Motivation Today

Thursday 5th February 2004 More practice needed

I saw the Volunteers working on the fence by the muddy lane and bridle path. They were hammering in a post and tightening the wires at the same time. I may have to do some more practice at getting through a tighter fence!

Friday 6th February 2004 Forget the bad dreams

I missed the walk this morning as there was heavy rain. The only exercise I had was using the computer keyboard and watching TV. There were some quotable comments on Sky Sports News.

Lennox Lewis announced his retirement as undefeated heavyweight champion of the world. He was asked why. He retired out of respect for boxing and because he wanted to give some younger men the opportunity to become champion. He had also lost some of his hunger for success:

"If you can't give 110% to each fight, then don't do it."

He also, like all great boxers, could not fight the passing of the years.

He would like to be remembered as a boxer that had completed all his goals; that had achieved his goals with dignity and respect and had got out at the right time. He would like to be remembered as one of the great heavyweight boxers. Most commentators think he was the best boxer of his generation although he was not the greatest of all time.

He appreciated his mother's sacrifices for him. For example, she went to every one of his training camps to cook for him.

Last Wednesday Tottenham Hotspurs were winning a key soccer match against Manchester City by 3 goals to nil. Then in the second half they managed to let in 4 goals which allowed Manchester city to win. David Pleat the manager realised that brooding over their failure would not help his players. He commented:

"If you replay the bad dream long enough it can become a cancer in you"

Saturday 7th February 2004 Think daily about what you want

I went up to Charing Cross today to a meeting of Educo students led by Dave O'Connor (a trainer in Educo)

The only walking I did was wandering round the streets near Leicester Square in the half hour or so before the meeting began. All the shops were shut until 11 a.m as it was a Saturday. I had a chance to visit some of my favourite book shops in the lunch hour.

Dave O'Connor gave his usual clear explanation of the philosophy behind Educo. Tony Quinn and Dave teach the importance of replacing the negative programming that many of us are saddled with by positive programming.

If we can learn to believe in our ability and power without doubts we can achieve anything. The power of a mind that is focused and undivided is enormous. With training, we could all work miracles. Jesus, HImself, taught that faith can move mountains.

Our minds produce in reality what they focus on. If we focus on bad things happening they will often happen. If we focus on good things happening, they will frequently happen.

Sunday 8th February 2004 Even leopards fall out of trees!

I was too lazy to get out for a walk today. My excuse was I was in the middle of registering two domain names and linking them with a new web host. If I'd stopped at some point, it would have taken a long time to get to grips with everything again.

The next best thing I could do was watch a nature film on BBC2. A leopard cub called Shadow in the Masai part of Kenya was climbing a tree. It had reached quite a height when it fell off. It reminded me of the squirrel mentioned early in this account. Even experts make mistakes and need practise. Nearly everyone can look silly to start with.

Monday 9th February 2004 Results convince

Early on my walk today I heard the sound of a woodpecker and then a second one.

The first one was making a light thud, thud, thud; the second one was making a much louder noise since the wood being hammered was more hollow.

Normally I walk on thinking that the woodpecker would not let itself be seen. This time I stood by a tree and saw the first woodpecker in action. It was much smaller than I imagined.

There was a sudden burst of activity and then a rest and then another burst. Is this an example worth following by humans? Possibly. Experts tells us to work in bursts of 20 mins followed by a quick rest. This keeps our mind fresh.

I think I saw the second woodpecker but as I did not see him in action was not sure whether this was him or not.

Later in the day I met three friends and passed on some of what I had learned at the Educo seminar on Saturday. They looked interested but a little sceptical. Words don't really convince. People want to see results. Jesus said it all: "By their fruits ye shall know them."

Tuesday 10th February 2004 Act as if it is impossible to fall

Today was less sunny than yesterday and there were fewer people in the woods. I did spot a parakeet back at the oak tree near Tong's farm. For the first time I noticed that it was an expert climber. It swung down from a high spot on a branch by grabbing a protruding bit of the branch with its beak and then swinging its body and legs to a spot lower on the branch.

If it did fall, it had its own parachute as it were. There was no chance of complete failure.

Many experts tell us to act as if it was impossible to fail. Fear of failure is said to have shattered more dreams than practically anything else.

I met another friend on my way out of the woods. He had elbow problems. I suggested he tried the autosuggestion advocated by Educo and Emile Coue and many others. I had given the same advice to a relative on the phone last night. But I still need more results in my own life to make this advice something some people can accept.

Wednesday 11 th February 2004 The Winner's Walk

More parakeets were on their usual tree near Tong's farm today. I thought I saw some baby parakeets but could not be sure. Later on the wood peckers were at work in roughly the same area of the wood as before. I tried to walk a little faster as this helps raise the metabolic rate.

Later today I read a great article on "The Winner's Walk" by John di Lemme

Walk as if you have just won a gold medal at the Olympics and people will sit up and take notice. They will want to be around your energy and enthusiasm.

"Walking like a winner requires that you always walk with your shoulders back, chest out and at a slightly faster pace than usual. This is the key - even when life hits you on the blind side, you need to still walk like a winner because your physiology will empower you to move through whatever is mentally frustrating you.

When you walk into a meeting to market yourself or your product, people will feel your confidence and will want to hear what you have to say because they will feel your energy and enthusiasm. As you consciously practice the "Winner's Walk”, you will be walking like a WINNER in no time flat! ALL the time! "

As you walk like a winner, you will start to believe in yourself more and will be more likely to achieve your goals.

Thursday 12th February 2004 The Winner's Walk

I walked a little faster today to try out the winner's walk. I even sang the song about the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo.

"As I walk along the Bois Boulogne with an independent air You can see the girls declare 'He must be a millionaire', You can see them cry and wish to die, You can see them wink the other eye at the man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo etc. "

He had a winner's walk if any one did. The man who actually broke the bank was an Englishman called Wells who broke the bank twice. Gamblers thought he played to some great system but near his death he revealed that he had no system and his winnings were due to luck alone. Sadly he died in poverty.

Friday 13th February 2004 Take a book with you

Instead of going to the woods today, I took my sister to the new hospital in Farnborough for a blood test. I took a book to read and booked a long stay in the car park. This turned out to be a wise move as the pathology dept was full of people. A notice announced that three nurses were away sick and only one nurse was available to deal with over a hundred people.

My sister and I waited for over two hours. I read the book which was excellent and talked to my sister. The time was not wasted.

Saturday 14th Feb 2004 Shadow team

I took a neighbour shopping in Locksbottom today. There is small park nearby where I can get some exercise while my neighbour starts her shopping. It was raining but I had at least two umbrellas in my car.

Today the six nations rugby union cup begins. Ireland were well beaten by France. One or two key Irish players were missing and Ireland were the shadow of the team they are when those players are present. It is amazing how much difference one inspirational player can make to a team.

Sunday 15th February 2004 Teamwork wins

Today I was tempted away from my usual walk by an exciting sports program. Arsenal were playing Chelsea. Arsenal looked a shadow of their normal selves without their best player, Thierry Henry. However a new signing, Reyes, later scored twice and inspired Arsenal to play with their normal speed and panache. In the end, Arsenal won 2-1

Chelsea scored in the first half but did not play well after Reyes second goal. Chelsea, too, were missing an influential player - Damien Duff. Too many players from Chelsea were not trying hard enough in the second half. A team in which everyone plays hard can win even if their best player is absent.

Monday 16th February 2004 Enjoy the colourful

I saw four parakeets at the tree above Tong's farm today. When they first appeared in the area, people said they wouldn't last the winter. In fact, they have lasted several winters. Their bright green colour makes the place come alive.

One of the assistant wardens, showed up in his car when I was still near the tree. He spotted five parakeets and mentioned that they originated in the Southern Himalayas and were well acclimatised to cold weather.

He was a little annoyed that some householders in the area had been cutting down the holly on the estate to improve their view. He had pointed out to them that the holly was not on their land and that the holly berries were food for the birds in winter.

Tuesday 17th February 2004 An expert in six months

The woods would also be duller without the woodpeckers. I heard one today by Flusher's Pond and another near Hawkwood lane. In between I chatted to a walker who had an allotment in Chislehurst.

When he first saw the allotment it was a complete mess. Regular work was put into it - 4 hours a week produced miracles and healthy vegetables. This week I read a great article from Early to Rise Ezine. If you study a new skill or area of knowledge for one hour a day you could become an expert in 6 months. Obviously you would need longer to become a surgeon but in many areas of life you could become an expert in far less time than you might think.

Wednesday 18th February 2004 Able to see

No woodpeckers today but there were one or two sleepy looking parakeets at their favourite tree above Tong's farm.

Five lambs were frolicking about near the tree. One of them came up to the fence unlike the others. I offered him some long grass through the fence but he lost his nerve at that point and rejoined the others. Maybe he realised that I had some minced lamb in the freezer back home!

On the way out of the woods I met a good friend and we discussed ways of cheering up when you feel depressed. One of my favourite ways is to think about the fact that I am not at sea being sea sick. Nor am I blind.

I tried walking in the woods for a few seconds with my eyes shut. Immediately I was off track and approaching a bridge with broken slats. Even if I had made it safely on to the narrow bridge I could easily have put my foot on these broken boards and probably broken a leg sinking through the bridge.

Thursday 19th February 2004 CLEAR OFF!

Soon after entering the woods today a lady with three dogs came by. One of the them started barking furiously and ran at me. Another less enthusiastically joined in. The lady did nothing. No harm was done but there was no apology.

The lady muttered 'Come on' at the dogs' and walked on. This kind of thing happened before with another dog owner and eventually I yelled very loudly at his dog 'CLEAR OFF'.

This time the owner as well as the dog got the message that they do not have carte blanche to harrass other walkers. The owner actually apologised. Most dog owners are in fact very careful to keep their dogs under control and apologise for any lapses but there are a few who think dogs have right of way to do what they like!

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Walking in Petts Wood and The Hawkswood Estate Page 11