Motivational Mondays (Jan. 19)

It's Monday. Ugh. Mondays are no fun. Today, though, is a holiday so it's only a little above average than your typical Monday.

For me, though, it's a great day. It's a culmination of a week's worth of positive thoughts. I'm spending my Monday at Disneyland, the happiest place I know. I've been longing to go there for days now. The park is near dead these days, as the holiday rush has subsided and the January gloom has struck. Rides have had little if any lines and the park is anything but a madhouse.

Since it's a holiday today, it may very well be crowded. But even if it is, I know I'll have a good day there with my daughters.

So why should this motivate you? Well, the way I was able to make it from last week until today might drive you a bit. See, I was a little sad when I heard that the park was not a lively place, that you could walk on to many rides without having to sit through any sort of lines. A friend called me from there on Wednesday and said that even if you get there at 3 you could still do most of the park before it closed at 8.

Only problem was I had games I needed to officiate on Thursday and Friday. And this week, I have games Tuesday through Friday, so today is the only day I can go.

I made it a point to focus on Monday and to go about my business on Thursday and Friday without putting too much thought on what else I could be doing.

That's sort of the approach I've taken with my meal plan. I try to focus on my next meal, on what I will eat then instead of thinking about what I could be eating. Whenever we go out to eat, the options are plentiful usually, but most of the time those options include unhealthy foods with loads of calories. I try to pick something that's reasonable and go with that. I don't think about the hamburger or pizza I passed up but instead am happy to have made a reasonable choice and content with myself that I made it through a night out intact.

Same thing with runs. Sometimes I dislike running. Sometimes I'm not even a mile into a run when I feel like stopping. But if I can focus on the end and think about how happy I'll be with myself when I finish the run, it helps me push through.

Sometimes, life can be pleasant. For me, today is one of those days. But when things get rough and challenges come flying at me, I consider the end - and there is usually some sort of light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Focus on the end or the end results and everything will be easier to endure.

Starting a new way of eating, a new meal plan for you or your family? Think about the positives that will bring (new clothes, change in appearance, healthier you) instead of the negatives (no more pizza!).

Trotting out for a seven-mile run? Consider the finish (a sense of satisfaction of a job well done, extra energy, a jolt of confidence) instead of the run itself (mental anguish... argh!) and the miles will fly by.

Focus on the end and the steps in between will fly by. I promise.