October 30th, 2018

 
The ‘R; Factor…DARE to Figure This…….
 
Repetition is the mother of learning, the essence of consistency, and the core of habit.
 
In anything.
                                                                                                                              
When you decide to do something, and take action on it, what’s important is to continue.
 
Watch the gyms in January. They fill. By mid April, many of the new members have left. And that’s a pity.
 
They take the decision, get started, and then lose way. It’s an easy thing to do. My own belief about that is that people who drop out haven’t given themselves, or acknowledged, a reason for their decision in the first place. But that’s only my belief.
 
Why would you take any decision to take an action? The answer has to be for what we can get, become, influence, help, or have a reason of some sort. But the reason for a lot of people joining gyms in January seems to be that everyone else does it.
It’s a fashion.
 
So, while the action is good, the reason isn’t.
 
There were a good few candidates for representation in the letter ‘R’. ‘Repeat’ was what we’d used for the last eleven years.  
 
But the word’Reason’ had put itself forward with great strength latterly. After all, we ask, why would you repeat something if you didn’t have a good reason to do it?
 
And there was ‘Respond’. We honour decisions and actions with a response. And much could be said about the value of personal response to any action in our lives.
 
And then there’s the ubiquitous ‘Respect’. That’s a lovely word to contemplate. It has so many implications; from Aretha Franklin, and her exquisitely soulful interpretation, to the hedgings and fencing in the world of human relations and business, and indeed in the affairs of the world, to which we entrust our lives, and existence, to those we elect as our public representatives, and to those we marry, live with, and partner, in life.
 
The very appropriate word ‘Relax’ was also mooted. Strong contender.
‘Relax’ qualifies well on two counts. It’s an applicable verb, and it resonates well in the imperative.
 
Your contribution has been a revelation. I always knew there was  a creative element in the readership. But I hadn’t the scope of its interest. Thank you.
 
So, in the interest of continuity and consistency, and with regard to those who have responded in their relaxed and respectful manner, I’ve taken a deep breath, and a Decision, and Acted on the word ‘Repeat’.
                                                             D                  A                             R                            E
 
I’ve done this with deference to the fourth word, which, on revelation, I do believe you’ll find in complete accord.
 
Thank you all again, and stay posted.