Full Moon on Blue Monday

According to the evening news, today, January 22nd, is Blue Monday. I had never heard of Blue Monday before. What is it? What does it mean? It is a day that experts say is the "unhappiest" day of the year. This is based on a mathematical calculation taking into account the time since Christmas and incoming shopping bills, winter weather, and failed New Year's resolutions. Add these factors altogether and you end up with Blue Monday. As I drove to pick up our car from the mechanic tonight (adding to our piling bills and blueness I guess), our daughter watched the full moon, asking: "why is the moon following us?" She continued, "I've been watching it and first it was on that side and now it is over there. It's following us, how does it do that?" What a wonderful perspective.

How does a following full moon affect us on Blue Monday? I love full moons. For me they represent hope, wonder and potential. Perhaps the Blue Monday is all perspective too. The weather can get you down. I love the snow and am disappointed at each snow storm that doesn't materialize. I dream of snow pack, shovelling, cross country skiing and sledding. If anything it's the weather that's too nice that doesn't fit the season that is depressing, at least for me, in January. Come March, I'm with the rest of you, dreaming of beaches.

Mounting bills, well, that is cause for blueness, or for better planning. Taking control of money, planning can alleviate this blueness. What a great time of year to start planning for next year's holidays. Of course, pay the current bills, and then set up a savings plan. I'm doing this too. We need to be saving each month for next year. This year we set up a budget and a plan. It's part of the coaching program.

New Year's Resolutions are a favorite. We each have such good intentions at the New Year of making this year different. There are some real keys to creating success and follow through with New Year's resolutions and goals. My favorites are:

• Write your goals down
• Post them where you can see them, keep track of your actions.
• Tell people about your goals and vision -- it deepens your commitment AND can build alliances with other resources that will help you.
• Hire a coach to help you stay focused on your plan
• Find a friend or buddy that you can talk to each week about what you are doing.
• Write down your action plan and your accomplishments (big and small).
• Develop a story of vision of the end of the year having accomplished all of your goals. Include as many details as you can. Read it at least weekly.

Blue Monday, with a Full Moon doesn't have to be the most unhappy day of the year. Each of us has the ability to take charge of our lives, our actions and even our perspectives. I say our perspectives because we can't change the weather but we can create our perspective to one of positive optimism.

Create your own healthy Monday.

All the best,

Donna