goals are made, and you have written a detailed plan for accomplishing them. Now what? How are you going to get to that finish line? You see, it’s all a waste of time and energy if you don’t begin to do the work. You have to crack that egg to make your omelet. Congratulations! It’s time to take that first step on your journey to a new you. See what Action can do for you.

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What Action Can Do For You Episode 8

This step is the most important, ACTION. Once you have made your decision to accomplish anything, 50% of the work is finished. Congratulations once again; you are already halfway there. The other 50% comes from the action of getting it done.

It’s great that you have set your goals, written a good plan, and are ready to change. Unfortunately, nothing will change without ACTION. You must do the work. This step is what stops most people. They are unwilling to do the work and make sacrifices. It is why only 1% of people succeed. You are not like most people. It is inside you to get moving and take that step.

A Smal Change

A small change in your thought process can result in a large change in your lifestyle. That change is called ACTION. Inaction creates procrastination. Why do you procrastinate?

Your comfort zone is too comfortable.

You have a fear of failure.

You have a fear of success.

Moving out of your comfort zone is difficult. It’s called a comfort zone for a reason; it’s comfortable. You do not like to be uncomfortable, no one does. But it’s necessary for change.

Fear Of Failure

Whenever you decide to do anything significant, like change, you experience a fear of failure. It is common. Those annoying little Doubt Demons will come out of hiding, repeating those thoughts of failure. “What if I fail? What will people say?”

Fear Of Success

Procrastination also comes from a fear of success. Many people do not see themselves as being successful. What will happen in your life if you succeed in accomplishing your goal? How will your life change? If your business becomes successful, how will that impact your time? Your family? You will have to deal with these fears before you can take that first step.

Other reasons for inaction and procrastination can be:

Your goal is overwhelming.

It’s too complicated.

The timing isn’t right.

Overwhelming Goals

Goals can be overwhelming. Think about if your goal is to become a published author. The thought of coming up with an exciting plot and intriguing characters that keep the readers engaged is overwhelming. Writing 50,000 to 100,000 words can be staggering.

When you start on a new journey, there can be a learning curve. Your goal can seem too complicated. If you decide to start a new business, you might not know what it takes to run a business. You will have to spend a lot of time studying and learning.

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Timing

Probably the greatest cause of procrastination is timing. You want to change your life, but today is not the best day to start. You don’t feel prepared. Equipment needs to be bought. You need to read How to Books. If you decide to begin an exercise program to lose weight. Procrastination sets in because you don’t have the right clothes.

I’m here to tell you that all the reasons outlined above are one thing. EXCUSES! They all stink.

One Way

There is one way to overcome procrastination which is created by inaction, and you know what it is. ACTION! When you take that first step and put your plan to action, it does some marvelous things to your mindset.

It conquers your fears.

Provides you with the knowledge of how you’re going to accomplish your goal.

K. I. S. S. Things become simpler.

You will eliminate all excuses.

It will ignite a passion within you.

Stepping out of your comfort zone will become tolerable.

You will learn how to embrace failure.

Action will chase those Doubt Demons back into their hiding place. You will be able to control and conquer all your fears.

Your Why

Focusing on your WHY will keep you from worrying about how you’re going to accomplish your goals. You will learn new things and techniques to put your plan into motion.

Your mind will take your overwhelming goal and break it down. You will look at your project in smaller, more manageable bits. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

All the excuses that caused you to procrastinate will become trivial. With ACTION, you will begin to eliminate your excuses one by one. Pretty soon, they will be all gone.

The greatest reward of taking the first step in putting your plan into ACTION is passion. It will ignite a passion within you to achieve your goal. Once you have lit this passion, you become unstoppable.

Stretch Your Comfort Zone

Stepping out of your comfort zone is hard. Possibly, one of the hardest things you do. Once you are out, you realize that you can survive. Even though it might not be comfortable taking ACTION, you find that it is tolerable.

Failure

Failure is going to happen. Anyone who has ever accomplished anything has had many failures along the way. The reason that they were successful was that they persevered. You are going to have failures and setbacks along the way. Embrace your failures, do not hide from them. Do not use them as an excuse to quit. Once you fail, you are closer to success. They are just steppingstones along the way.

Do you find it difficult to get started when you decide to begin a journey to change? Are you a victim of procrastination? Have you found that just doing something without thinking about it is easier for you? Do you have a story on how you defeated procrastination with action? If so, I would love to hear about it. If you have not joined my email list yet, click on the blue-button above. You will be able to receive my newsletters, e-book, courses, etc. You can find everything you need to grow your self-confidence.

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Colorado Trip The Last Day

Colorado Trip The Last Day. All good things have to come to an end. Even this wonderful trip that Sofia and I began a mere six days before. It felt like we had been there for weeks because we had done so much in the last six days. Today was the last day of our Colorado trip.

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The Last day Of Our Colorado Trip

Since our flight wasn’t until 6:00 PM, we had plenty of time to enjoy another day in Colorado. What was one thing that we had not done visiting the Rocky Mountain state? Visit the Rocky Mount National Park, of course! So I hopped on the old inter-web and procured us a vehicle pass and a timed entry pass.

After loading the car and saying goodbye to Wilhelmina and Paul, we headed down the long winding driveway. As soon as we turned onto the road, we were greeted by three young bucks standing in the roadway. They politely walked to the side and posed for some pictures.

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He Seemed To Enjoy The Photo Session

Over The Continental Divide

The night before, I had decided to enter the park on the west side by Grand Lake. We would traverse the mountains, cross the Continental Divide, and exit at Estes Park. The airport was only an hour and a half drive from there, so we had plenty of time. It was another scenic drive to the park entrance.

Beware The Ganja

We stopped at the Rocky Mount National Park sign for some pictures and met two lovely young ladies. They had sweet, southern accents with which they amused us with a story about a marijuana dispensary encounter the day before. It seems they purchased an herbal laced brownie and plan to enjoy it in their room. After eating a corner of the brownie, they realized it was much more powerful than they thought. They had an interesting evening until the effects wore off.

After saying goodbye, we began our drive up and over the mountains. It wasn’t long until we came around a curve and saw people standing on the side of the road. I looked over into the meadow and two moose were grazing in the distance. I found a place to pull over and Sofia ran back to snap some photos.

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A Quick Breakfast

Breathtaking

The scenery and vistas from the top of the mountain, like Sofia, are breathtaking. Once again, I realized how small we are on this vast rock spinning around the sun. Several more photos and selfies were taken as we made our way down the mountain.

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Beautiful

At the bottom, we stopped at the visitor center which has a gift shop and restaurant next door. The day was warm, so we decided to ask for a table outside. While enjoying a bowl of elk stew, I got to look at a mountain and a beautiful stream running below us. I wanted to enjoy the view one last time before heading to Denver.

Home Sweet Home

Mountains always amaze me since the highest point in South Florida is a hill made out of garbage. Before they started the landfills, the highest point was a speedbump in Coral Gables. After another uneventful for our flight, we arrived in Fort Lauderdale around midnight. After collecting our luggage, we headed outside and were greeted by a blast of heat and humidity. It may be hot and humid, but it is “home sweet home.”

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Colorado Trip Part 4

Colorado Trip Part 4. Day 5 began with another beautiful sunrise. Our plans today were to make the two-hour trek to Estes Park. Estes Park, Colorado is the home of the Stanley Hotel. The idea to visit the Stanley Hotel was given to me by my sister. She is a big Stephen King fan.

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Our Trip To Colorado Part 4

The Stanley Hotel inspired King to write his book, The Shining. He stayed in room 217 while writing the book. I’m not much of a Stephen King fan, but I knew of the Stanley from watching shows about the paranormal. The Stanley is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in America.

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You Don’t See This From The Highways

Once again, we were provided with a route among the backroads to get to Estes Park. The drive was stunning as we were driving through a gorge with walls of rock on either side of the road. Arriving in the town of Blackhawk, I was surprised by the many casinos. It is a mini Las Vegas in Colorado.

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The Stanley Hotel

Looking For Ghosts

As we pulled into Estes Park, we saw the hotel on our left. It was huge. It is a beautiful, all-white building with a red roof. We pulled up to the gate, paid our parking fee, and parked at the bottom of the hill. Walking up the steps to the lobby, we kept our eyes open for ghostly apparitions. I can confidently say that we didn’t see any.

Because the Stanley Hotel is a working hotel and a tourist destination, only guests are allowed above the first floor. I overheard the employee behind the front desk say that all the room keys on the wall were fake except for room 217. That was the original key. We proceeded downstairs to a little café where we drank hot chocolate, and I had a piece of cherry pie.

A Great Historical Tour

I had booked a historical tour of the hotel, which is well worth the money. During the tour, we were told that the founder F. O. Stanley had grown up in a lower to middle-income family. During that time in history, people had to sit still for 45 minutes to an hour to get their picture taken. Stanley figured out a way to reduce the time down to 45 seconds to a minute. He noticed a pain point and figured out a solution. This made him very wealthy.

Within a few months, he was making over $100,000 a month. Today that would be equal to $3 million a month. Stanley’s home is just down the road from the hotel. He built the hotel to house his wealthy friends when they came to visit him. His friends were named Vanderbilt, Rockefeller, Carnegie, all the wealthiest people of the day.

Did Jim Carrey See A Ghost?

During the tour, we were told various stories of people having paranormal events while staying at the hotel. One of the stories was of Jim Carrey. Carrey was supposed to stay in room 217 while filming the movie, Dumb and Dumber. He only lasted three hours when he ran downstairs in his boxers, demanding to be moved. He refused to stay in any building on the grounds, instead opting for the Holiday Inn down the street.

After our tour, we ate at the hotel restaurant and whiskey bar. The food was tasty, and I chose a rare Japanese whiskey which was very smooth. The bar was used in the film, Dumb and Dumber and even has the New York Times article about the first moon landing hanging on the wall (not the original, it was stolen).

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No Way. That’s Great. We Landed On The Moon!!

The Blue Owl

After purchasing some items at the gift shop, we began our drive back to the B&B. This time we went through the city of Boulder and then stopped at the town of Nederland. We were told about the Blue Owl bookstore/ice cream/coffee shop. On our way to Estes Park, it had been closed. Luckily for us, it was open, and we enjoyed a nice cone. It was a great way to end the day.

Day 6

Day 6 was spent in the ski resort town of Breckenridge. Breckenridge is a beautiful town, but a little too touristy for my taste. We traveled there with Sofia’s friends and saw bison on the way. We ate at a busy restaurant, and I enjoyed a bison burger. It is very lean meat and tasty. Afterward, we boarded a gondola which took us to the top of the mountain. We looked up at the ski slopes, which would soon be covered in snow. Today though, they are covered in grass, and people traverse them on mountain bikes.

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Neighbors

Our last full day in Colorado ended with us pulling into our friend’s neighborhood and being greeted by 40-50 elk. They were all over her neighborhood grazing. What a sight! Colorado is a different place to live. To be continued.

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Colorado Trip Part 3

Colorado Trip Part 3. I woke on Day 3 feeling great. All the soreness from yesterday’s hike was gone. I proceeded downstairs, poured myself a cup of coffee, and went to the deck to watch the sunrise. I sat in silent meditation for several minutes. Suddenly, I heard something moving behind me again. Slowly turning around, I solved the mystery of the great beast. There it was standing on the steps staring at me, a little chipmunk.

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Part 3 Of Our Colorado Trip

The wedding was scheduled for 4 o’clock, so we needed to stay close to the B&B. Sofia takes a while to get ready. I have never figured out what takes so long because she is naturally beautiful. Yesterday, we saw a trailhead close to the B&B and decided to go for a hike. The forecast was for rain, but we were told that rain in Colorado was not like Florida rain. It just drizzles.

We drove to the Elk Meadow Trailhead and parked. The sun was out and it was a beautiful, cool day. Grabbing our water bottles, we started up the mountain. The views got better with every switchback. Unlike the St. Mary’s glacier trail, this trail was smooth. It was much easier on my knees.

Look Around

One thing that I always do is take my eyes off the trail directly in front of me. I take my time to look around and enjoy the journey. Flowers and wildlife are abundant in Colorado. We saw a large bluebird that looked like the Blue Jays back home. Only this bird was much larger and had a blackhead. We were told it was a Mountain Jay, a beautiful bird.

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Elk Meadows Trail

Decisions

We came to a point where the trail split. To the left continued up the mountain, and the right would take us down around the meadow. Since we were short on time, we chose the meadow. The hiking was easy in this past meadow, and we were making good time. Sofia turned to me and said she felt a raindrop. No big deal because Colorado rain isn’t like Florida rain. The raindrops became larger and colder. That’s when the thunder and lightning started. I began to feel that we were lied to about the Colorado rain.

We found ourselves in the middle of a meadow during a thunderstorm. This is not the place you want to be. We had no choice but to keep hiking. Soaked and cold, we eventually made our way back to the car after 2.5 hours.

A Colorado Wedding

After a much welcomed hot shower, I put on a suit for the first time in almost a year. Sofia looked ravishing in her dress. I have to say we made a sharp couple. Off we went to the wedding which, was held on Evergreen Lake at the Lake House.

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My Beautiful Wife

The ceremony was outdoors and delayed only a few minutes because of the rain. The clouds parted, the sun came out, and we watched a young couple begin their journey together as man and wife. I always enjoy the beginning of anything. It is inspiring, so full of promises. We danced, sang, laughed, and a few happy tears were shed. It was a wonderful night.

Day 4

On day 4, I woke to the most spectacular sunrise. The sun was a bright red ball in the sky. This was caused by the fires in California and the smoke drifting to Colorado. Sofia and I sat outside enjoying our coffee. We went to breakfast and met two new couples that had arrived the night before. They were very nice people, and we got along like old friends.

What A Life

Later, we had the opportunity to speak with Wilhelmina. We found out that she had lived a wonderful life. She was born in the Netherlands and raised in Australia. Wilhelmina became a dancer and choreographer and married a well-known British comedian, They had met all of the big entertainers. Even though she was 80, she looked closer to 60. She still plays golf, skis, hikes, and runs a weight loss program. She is a very inspiring woman, and I could have sat all day talking.

Mt. Evans

We told Wilhelmina that we were going to drive up to Mount Evans. Mount Evans sits between 12,000-14,000 feet above sea level. Wilhelmina told us that it could be cold up there and let us borrow heavy jackets. It was another beautiful drive through the back roads and up the mountain. We climbed above the tree line and arrived at Summit Lake.

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Summit Lake

As soon as we exited the car, we were thankful we had the jackets. The temperature was 41 degrees, and the wind was blowing. It might as well have been Antarctica to us. After stopping to talk to some Park volunteers about the mountain goats and bighorn sheep, we hiked up to the Chicago Lakes.

No Excuses

As we were hiking, we passed an elderly lady with a club foot. Seeing this lady not let anything stop her from doing something she enjoys made me realize that I make too many excuses. You should never let anything get in the way of doing something that you want to do. You can always find a way.

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Selfie By The Lake

We took some great pictures at Summit Lake, enjoyed the views then headed down the mountain. We had made plans to drive to Denver and watch some football. Denver is a nice city, and we saw a lot of neighborhoods full of young people. This is something we don’t have a lot of in Florida. It’s called God’s waiting room for a reason.

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Blake Street Tavern Denver, Colorado

My Best Friend

We made it to the Blake St., Tavern, a large Sports Bar. There was a good crowd enjoying the first day of college football season. People were happy they were able to gather together again. We watched my school play that evening, and even though the outcome wasn’t in my favor, I wouldn’t want to be there with anyone other than Sofia. She is my best friend. Every part of the trip had been wonderful. We were excited, looking forward to what we would see the next day. To be continued.

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Colorado Trip Part 2

On the second day of our trip, I woke and then went downstairs and poured myself a cup of coffee. With mug in hand, I walked outside enjoying the cool air. Sitting on the deck, I enjoyed a spectacular sunrise. After a light continental breakfast, I hiked to the bottom of the mountain, feeling very energetic. Our Colorado Trip Part 2.

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Colorado Trip Part 2

When I made it back to the B&B, I wanted to continue enjoying the cool Colorado temperatures of late summer. I sat at the table on the deck and marveled at how silent it was. The silence was only broken by a car passing by now and then. I looked around at all the aspen trees, which have small leaves that shimmer in the breeze.

Shortly thereafter, 5 or 6 hummingbirds arrived and began flittering about. I then heard something run behind me, and I didn’t know what it was. We were told there were all kinds of wildlife on the mountain, including bears and mountain lions. Therefore, I was a little concerned but not enough to go inside.

Idaho Springs, Colorado

After Sofia finished some work, we proceeded downstairs to begin our day. We told Wilhelmina that we were going to hike to St. Mary’s glacier. She told us how to take a scenic drive to the town of Idaho Springs instead of taking the highway. Without her advice, I would’ve just followed the GPS and probably taken the highway. That would’ve been a huge mistake because the drive was gorgeous.

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Drive To Idaho Springs

We started in a valley and then drove up into the mountains with the most incredible views. Arriving in Idaho Springs, we found a parking spot on the street. Idaho Springs is a small gold mining town with a lot of character. I fell in love with this town. Wilhelmina had suggested we eat it at Tommyknocker Brewery.

Great Beer

The main street in Idaho Springs is blocked off for pedestrians only. We were seated and our server brought out samples of their homebrew. Every sample I tried was tasty. I don’t drink beer anymore since I went through chemo. It tends to taste metallic. Nonetheless, I chose a Chocolate Porter that hit the spot. Sofia had a Blood Orange IPA I also found very tasty.

After a beer and burger lunch, we walked around the town and down to the creek. There was a beautiful waterfall and a large wooden waterwheel in front of it. Across the creek, I could see the entrance to old gold mining tunnels.

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Idaho Springs, Colorado

St. Mary’s Glacier

We then drove to St. Mary’s glacier, which was about 10 miles higher into the mountain. After parking and dropping off the parking fee, we headed up the trail. The hike is steep and full of large rocks. They didn’t smooth out the trail but left the rocks and boulders right where the glacier deposited them many years ago.

It was hard on my arthritic knees, but I trudged on. Wilhelmina had given us sea-level people a tip before we left. She said to stop and fill our lungs with air every so often. At sea level, we only use half of our lungs. I didn’t know that, and I’m still learning at my age.

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Rocky Trail

Finding Inspiration

I found a lot of inspiration hiking up this trail. There were all different types of people despite the ruggedness of the trail. I saw very fit people and some that were overweight. There were young and old. I was most impressed by seeing the children that were hiking up the steep, rocky trail. Every time I thought we were at the top, the trail turned and continued up.

We finally reached the top and were greeted by a beautiful lake and the remains of St. Mary’s glacier on the mountainside. After some photos and rest, we headed back down the trail. It is a lot harder going down thing going up. Eventually, I made it, sore knees and all.

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St Mary’s Glacier

An Evening With Old And New Friends

We drove back to the B&B to shower and change. That evening we were invited to the rehearsal dinner/welcome party at our friend’s house. I always enjoy watching Sofia conversing with her friends. She has known them since she was five years old. I can see the joy on her face when they get together.

Meeting new friends and getting to know them is something I always enjoy. The party shut down early because they had a long day getting ready for the wedding the next day. It was good for me because I was getting tired, and the hike had taken a toll on this old body. It felt good to crawl into bed. I think I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. To be continued.

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A Trip To Colorado

You can find inspiration anywhere. All you have to do is fire up your senses and be aware when inspiration presents itself. I’m going to tell you how I found inspiration on a trip to Colorado. We saw so much in this beautiful state that I will share it in several blogs.

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Our Trip To Colorado Day 1

On the first day, we were dropped off at the Fort Lauderdale airport at Zero Dark Thirty. The purpose of this trip was to attend the wedding of Sofia’s friend’s daughter. I just wanted to get away with my beautiful wife and relax. I wasn’t intending to look for inspiration on a trip to Colorado.

After an uneventful four-hour flight, we arrived in Denver at 10:30 AM. We found our way to the rental car shuttle bus. The friendly driver helped us load our luggage, and off we went to pick out our vehicle. As we left the rental lot, I noticed an extreme lack of mountains. I always pictured Denver as a mountainous city. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Where were the Mountains? Luckily I found them after just a short drive out of the city.

Red Rocks, Colorado

We drove to Red Rocks Amphitheater, about a 30 to 40-minute drive west of the city. It is an Amphitheater cut into the side of a hill. It is surrounded by large rock formations which are colored, you guessed it, bright red. As we entered the area where the food vendors are located, there was music playing. The acoustics are phenomenal.

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$6.60 to see one of the greatest bands of all time!

We toured the museum and saw pictures of a lot of the performers who had played there. Most of the great musicians have performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Even the Beatles played there on their first American tour in 1964. Attending a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater was instantly put on my bucket list.

Golden, Colorado

Our next stop was the town of Golden, Colorado. It is a lovely little town to walk around and enjoy. The streets are full of bars, restaurants, and shops. Golden is the home of the Coors Beer Brewery. After stopping to eat, we walked to this photogenic bridge and creek at the edge of town. It is the perfect place to stop, take a few selfies, and realize how lucky I am to be married to Sofia.

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Golden

Evergreen, Colorado and Walkabout Ridge

We left Golden and drove to the town of Evergreen, where we were staying. Evergreen is a quaint small town that ranges from 7200 to 9000 feet in elevation. We found our B&B located on a mountain a few miles outside of town. I steered the car along a winding, long, gravel driveway. I was thinking that all Scooby-Doo cartoons and horror movies begin like this. At the end of the driveway was a beautiful two-story home with a sign in front that read Walkabout Ridge.

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Walkabout Ridge Bed & Breakfast

So Relaxing

We met the owners, Wilhelmina and Paul. They are lovely people, gave us a tour of the house, and showed us our room. Coffee was ready at 6 AM, and a continental breakfast was from 7 until 10 AM. We sat outside on the deck that evening, enjoying the view of the mountains.

While we were sitting on the deck, I particularly enjoyed soaking in the cool mountain air. What a relief from the stifling heat and humidity of South Florida this time of year. We both slept great with the windows open, enjoying the cool breezes.

Our room faced east, and in the morning, I awoke to the most beautiful pre-sunrise sky. The colorful sky gave me the inspiration I needed to get up and start our day. To be continued.

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First Light

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Making A Decision Will Defeat Procrastination

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I am continuing to talk about the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Today I will discuss the seventh step, Decision, The Mastery of Procrastination. I am sure that you, like me, have faced that evil known as procrastination. To be successful and to build wealth, procrastination is an enemy you must conquer. Making a decision will defeat procrastination.

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A Decision Defeats Procrastination

If you’re looking for self-improvement, you will need to change some of the habits that you are currently doing. You will have to decide to change. Congratulations, you are halfway to success! You see, making the right decision is 50% of the solution. The other 50% is commitment. You have to commit to your decision to change.

Back in the 1930s when Hill was writing his book, a study was undertaken with 25,000 men and women who had experienced failure. They came up with a list of 30 major causes of failure. Lack of decision was near the head of the list. Indecision causes procrastination and making a decision will defeat procrastination. Conversely, each of several hundred people who had accumulated fortunes had the habit of reaching a decision promptly. Also, successful people would take their time in changing their decision.

Don’t Be Influenced When Making Decisions

The majority of people who fail are easily influenced by the opinion of others. They permit the media and other people to do their thinking for them. Opinions are the most abundant thing on earth. Everyone has one and, they can be as different as night and day. You will not succeed if you take into account the opinion of others.

Your mind is yours and only yours; reach your own decisions. Keep them to yourself and discuss them with only like-minded individuals, such as your Master Mind group. When researching to gather information for your decision, do so without disclosing your purpose.

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https://unsplash.com/@schmidy

How Do You Know?

How do you know when the decision you made is the right decision? That is a difficult question to answer because you won’t know the answer until you have succeeded or failed. You have to listen to those inner voices. If your decision makes you feel happy and it is the right decision. On the other hand, if you feel cautious or negative, you should reconsider your decision.

In most cases, making the right decision is not that difficult. Deciding to solve a challenge in your life is personal. These are decisions for your self-improvement. A personal decision affects you and the people close to you. Some decisions not only affect the person making the decision but also have an impact on many others.

Great Decisions In History

Throughout history, people have been tasked with making decisions that changed history. Abraham Lincoln decided to issue the Proclamation of Emancipation. General Dwight Eisenhower decided to launch the D-Day invasion. Last July, I wrote an article about 56 men who made one of the greatest decisions of all time. They signed the Declaration of Independence knowing that it could potentially cost them their lives.

Making the right decision always takes courage, some more than others. It may not cost you your life but, it could cost you your health or financial independence. Making the right decision to improve your income or health comes with a price. You never get anything without giving up something. As long as you’re willing to pay the price, your decision for self-improvement could be the greatest decision you make.

Decide Today

Speaking of great decisions, decide today what you are worth. Now that you know your value go out and get what you are worth. Never settle for anything less. Lock that number in your mind and think about it every day. Don’t stop until you reach your value. Too many people today settle for what they are given and not what they’re worth.

Be quick in your decisions and slow in changing them. Don’t be influenced by the opinion of others or the media. Have the courage to make your decision for self-improvement. Decide what you are worth and get it. Remember, making a decision will defeat procrastination.

Do you find yourself procrastinating? Are you influenced by the opinion of others? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. As always, I appreciate your likes, comments, and follows. Let me know if there is a  topic you would like me to cover in future articles.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@brett_jordan

https://unsplash.com/@schmidy

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Two Of The Most Powerful Words

Two of the most powerful words are spoken daily by most people. They are two words we don’t give much thought to. These two little words are so powerful that they can change your life.

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Two Powerful Words

To understand the power of, “I Am” we only have to look in the book of Exodus, Chapter 3. This is the story of the burning bush. God tells Moses to go to the Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses says to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:13,14 NIV)

One translation of I AM WHO I AM, is, “I will become what I choose to become.” Another is, “I create what(ever) I create.” These two words give you the power to become what you choose to become. In contrast, they can also create an unwelcome life if not used correctly.

I AM

We use these words to describe our present situation, person, or job. When someone would ask me, “What do you do?” I would reply with, “I am a soldier,” “I am a student,” or “I am a federal agent.” These were words to describe my present situation at the time. I never really thought about what I was saying. There are many different ways to answer that question.

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” I Am Groot” https://unsplash.com/@justdushawn

Why So Powerful?

So why are the words “I Am” so powerful? It is because when your mind hears you say these words, it is creating life to match your words. Whatever words I used after, “I am,” I developed a belief that that is what I would always be. I continued that life until I changed what I was thinking and saying. For example, when I was a soldier and wanted to change, I began saying, “I am going to be a federal agent.” A year later, I was a federal agent.

Think About What You Are Saying

Analyze how you are using the words, I Am. I call these; I Am Statements. Are you negatively using them? Are you saying, “I am drowning in debt,” “I am not feeling well,” or “I am miserable?” If you are, this is what you are bringing into your life. Saying, “I am sick,” will only bring more sickness to you.

They Can Change Your Life

You can change your life by changing the “I Am Statements.” Think about what you’re saying and change them to the life you want to live. Think about how you want to be in the future, not how you are right now.

Write Them Down

Begin writing your “I Am Statements” with positive words and phrases. Write them on a pad and put them where you can see them. Throughout the day, read them out loud. Simple statements like “I am happy,” “I am loved,” and “I am healthy” will change your life. Repeat the statements several times a day, especially before you go to sleep. Soon, you will begin to feel different as you build belief.

Twice A Day

I write down several “I Am Statements” twice a day, once in the morning and before I go to sleep. I wish you could see the difference it has made in my life. It is enormous. My life is peaceful and full of love. I have cast away fear, worry, and doubt. I owe it all to two of the most powerful words ever spoken, “I AM.” I will become what I choose to become.

You can become whatever you choose to become. Begin your daily regimen of speaking your “I Am Statements.” I do not doubt that you will experience the same positive changes that I have.

Cites

https://unsplash.com/@trommelkopf

https://unsplash.com/@justdushawn

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