Unplugging

I was reading a review and interview for a new book called Dadditude by Philip Lerman and one of comments he made was very profound and stuck with me.  There are so many distractions these days at home: Phones, Internet, TV, Blackberries, etc. Dadditude

But as parents we need to learn to unplug at home and spend quality time with our children.  I have learned that I have to try to set limits as to how long I can mess around on this blog, watch football or whatever and take time to unplug and spend time with my children. 

We try to go on family walks daily, play board games and watch family movies together.  Also just praying together, getting everyone at the dinner table together or practicing soccer in the backyard further gives us chances for quality time with the kids.

It amazed me when I went Christmas shopping this year that some people cannot simply get off their cell phones.  They walk around the store talking or I even saw one woman spend an entire 15 minutes in a coffee shop and she never put her phone down? 

Come on people, unplug for a few hours and really speak to your children's hearts.

One of my goals this year is to spend at least a half hour per day, per child just getting in some quality time and getting inside their special world.  One thing my daughter said to me a few weeks ago really rang true "Daddy, you spend a lot of time on the computer."

Wow, big wake up call.  Do you want to be remembered as the dad with the cell phone glued to his ear or the dad who always has time for his children?      

Goals 2008

I figure it is that time of year again where people make some goals for the new year.  A lot of people make goals but fail to stick to them, I find that writing them down and looking at the goals daily really helps me. 

You also must reverse engineer your goals.  If you want to lose 10 pounds in 2008, you must first learn that that is 0.83 pounds per month.  To do this you would need to sustain a 2000-2500 calorie per day diet and burn 3500 calories extra per month. 

To burn 3500 calories per month you would need to figure out which exercises could you do weekly to ultimately burn those calories and most importantly, you need to pick some exercises that you enjoy doing (hiking, walking with the family, bike riding) and then set up a schedule to do these. 

I often find that the best way to stick to goals is also to write them down and share them with people and have someone who keeps you accountable for these goals.

So here it goes:Goals

My Goals For 2008:

Spiritual - Read the Bible 20 minutes each day, Take a Men's Fraternity course

Family - Cook meals and do dishes at least 2 nights per week, Go on a date with my wife at least once per month, Spend 30 minutes of quality time per day with each child

Fitness - Lose 8 pounds and start running a minimum of 10 miles per week again.

Financial - Replenish Savings after Christmas, Invest $15K Short Term for next Real Estate Investment

Education - Learn French (work related) and read 25 Books this year.

Personal Growth - Manage time better, focus a majority of my time on what's really important, strengthen current friendships and develop new friendships.

I Apologize

Forgive me for taking so much time off from this blog, I really needed to refocus after going through some pretty intense training for my "job."  However, I am back and we will start off with answering some of the questions I have had from many readers, mainly the "How do I do this" "What are the steps." 

I am also working on something called "The Finance Book" for some of my colleagues at work and I will also publish it here.  It will cover everything you need financially from building a Values Based Financial Plan to discovering what is really important versus the junk we buy to try to impress others and ultimately the right investments for your plan. 
Stay tuned, it will be an exciting year in 2008. 

A Day and A Life

After my last post on stress, my friend Dante from Point Men sent me the following post.  Thanks Dante for the inspiration and encouragement. 

When did life become so busy.  How do we slow down.  What do weprioritize.  Where does my faith fall into my busy schedule.  How do Ifind quiet time to spend an hour or two in prayer and meditation.  Howcan I share my faith more in a hostile environment.  What does God wantfrom my marriage.

How should I raise my kids.  What does my wife wantfrom me.  Should I serve more or less at church.  How much should Itithe.  How much sleep should I get a night.  How can I exercise when Ihave to spend time with my wife and children.  How much money should Isave.  When should I go on vacation.  What does God want from me.Where does God want me to serve.  Will my life make a difference toanyone.

What does the Bible say about worry? 

Mathew 6: 25-33:"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eator drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life moreimportant than food, and the body more important than clothes?  Look atthe birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much morevaluable than they? 

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour tohis life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies ofthe field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that noteven Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like of these.  If that ishow God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today andtomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, Oyou of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat? orWhat shall we drink? or What shall we wear?"

For the pagans run afterall these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But seek first His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these thingswill be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble ofits own."

Stress: In The Trenches

I haven't posted in awhile and I apologize, it has been very hectic with me finishing up a very demanding and time consuming course, the holidays and our family being stretched thin with activities, shopping and the usual. 

ToplevelforeclosureI've been snappy at the family and when I come home most nights I just want to sit down and watch some football.  Hardly a Legacy Dad?

Yet, I'm trying to draw myself out of this rut and focus more again on my family.  I'm hoping in the next week, with some vacation time, I will be able to refocus and rejuvenate. 

I guess there's times when there is just nothing much to write about and rather than try to force some inspiration it's just better to let things work themselves out.

We'll talk again soon....

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