Good Habits…Bad Habits!

Good Habits…Bad Habits!
Bt Tommy

They can be comfortable or uncomfortable! They can be easy or difficult. Habits can sometimes control our lives. Most of us at one time or another want to change our bad habits…and most of us have a couple. I have several!

How do we change a habit? First, get on a plane and go to Alaska or the North Pole (just kidding). However, in order to change a habit, we need to change our environment or our surroundings.

For example, if you have always studied in front of a television set, you might try turning the TV OFF. Hello! Another example is…If your wife has been beating you, you may want to go for a walk or stay out of her way! (Just kidding…I'm kidding!)

The point is: You must change your surroundings so that you can be more productive and get better results. This sounds easy, but I assure you, it is NOT!

Second, we may need to change our behavior. For example, when a hostile driver of a black Lincoln cuts us off, do NOT…I repeat, do not give him or her the "finger". This could be hazardous to your health.

You may want to talk to yourself as I do. It may go something like this: "Self, this is only a small thing on Planet Earth today. Even though, I feel like choking the living crapola out of this asinine driver, I choose not to. I will be nice today. I will change my negative behavior into positive behavior. I am aware of my surroundings. I will now commence to run into this dastardly clown! (Just kidding…Just kidding! Hello!)

Mr. Driver, you have a nice day. Arrive safely, you hear?" OK, OK…I know what you are thinking. It's NOT that easy! And you are right. But if we are to change a bad habit, we must change our environment and behavior. Furthermore, in order to break a bad habit, we must be aware of it.

Third, we must make commitments to ourselves and to others, perhaps our spouses and co-workers. We need to agree to be held accountable…by a spouse, friend, or co-worker.

For example, years ago, I quit "smoking" at the ripe old age of 24. I never inhaled, mind you. I just put the cigarette in my mouth to look "cool". Other people inhaled. I didn't! Of course, my lungs said otherwise! HELLO! Perhaps, I can now sell you the Brooklyn Bridge!

I did finally stop smoking cigarettes and graduated to cigars. Oh, Yeah! In those days, I would go to restaurants and light up an "Old Stogie" just to see the reactions from other hungry customers, especially at the next table. I was bad! I was a bad boy!

But later, when some of my relatives and friends started dying off like flies under a fly swatter…from "smoking"…I failed to see the humor in it any longer. I then made a commitment to myself and to my Maker that I would never put another burning cigarette butt or burning cigar butt in my mouth again. Thus, I was no longer a "butt head". And I felt so good about it! Hello!

In other areas of my life, I'm still under construction…I haven't arrived yet, but I no longer study in front of the TV…nor give other "bad" drivers a vivid presentation of their IQ…nor blow smoke in people's faces, especially in elevators! (Just kidding, Just kidding!)

Moreover, I go for a lot of walks these days, especially when my wife is upset with me!