A New Start... Fueled By Hope

Some of you know I’m a Dave Ramsey junkie. Today I got his monthly email newsletter, and one section of it reminded me of our fight against ordinary health and our pursuit of optimal health. Read the excerpt below:

Have you ever had a bad day and just wished that it would end? We've all experienced that. And not just a bad day. It could be weeks or months where the breaks all seem to go against you. As much as stuff may stink, every day you wake up, you have a chance to start fresh and get things moving in the right direction.

A single mom in the My Total Money Makeover community forums had this to say about a rough month, and what she's doing about it:

I've had a rough start. I received another hospital bill for my daughter in the amount of $3,970. I also am expecting another bill for $800, plus an ultrasound bill; who knows how much that will be?

I've been working more hours the past couple of weeks, plus I'm doing a lot of work for a client on the side, so the income has still been pretty decent. I hope things will continue for a while longer until I have a chance to get some things caught up.

Rather than throw in the towel, she's choosing to start from where she is and move forward. The past is in the past. You can't go back. But don't let rough spots that you've hit drag you so far down that you don't take advantage of the road ahead. If you hit a pothole as you drive down the street, you don't pull the car over and cry. You made it past that one rough spot. Keep going!

Each month brings with it its own successes and challenges. You have a new budget, new expenses, a new pace at work, new celebrations and so on. There is something about a clean slate that gives you a sense of hope. You can make up your mind to be positive about whatever comes up. We admit that it's not easy, but it's either that or sit in the muck.

You've got too much potential to sit in the muck. Fight through it and fulfill that potential. The greatest stories and accomplishments come from who had lots of obtacles to overcome, Even if you have a lot of past mistakes (and who doesn't?), there are plenty of opportunities to make things right.

And each time you take advantage of one, you get a new start.

This message rings true for all of us. In the pursuit of optimal health, you will hit some potholes. When the rough spots come, you have a choice to make. Will you sit in the muck or clean the slate and make a new start?

My road to health has not been all straight and narrow. I’ve had some detours. I know you have too. But don’t give up hope. Every day is filled with new mercies and is an opportunity for a new start! If you focus on your unsuccessful past, you'll be filled with shame and never experience a better future.

Dave Ramsey has often said something to this effect, “I don’t sell financial advice. I sell HOPE. But my vehicle is financial advice.” Dave sells the same thing that we sell… HOPE. Our vehicles differ slightly, our roads are a bit unique, and our destination may not be exactly the same. But the fuel that gets us there is.

Cling to hope! Your dreams become a reality when you develop an action plan and live it out, and hope is what keeps us moving.

Get well! Stay well!