Welcome back.
Did Part 1, 26 for 2026, Change Your Life, speak to you?
I hope you found one or two of the suggestions compelling. If you did, take action, no matter how small the first step may be.
We are all a work in progress, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy right now. I'm happy. I think happiness is a choice. God knows I've had plenty of reasons not to be happy, but that's another story.
Wanting to change means that I recognize there are things—call it systems—that could serve me better. I've learned that, and that's what I want to share. Here are the rest of the 26 suggestions.
Part 2, 26 for 2026, Change Your Life14. If you want to succeed faster and be more satisfied with life, find someone who is doing exactly that. Are they compassionate, smart, friendly, hard working, and successful? If so, learn what they're doing and how they're doing it. What do they know that you need to know. Model their behavior. Find out how all the details of how they did it and adapt their method to your efforts.
15. Avoid modeling the behavior of people who got what they want by dishonesty. Never change your morals and beliefs to be like someone else. You can't model negative behavior without it having far-reaching consequences in your life.
16. Integrity—honesty in all things and strong moral beliefs—is everything in business and in your personal life. Make that a core belief.
17. Learn the difference between working hard and working effectively. Working effectively often means learning how to prioritize your tasks so you get better results, accomplish more, and feel more fulfilled.
18. Analyze how you spend your working hours. Are you actually being productive or just giving lip service to the idea of working hard? When you're supposed to be working, are you sneaking in time on your cell phone? Seeing Facebook updates or the latest TikTok video? Be honest in your assessment.
19. Change your attitude about work. Sometimes when we describe an activity as work, even though it's something we truly adore doing, the activity, in our mind, becomes linked to work = unpleasantness. The more you enjoy something; the less it will seem like work.
20. If you're in a job you truly hate, then make a plan on how to change that situation. What interests you? What kind of job do you think you'd enjoy? Does it require retraining or more education?
Figure out exactly what it takes to qualify for that job. Break it down into steps. Then take action. Don't be daunted by how long it will take to be qualified. Start now. Quit dreaming about it. Make it happen. You can do it. Believe you can. I believe you can. Planning, action, persistence, and belief can make dreams come true.
21. Enjoy yourself more. Too many people have lost the capacity for the simple pleasures in life. They rush from one thing to another and say they're relaxing when they're watching YouTube or television or checking social media. None of those things will give you the kind of relaxation you need.
Instead of being glued to your phone or social media, talk to the people in your household. If you're living alone, talk to a friend or family member who's away—not texts but by voice. Be connected in a real way.
22. Take up a hobby or a sport. A hobby can range from playing board games, putting together jigsaw puzzles, crafting, cooking, gardening, wood working—the sky is the limit.
Try a sport even if it's walking every day, but there's also bowling, tennis, ping pong, archery, cycling, exercising, etc. Just about all of those mentioned can be done interacting with others. Find something stimulating and interesting to do outside of work that connects you with others in some way. That will give you a good balance between hard, effective work and play.
23. Laugh more. Nothing lifts the spirits like humor. It may sound silly, but if you're feeling pessimistic and discouraged, smile. Really. Smiling uses muscles and activates an endorphin release in the brain that makes you feel good.
24. Listen to music more often but choose wisely the kind of music. Abstain from music that insults or demeans others. Find music that lifts the human spirit and makes you feel good. That kind of music can be found in any genre from Mozart to pop music.
25. Read more. I'm not just saying that because I'm an author. Reading expands your horizon, improves your vocabulary, changes the way others see you, educates, entertains, and makes you think. In addition to all that, reading can prevent mental decline, lower blood pressure, and improve your emotional state.
26. Take to heart the old advice, "You are what you eat." Most of the diseases that plague the modern world can be prevented by healthy habits. Avoid a steady diet of food loaded with sugar, salt, bad fat, and no fiber. Eat real food. It's good for your body, your brain, and your emotions.
In fact, learn to cook at home, eat at home, and have guests for dinner. Learn the pleasure of physical activity even if it's just a 20 minute walk.
TAKEAWAY TRUTH
That's it—from my heart to yours. We all talk about change. I'm no exception, but I've learned to accept the fact that I'm not finished. I'm a work in progress, and I'm proud of that fact.
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When I was a kid, my Dad planted a huge garden every summer. When the Yellow Crookneck Squash started producing, we had enough to supply the entire neighborhood.
