Walk the walk, talk the talk

"There is a difference between knowing the path & walking the path."

This is a modern version of a very old quote. The basics of the quote are twofold. It is one thing to know the path to take. It is another thing to actually walk that path. Knowledge and Action are two different concepts. One of the keys to understanding this is to realize that if you know the correct path, it may take courage and integrity to actually walk the path

Integrity is defined as “Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code.” Also, it can be defined as “The state of being unimpaired; soundness.” And finally, it can be defined as “The quality or condition of being whole or undivided; completeness.” All three apply to the quote.

How often do you find yourself in a situation where you know what you should do (or at least you have a plan), but you just can't seem to do it?

Maybe you just can't get started. You're falling into the "tomorrow is a good day to start" trap.

If this is the case, then your situation is described by the quote above. You know the path, but you're not on it. It's a question of integrating the path into your life.

Or maybe you've started a million times but have a hard time staying on track and sticking to it. Somehow, you just keep sabotaging yourself.

In this case, you get on the path - but you're not properly aligned with it, so you'll eventually stray from it. We need to get aligned and make the necessary adjustments to stay aligned.

Two simple, steps:
Know the path 
Walk the path 

Simple, but not easy. No one ever stays on the path all the time. We all wander off from time to time. The trick is to notice when you’re off and work on getting back on as quickly as possible. 

What can you do to help keep track of how well you are staying on the path? The sooner you detect that you’re off, the sooner and easier it is to get back. 
Not easy, but totally worth it.

Have you ever broken a promise to yourself?

Was there was a commitment you made to yourself and not followed through with?
Maybe about your health and fitness 
Maybe around your job or in your family life 
Maybe around a habit, you'd like to change 

Soooo?

Well, have you thought about why?

If you didn't... how did you will feel about that?

When we make a commitment to someone else we usually if we can follow through. However, if it is a promise to ourselves we do not always follow through. 

Well, a commitment is a commitment no matter to whom it is made. When you make a commitment there should be no difference in your desire to keep that commitment. it's not about keeping a commitment that you gave to someone else.  

It's about keeping a promise you made to yourself which is just as important as that commitment to the other person.

What can you do with a 30 minutes?

An interesting question is it not?  Many of us complain we have no time, but I bet you could find 30 minutes in a 24 hour period which has a total of 1440 minutes. 30 minutes is only 2% of your day. So what can you do in 30 minutes?
If you want to be healthier, maybe you go for a 30-minute walk. 
Or you could spend 30 minutes making some phone calls in order to move forward with a project that you're working on. 
Or maybe you spend 30 minutes writing a few paragraphs towards that book you've always wanted to write. 
Or you could spend 30 minutes reading the best seller you have been meaning to read
Or you could spend 30 minutes talking to a friend, a loved one
Or you could spend 30 minutes starting to clean out the garage
Or, or, or you fill in the blanks

Where would spending that 30 minutes get you?

The answer, of course, is that you'd be 30 minutes closer to where you want to be.

So what can YOU do this week that will move you closer to where you want to be?

Signs, signs everywhere the signs

A study (2009) found that dementia prevalence (total number of cases) increased with age: 10 percent of those age 65 to 80, 13.5 percent at 80 to 84 years; 30.8 percent at 85 to 89 years; 39.5 percent at 90 to 94 years; and 52.8 percent among those older than 94. Prevalence was 25.8 percent among women and 17.1 percent among men.

So as we age, there is a greater chance of getting Dementia, but until we hit our 90’s the odds against getting Dementia are on our side. However, as we age we become more concerned with memory loss because memory loss disrupts our daily life may be a symptom of Alzheimer's or another dementia.

Alzheimer's is a brain disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. There are 10 warning signs and symptoms. Every individual may experience one or more of these signs in a different degree. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor. In the following from the Alzheimer’s Association, there are clear warning signs but there are also typical age-related changes. The warning sign information shows the severity of the problem, the typical age-related changes are much less severe.

 1. MEMORY LOSS THAT DISRUPTS DAILY LIFE

One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; increasingly needing to rely on memory aids (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on their own.

What's a typical age-related change?

Sometimes forgetting names or appointments, but remembering them later.

2. CHALLENGES IN PLANNING OR SOLVING PROBLEMS

Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What's a typical age-related change?

Making occasional errors when balancing a check book.

People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What's a typical age-related change?

Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record a television show.

4. CONFUSION WITH TIME OR PLACE

People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What's a typical age-related change?

Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING VISUAL IMAGES AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS

For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving.

6. NEW PROBLEMS WITH WORDS IN SPEAKING OR WRITING

People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems finding the right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

What's a typical age-related change?

Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. MISPLACING THINGS AND LOSING THE ABILITY TO RETRACE STEPS

A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time.

What's a typical age-related change?

Misplacing things from time to time and retracing steps to find them.

8. DECREASED OR POOR JUDGMENT

People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What's a typical age-related change?

Making a bad decision once in a while.

9. WITHDRAWAL FROM WORK OR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.

10.CHANGES IN MOOD AND PERSONALITY

The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

What's a typical age-related change?

Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when a routine is disrupted.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ALZHEIMER’S AND TYPICAL AGE-RELATED CHANGES?

Signs of Alzheimer’s/dementia	Typical age-related changes
Poor judgment and decision-making	Making a bad decision once in a while
Inability to manage a budget	Missing a monthly payment
Losing track of the date or the season	Forgetting which day it is and remembering it later
Difficulty having a conversation	Sometimes forgetting which word to use
Misplacing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them	Losing things from time to time

WHAT TO DO IF YOU NOTICE THESE SIGNS

If you notice any of the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer's in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore them. Schedule an appointment with your doctor.