Article Title: How to Jump for Joy after Joy Leaves Your Party
Author Name: Doug C. Grant Contact Email Address: doug @dougcgrant.com Word Count: 873
Category: Motivational/Inspirational Copyright Date: 2002
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HOW TO JUMP FOR JOY AFTER JOY LEAVES YOUR PARTY

By Doug C. Grant

Ever hear this one?

"Man...this growing older stuff is the pits. Teeny bobbers own the world. I mean you ever see an ancient of days hustling soft drinks or flashy cars on TV? No way. Once you get past 'young' you might as well hang it up. Joy is over."

Yeah, I know. You don't believe that. You don't ever want to believe that. And there's no reason why you should. But you may well have to perform a constant tune-up on yourself once you start losing speed. Otherwise, you could find yourself permanently parked in the pits.

It's a sneaky business. Every year you end up doing more things for the last time and fewer things for the first time. One day, you wake up and find that joy has left your party.

Here's an exercise that will help you recover some of the joy of life.

Consider for a moment that you have been given an opportunity to roll the years back to age 20. Not only does your youth return but with it comes a fat unending bank account. Pretty nice, huh?

But don't waste the opportunity. On a sheet of paper, list the things you would like to do or learn now that you're young and rich. Remember, neither age nor money is a problem. Start writing.

Would you like to learn to fly? Climb a major mountain? Take up scuba-diving? Write a book? Start a newspaper? Visit a foreign country?

Pull out all plugs. Soar over all obstacles. If you can think it...write it! Don't let fear or the 'I'm just being realistic' attitude stop you. Go ahead. Be unrealistic. This is dream time, baby. Let it all out.

Don't take more than ten minutes for this part of the exercise. That should be enough time to list all your major dreams...plus any dreams you might have packed away years ago.

Now...let's do some dream-scheming

Review your list and draw a line through any dream that is simply physically impossible. For example, if you're fifty years old, chances are a major league baseball team isn't going to get excited about having you on the roster.

However, you may discover that you don't have to scratch off very many dreams because of physical limitations. Particularly if you ask yourself, "In what ways could I make this dream come true based on my abilities today."

Next, put a star beside your all-time favorite. You know, the special dream that really gets the passion juices flowing. You and I are going to start today to make that dream come true.

For example, maybe you

Decide now that you're going to make this dream a priority. Don't dwell on the obstacles or what people might say. You're going to make it happen.

Begin with three small steps.

On another sheet of paper list three steps you could take right now, today, to begin moving you toward your dream. Forget difficult. Forget huge. Think easy and think small. The important thing is to begin.

For example, if learning to scuba-dive is your passion dream, your first three steps might be:

1. Conduct a scuba-diving search on the Internet and begin a Favorites File. 2. Check out a book on scuba-diving from the library. 3. Start a scuba-diving savings account. (Maybe you can only afford to contribute a dollar. Doesn't matter. Start it.)

What seemed impossible often becomes possible.

When you take your first step toward your dream...your dream will take a step toward you. Don't ask me why or how this happens. It just does. Call it a law of nature if you want. But it works..

You will meet people, encounter circumstances, receive unexpected monies...all pushing you toward your dream. Your only job is to keep stepping forward with faith and persistence.

And here's the bottom line.

It doesn't really matter whether your dream comes true or not. Oh it will. Don't ever doubt it. But that's only a fringe benefit.

What matters is that you're staying in the race of life. You're hell-bent for a finish line. And when you're in the race, you're growing. And that's important. Because if you're growing, you aren't dying. It's a fact of nature.

Keep adding new dreams to your list.

Don't ever throw your dream list away. You may have to modify it from time to time but keep it active. Once your first dream is launched, start another. You might have two or three going. Perhaps more. Just leave breathing room to take at least a few action steps toward your dreams every day. You want to maintain a forward momentum. Not create stress in your life.

Once you realize a dream, move on.

Always have a few dreams working and a few more in the wings ready to come on stage. The action steps required to move you toward their fulfillment will add zest to your days, years to your life and JOY to your spirit.

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Get more facts, techniques and information about living healthier, happier and being more productive. Subscribe Free to Doug C. Grant's bi-monthly e-zine, THE EMPOWERED MATURITY PAGE. It's directed toward the over 50 Crowd but good reading for anyone wanting to boost their life up a notch or two. Subscribe at: mailto:empoweredpage@smartautoresponder.com

Doug C. Grant retired from a successful career as a nationally recognized business writer & marketing consultant. He now helps members of the 'Over-50', crowd (or any age) live healthier, happier and more productive lives throughhis Empowered Maturity Web Site (http://www.dougcgrant.com) and an on-line interactive seminar.