What's in your blank?

I heard this phrase yesterday, and was inspired by its truth and applicability to many circumstances.  I thought about blogging about it, but like so many ideas it passed through my head and left to be replaced by something more pressing.

Then when I saw the picture today I realized I needed to blog about it :-)

This isn't intended to extoll the virtues of excess drinking and debauchery (although that could be a fun topic too I suppose),  so much as to make you think.  What else can't you "do all day unless you start in the morning"?

Using our powers of abstraction (another blog I've intended to write for a long time, but in the meantime you can simply google it), we can create a sort of "mad lib" from this saying.

"You can't ______ all day... If you don't start in the morning"

What is in your blank?

To play devil's advocate for a moment, perhaps it's quitting drinking, or another vice.  Perhaps it's starting a new habit, changing old ones, getting in shape, eating better, or, maybe, sharing your inane thoughts with the world.

Whatever it is you're trying to do, if it's a life altering change, it has to alter your life.  We can't do the hokey pokey and put one foot in and keep one foot out.  It can't be a choice that we make to change in one area when it benefits us, and not change in others when it doesn't.  It begins in the morning, ends in the evening, and permeates every waking moment in between.  

Do you want to lose weight?  Don't chow down on a dozen doughnuts in the morning and then starve yourself at lunch and dinner to "make up".  Start in the morning.

Do you want to be more productive at work?  Get a cup or two of coffee in, and then start in the morning.

Do you want to break bad habits, start new ones, or change your life in any way?  Find out what actions you take that lead to the desired result, and then start in the morning.  Every morning.  Without fail.

Now, some readers (all two of you!) might say "wow, that's pretty harsh.  Who the hell do you think you are Jerky?  You're not Mr. Friggin' Perfect!", and you'd be right.   Failure is an unfortunate reality that every single one of us will deal with many more times than we care to think about.  The point is to strive.  To work hard.  To give it your everything even, and especially, in the face of knowing that you will fail.  Then when you do, figure out why and how you failed, try hard not to do it again, and move on.  Here's a dirty little secret, life already did move on.  Keep up already! :-)

That being said, another unfortunate reality that we all must deal with is reality.  We are who we are.  We do what we do.  We don't do what we do not do.  If this is to change (preferably for the better), then by necessity we must face the things that scare us, challenge us, embarrass us, and yes, even cause us pain to even think about.  The reality is that our choices have gotten us where we are, good ones and bad ones, and at some point we need to stop taking our own advise if we want things to change.

And, for those of us who are not morning people, "morning" can be whenever you open your eyes, even if it's technically "afternoon" ;-)