Mantra vs Mission Statement

So, I'm a big believer in self talk. You should hear the dialogue in my head while I'm running ... or playing tennis. I'm especially vocal (in my own head) when I play singles. It's one of the reasons I enjoy singles tennis so much. I like to hear myself THINK?

I showed a lot of improvement this year in my tennis game because I worked with a coach. Now, he's not like the coach for Maria Sharapova or anything.. he's pretty basic in his skills, but what I LOVE about Jerry is that he's old school coachy. He uses little "postulates' that I can repeat in my head and use over and over again.

"Drive the ball, athlete."
"Feed the computer... your body knows what to do."
"Feel the shot"

Though rather cryptic to some, to me I know just how to use these words to focus and reset quickly for the next point or shot.

So, as I work on my resolutions for the new year, I'm giving some thought to creating a mantra ... or as we Taylor girls call it, a "postulate". Postulate is code for the stupid, cryptic stuff my dad used to tell us as we walked through the living room on a Friday night in our teenage years. When we had a teenager in the house, I came to understand that postulates (minimum 5 word edicts) are all you get with them. So make it count. Some of Dad's include: "Make something happen" what that something was is still a mystery.  "Keep it between the lines" presumably the car and the lines on the road. To name a few.

I'm going to create 2 postulates for the new year. One that is internal for my goals to be lighter, leaner and more competitive in my athletic pursuits. And one for my life in the world with others. I'm just not sure I should have two they kind of cancel each other out. I'lll add more info in a day or so.

Want more info about a mantra vs a mission statement? Here are a couple of good articles: http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/the-world/article/reality-checklist-do-you-have-a-mantra-guy-kawasaki 

http://zenhabits.net/notes-on-life-mantras-small-things-lists-and-such/ 

2010 An Incredible Year

Wow! I can't believe another year is coming to a close. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love New Years. This is just a great time of year... I start at Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) reflecting on all I have to be grateful for and then skate through Christmas, with the real excitement building for New Years.

New Years (birthdays too) is about new beginnings and reinvention. Something I think I am really good at. So.. the next couple of days, I think I'll take some stock and come up with my resolutions for 2011.


First - as always - I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband and our great relationship. He's IT for me! The reason I exist and the reason I work hard to make good decisions so that our life together just gets better and better. And of course because of him - I have a family to call my own and love! Chloe, Jenn and Cade are the blessings I never knew I could have ... never knew what I was missing. And we enjoyed TWO trips to England go hang out with Lil' Miss Jackson. January and November to celebrate her first birthday. 

Second - my health! I intend to work hard to preserve it in every way I have power to do so. I think with the discovery of this new WeightWatchers plan I'm going to be a thin person for the rest of my life. I'm seriously not dieting, but eating healthy as a way of life. And I feel like an athlete on this program. It was one of my goals this year (2010 - to live as an athlete... and ... looks like I discovered the tools to do so right here at the wire. OH - reached my 2010 goal to be bumped up to 3.5 in USTA. So.. check that one off too!

Third - my relationships and friendships. Brooke and Roy, Brooke's family (I adore her kids) the Bennetts, Hollie, Milton & Dia, Jim & Kristin, Volley Girls tennis team. Even Tammy Dyer showed herself this fall. I don't add a lot of people to my inner circle but am grateful for those that I do have.

 So.... tomorrow.. I think I'll blog about my resolutions. I'm forming them now. They are going to be way more than just weight loss and miles run.

Have you considered yours yet? I encourage you to do it!