A Fresh Start

The lesson learned from a computer hard drive crash.

As the year 2001 comes to a close, I am truly grateful for the
opportunity to communicate with you through our newsletter. We
have come a long way since that first edition back in January, and
recently surpassed our goal of 25,000 subscribers!

Thank you for reading The LifeExcellence Newsletter, and for
forwarding it to your family, friends and business associates. Most
of all, thank you for the commitment that you have made to your
own personal development.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season, and may
2002 be your best year ever!!!
-Brian

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Table of Contents:

1. Baby Steps
2. Feature Article: A FRESH START
3. Quotes
4. Recommended Resources
5. Self-Care: Cherries - The Healing Fruit
6. Make a Difference: Ronald McDonald House Charities
7. Final Thoughts: May You Always Have An Angel By Your Side

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1. Baby Steps

We are closing another year of our lives. For some of you, 2001 has
been a great year. For others, well, let's just say it hasn't. In either
case, in just over a week we will ring in the new year. A fresh start.
A clean slate. A new beginning. Whatever happened in 2001, we
have the opportunity to begin anew in 2002. What changes will you
make in order to make 2002 your best year ever?

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2. Feature Article: A FRESH START

Last Thursday, a catastrophe occurred. I went into my home office,
with the intention of producing the Christmas cards that we would
be mailing this year. When I turned on the computer, however, it
quickly became clear that, not only would I not be performing my
intended task that day, but I wouldn't be doing anything on that
computer for quite some time. You see, my hard drive "crashed."
And, upon discovering this, my mood also "crashed."

(Before I get too deep into the story, please know that I store almost
all my data on a Zip Disk, so that was not the issue. And, as it turned
out, the data files are intact anyway.)

Even though no data was lost, I was still distraught. I really dislike
(okay, I hate) wasting time, and I perceived this "violation" as an
inconvenience that would require a tremendous amount of time and
energy to correct. Not to mention that this was occurring in mid-
December, in the midst of the holiday season. Recognizing that our
Christmas cards were in jeopardy, I allowed (for the moment) my
sanity to also be in jeopardy.

I continued stewing for quite some time that day, allowing my
emotional state to be adversely affected by something that (1) had
already happened and (2) could not be changed.

Then, with help from my friend and coach (thanks, Jen!), I realized
the wonderful opportunity that lay within the tragedy of the hard drive.
And what perfect timing, too...

We are closing another year of our lives. For some of you, 2001 has
been a great year. For others, well, let's just say it hasn't. In either
case, in just over a week we will ring in the new year. A fresh start.
A clean slate. A new beginning. Whatever happened in 2001, we
have the opportunity to begin anew in 2002. Hopefully, we can bring
some of the good stuff with us, and repeat it 2002 (even if it's just a
memory). And we can certainly choose to leave the rest behind. After
all, it's a NEW YEAR.

Like hard drives that become cluttered with software that we don't
need or use, our lives become cluttered, too. Rather than "deleting"
these undesirable components, we continue to leave them installed on
the "hard drive" of our lives. As these things build up inside us, they
have an adverse affect on our system. Yet, we just leave them there,
creating all kinds of reasons that justify doing so.

When my hard drive crashed, my slate was cleaned for me. All the
useless clutter than was contained on the hard drive is gone. Sure, I'll
need to reload software that I do need. But my system will then be
clean, and running efficiently. When we eliminate clutter, old clothes,
ill feelings, grudges, and the emotional baggage attached to so much
of this "stuff" that we carry around, our personal "system" will be
clean, too...and running efficiently.

Wipe your slate clean after next week. Begin 2002 with a renewed
sense of excitement and gratitude about your life. As I quote often
from Tony Robbins, "The past does not equal the future." You are
not living in quicksand. You do not have to continue the pattern of
doing the undesirable things you're doing now.

The definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over
again, and expecting different results." If you want 2002 to be
different than 2001, then you must be different. Wipe the slate clean,
and decide what you want 2002 to look like. Then, determine the
kind of person you will need to become in order to make that happen.
What will you have to be, do and say? What actions will you have
to take? What support structures would be helpful to have in place?

I'm glad my hard drive crashed. Sometimes we have to get to that
place in order to clearly see what's occurring in our lives. It doesn't
have to be that way, though.

As you think about 2001, recall fondly the wonderful memories that
were created, and look for the good even in that which was not
desirable. Then, write down the changes that you can make in your
life that will help to make 2002 your best year ever. Write down
anything that comes to mind, and don't stop until you've written at
least 20 things. Finally, decide, then really commit, to giving yourself
the gift of making those changes. Your life will never be the same.

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3. Quotes

The discipline of personal mastery...starts with clarifying the
things that really matter to us (and) living our lives in the service
of our highest aspirations.
Peter M. Senge

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Don't settle for second best when choosing your road to success;
make sure it's the path that you believe in, and then give it your
full attention.
Barbara J. Hall

There is only one success-to be able to live life in your own way.
Christopher Morley

How different our lives are when we really know what is deeply
important to us, and, keeping that picture in mind, we manage
ourselves each day to be and do what really matters most.
Stephen R. Covey

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4. Recommended Resources

Focal Point: A Proven System to Simplify Your Life, Double Your
Productivity, and Achieve All Your Goals
by Brian Tracy

Brian Tracy defines focal point as "the most important thing you
can do at any given time to attain maximum results." Identify the
focal points in each area of your life, then take action to create
positive change in those areas.
To order book, click here

The Power of Focus
by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Les Hewitt

This book provides a practical guide for achieving desired results
in the key areas of your life. The action steps at the end of each
chapter make it easy to formulate your plan and then implement
it immediately in your life.
To order book, click here

Success is Not an Accident
by Tommy Newberry

Success is not something that randomly happens to you; it is
something that you make happen. This incredible book provides
a turnkey system for managing yourself and your life more
effectively, thereby creating positive, predictable results.
To order book, click here

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5. Self-Care: Cherries - The Healing Fruit

Cherries have been eaten and enjoyed for centuries. According to
recent research, the taste isn't the only reason to love them.

Cherries are a rich source of antioxidants, which helps fight cancer
and heart disease. In addition, they contain compounds that help
relieve the pain of arthritis, and even headaches.

The secret to the health benefits of cherries is anthocyanins, the
pigments that give cherries their color. In addition to their colorful
characteristics, anthocyanins contain powerful antioxidant properties,
the consumption of which provides protection against cardiovascular
and other diseases.

In addition to the antioxidents, cherries are also rich in two important
flavonoids--isoqueritrin and queritrin--that are potent anticancer
agents.

As the recent Newsweek article said, given the health benefits of
cherries, "The day when doctors say 'Take 10 cherries and call me in
the morning' may not be that far off."

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6. Make a Difference

Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Ronald McDonald House Charities has 211 houses around the
world where families can stay for free when traveling for a sick
child's treatment. The organization also supports rooms within
hospitals for the same purpose. In addition, it creates and funds
children's health programs.

For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities,
click here.

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7. Final Thoughts: May You Always Have An Angel By Your Side

May you always have an angel by your side
Someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
Inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all...

In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel, may the miles be a thousand times more
lovely than lonely
May they give you the kind of Christmas gifts that never, ever end:
Someone wonderful to love and a dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm...
And may you always have an angel by your side...

Emilia Larson

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Thank you for reading the LifeExcellence Newsletter.
Happy Holidays!
- Brian Bartes

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