I am always interested in what will be said each week in the email from James Clear.  As is usual, this week there is much to think about.  Included is a statement I have found to be the case.
“I have had periods in my career when I have been sprinting full speed and accomplished a great deal and I have had seasons when I have been fairly lazy and coasted on my previous effort.  What I have learned is that I am the major obstruction to getting results. Whether external conditions are favourable or unfavourable makes less difference than whether I am fully engaged and consistent. Even in competitive fields, the competition is primarily within yourself.”
I have known both times.  Times when all seemed easy peasy, and times when it all seemed too hard.  Times when I am not really motivated.  The statement “What I have learned is that I am the major obstruction to getting results” rings true for me.
I am fond of saying something like I can have as much or as little of some things as I would like.  In moments of inspiration I am very rar rar.  Such moments are always counter balanced by moments wanting to take the easier road when times are hard.
Yet one thing I know for sure.  I never feel better for having given in to slackness.  As I read somewhere recently, a sense of well being and satisfaction is always found in overcoming obstacles rather than giving up because of obstacles.
It seems to me I should be thankful for difficulties rather than despise them.  That is easy to say and for sure there are times of rest and recuperation needed.  Yet I know I grow more taking ground rather than holding ground.  To hold it is necessary and requires a different skill set but when ground is taken in a worthy cause and in a worthy way others are liberated.
Personally, I know of no greater joy than seeing another enjoy freedom that has been denied.

Dictionary day again and I have no idea what word I will pick.  Fortunately today my finger fell upon a word I had heard of and used.  “Prepare” as in, make ready.  I was not prepared for that one.
I do think that being prepared is a good thing.  I tend to be prepared way early to be prepared for any emergencies that may come up.  If they don’t then well and good.  If they do I feel I have allowed enough time to deal with a situation.
There are emergencies which no amount of planning can prepare me for.  In those cases decisions need to be on the go.  It is hoped that right decisions are made at the time.
I have a thing about haste.  My preferred method with decisions that really matter with time is available, is to give it time to consider it.  I find with this preparation I am more likely to choose wisely.  It is not an excuse for inaction but a means of weighing up.  I know I need to get the balance between spontaneity and caution right.  Looking at the way I do things I do think it is right that I have gotten more cautious as I have gotten older.  To me that is not always a good thing.
I am big on balance, and it seems to me the balance is best determined by preparation.  Sometimes a lot of preparation is required and sometimes hardly any.  In most cases where hardly any preparation is required, it is because it seems I have been there and done that (not necessarily the same but similar) and know what to do.
It is my thinking that preparation is so important.  I am preparing for a task at the moment, and it has not been straight forward to do.  The person I am going to do it with suggested maybe the job itself will be easier than organizing it.
To me that definitely may be the case, but as in all things for me preparation is key.  As much as possible I like to be prepared.  Where I can’t be I am happy to wing it and where possible call on previous preparation.

Unpredictably Predictable
I wrote recently about “Black Swan” times.  When things happen that were totally unpredictable.
Conversely there are days that go exactly as they have been planned.  Yesterday was such a day.
As is the case on certain days we have a market.  We are totally dependent on others to provide stock for sale.  As has been said before, everything is $2.  Items may be, and often are, worth way more than that but there are bargains to be had.  Any monies made goes to a food pantry our church runs.
We run for 90 minutes and have a goal of $30 a day.  Normally most stuff that is going to be bought is bought by the initial people at the market.  Yesterday it was like a steady stream.  Also people donated things though out the time we were open, and there was fresh stock continually.
What people tend to do is donate good things that were to be disposed.  Sometimes they were to go to another charity and sometimes to the dump.  What we endeavour to do is provide these things to others at incredibly reasonable prices.  This saves land fill and gives items that deserve it, another life.  From the way people purchase stuff, what is done is what is needed.
Anyway yesterday was a $54 day.  That is good.  We were happy, the customers were happy, and the pantry was happy.
There was one lady who came who made me laugh. (A highlight for Merril and I is the chats we have.  People that have been totally closed, open up, and it is great to be seen as a familiar face and friend.)
This lady was telling us about clearing her house out.  She is fairly ruthless, and others have her make decisions on things they may tend to hold on to.  We had what could only be regarded as a little vintage radio.  It ended up being bought by a lady who was getting it for someone she knew out west that were not into modern high-tech items, but things that simply worked.  I tested it and showed it worked and she got it.
Anyway that prompted a discussion with this lady who is just after things that simply work.  She was saying she got a hairbrush from another charity. Ok as hairbrushes go apparently it was a good one.  The thing was, when she got it home her son declared she had gotten a particular brand name.
She was agog and declared “it has a name!!?”  To her a hairbrush is a hairbrush.  To him it was a desirable hairbrush due to its make.
Who would have known?  Not me for sure.  To me a hairbrush is a hairbrush.  Though truth be known I really do not have much need of a hairbrush.
Ok not earth shattering but to me interesting and humorous.  Being pleasantly surprised by people has become predictable in what is often a predictable day with some unpredictable outcomes.