SAD-T for Shoveling Snow: No Matter How Much There Is to Clean, You Must Begin Somewhere

First of all, if you are not physically fit, snow shoveling is not for you. DON’T DO IT! It can strain your heart and back and you must consult your physician before picking up the shovel.

Now on the other hand, if you’ve gotten the thumbs up from the doc and you’re in great shape, you still might find yourself staring outside the window into the endless white horizon hoping that the temperature will rise enough to melt Mr. Winter away. So I ask, “What type of snow shoveler are you?”

Maybe it’s an odd question, but your response will likely determine how quickly and efficiently you’ll complete the job. Think about it. If you approach snow shoveling with an emotional response, chances are it’ll work against you. Emotional responders view the job with an attitude of, “I really don’t want to do this.” So what happens?

One of two things. The thought drags you down and causes you to procrastinate, putting it off until the last possible moment. Progress is agonizingly slow because the “I don’t want to” mentality weighs you down at every step. The second possible outcome is that the thought pushes you to get the task done as fast as possible just to get it out of the way. But with snow shoveling, this is not a realistic goal. The result will be overexertion and a sloppy, half-done job.

Shoveling snow requires commitment to the task. It requires pacing yourself – not too slow, not too fast. This way, you won’t drag it out too long or tire out too soon. The efficient snow shoveler approaches the task with a logical response. If you’ve learned about my Systematic Attitude Development-Technique™ (SAD-T™), my proven process for achieving goals, you’ll know what I’m talking about. An emotional response sabotages progress, but a logical response provides a plan, a roadmap, to get you from start to finish in a timely manner, without draining your energy in the process.

No matter how much there is to clean, it’s still a finite amount. With a logical response, you break up the job into steps. You assign a length of time for each step. You include breaks in your plan. You begin at Step 1. When that’s complete, you move to Step 2, and so on, through all of the steps you’ve outlined until the job is done. This systematic logical approach is so much better than the hit-and-miss emotional response.

Of course, I’m talking about much more than snow removal. The logical approach wins every time, in any job, large or small, at home or at work. Keep this in mind the next time you’re shoveling snow. In this job, as in any, the right attitude makes a world of difference.
DISCLAIMER:

Winslow’s Call

I might have told you Winslow’s story before, but having just taken him to the University of Pennsylvania for another echocardiogram and knowing that his heart murmur has gotten worse and that his blood pressure was up and nearing 230, I wanted to share it again, in more detail. This past month of extensive research with regard to my Briefing on Capitol Hill on the status of our pets in today’s society has opened my eyes, even more, to the destructiveness of our world. Unfortunately there are also people who put their dog to sleep, not because of its misery, but because the dog is an inconvenience. Whether he or she is older and needs more attention or the family has made a decision to move and cannot take the dog, it seems to be an easy answer. In conjunction with these issues, I have had individuals approach me, talking happily about getting a replacement puppy as soon as their older dog dies. It breaks my heart to hear these things when I consider Winslow to be a part of my family. There is no replacement.

Winslow came to me from multiple terrorizing sources. First he was the product of a puppy mill, then he was placed in the care of a veterinarian who starved him, and then he was sent to multiple foster homes. When I picked him up the very first day, uncertain of his new surroundings, he was so terrified that he threw up in the car. He was 30 pounds underweight and could not jump on the sofa or a couch because his rear legs were never really developing since being in a cage for so long. He was diagnosed with hip dysplasia. Initially he was distant, a loner, trying to regroup and figure out his place amongst me, my husband of the time, and our other rescue Apollo. He would fall asleep and cry in his sleep. I’m not sure what he saw; I could only tell that it wasn’t good.
 
Today, he has gained the weight. He is 61 pounds and has the run of the house. He is a Basset Hound watch dog, sounding his bark any time a neighbor walks by with their own furry friend, and he loves it when I sing to him. In the midst of running crazily through the house, he will listen to my voice, lie down, and fall asleep in my arms.
 
He is 8 years old now, not terribly old for a Basset Hound, but I know old enough that his days are numbered. That is why I am calling this newsletter, Winslow’s Call. It is merely because I will never make the decision to take his life away from him, under any circumstances. It’s his call. I have said this before but I stand even more firmly now. He is here on this earth for as long as he wants to be. 
 
You see when I wake up each morning both my boys are sleeping with me. Before I even say a word or lift my head from the pillow, I hear this thump on the bed. It is Winslow’s tail wagging against the bed. He hasn’t lifted his head or moved, but somehow knowing that I am awake, he is wagging his tail in happiness. I know there are mornings he is in pain; I know there are days he is tired; but I know more than anything that he wants to be here and that the pain he has experienced in the past is a galaxy away from the love and happiness that surrounds him today. I know it would be an injustice to take his life.
 
What am I asking? I am asking for you to spread the word that getting a pet is a life-long decision. It is an inconvenience. It is difficult. It is costly. It is sacrifice. And it is hard work. But the lessons I’ve learned from Winslow are far greater than the lessons I have ever learned from any text book. His lessons are about truth, unconditional love, honesty, and the ability to be real. In life we search for people with these same values to surround us; we look for them in friends, in our families, and in the newcomers who enter our lives. Is it possible that we could be missing something that is right in front of us?

Best, 
Gail

How To Stay Fit Through Winter: Tip 2

Welcome Back!

Here is my second tip for keeping your summer body throughout the winter (and holiday) months.. Be sure to check out the full article, with 2 extra tips at www.top1percentclub.com.

2. Find outdoor activities you can do. Some people love the outdoors, even in cold weather. If you’re one of these people, you’ll have plenty of options available: skiing, ice skating, brisk walks in the park, snow shoeing, nature hikes, building snow-people, snowball fights, horseback riding, taking your dog for walks, sledding and much more. You’ll need to bundle up; make sure you have the right winter gear, then go outside and have fun!

Gail Kasper, Author
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