. The Dessert Years .

Often times all-so-grand plans are written, discussed, pondered … and then doubted, forgotten, ignored. It is “the very moment of the idea” that holds the key to the locked door of tomorrow.

In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment. ~Thomas Carlyle

• When inspirations come: Write them down!

• Writing down one’s thoughts is essential to living one’s dreams. Much has been written about this, so I will simply link to google results on this matter.

Once these thoughts go from mind to paper, consider: What are my priorities?

And, if you don’t have an answer to the question of priorities … Begin today. There is no better time than the present. [Note: You might want to take a quick pit start here ... If you are simply at a place where you just want to make the 911 call regarding your life in general. Thus, the mere thought of all this makes your head hurt.

Remember: Baby steps ...

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. ~Lao Tzu

Ready? Let's get started.

• Maintain a journal, time planner or some bound (or otherwise contained) system. This is the most awesome and practical method of mapping the road to your dreams. It enables you to have a proverbial view from the sky, to see where you can delete, consolidate and literally create blocks of time for concentrated work, for tasks that will equip you and get you to your destination. [More about Blocks in a Box and tips for Right-Brain Planners here.]

• Promise yourself an appointment of quiet, uninterrupted time each day. This will eliminate (or at least minimize) procrastination and allow you to simply be, collect your thoughts and focus on simply breathing in … breathing out. Once quieted, begin to examine, ponder and write about where you want to go from here. [This can be a mere 15-minutes and actually create hours in your days.]

• Minimize distractions (turn off your telephones, announce that you are officially going invisible at (the time of your appointment with yourself and refuse to be interrupted for anything less fire or blood) I do this by setting my appointment when furr-kids, DH and sons are sleeping and/or gone from home.

• Create an “mobile” office. This will allow you to sort mail, write note cards, journal, read, etc. while you wait for appointments, take a break in your day, enjoy lunch at the park, have a quiet moment at a library or Starbucks — or any other of the countless moments sprinkled in your days (that add up to hours per week) when you find yourself with “extra time.” [There are countless ways to accomplish this; mine is simply a briefcase with pens, Post-it® notes, books I want to read, note cards and stamps, my iPod and my journal.]

Remember, the pyramids were built one block at a time. A great life and a great career is built one task, and often, one part of a task, at a time. Your job in time management is to deliberately and creatively organize the concentrated time periods you need to get your key jobs done well, and on schedule. ~Brian Tracy

• Begin! Just do something — anything — today regarding making the change to living the life you dream about! Imagine that every moment of your life is worth $1000. It is actually worth much (much ) more! Each moment expires and can never be replaced; each moment is actually priceless.

The main reason that we don’t do something right now is because we think that it is going to take too much time and right now we don’t have time or we don’t feel like doing it now. I want to look at how this kind of thinking actually creates an avalanche effect and before we know it we are suffocating under a heavy load of guilt and we are paralyzed by our inactions. ~Flylady

• Focus and think: Perpetual Motion … Purpose in your heart of hearts to make every minute count. Whether you are working, playing or resting — make every minute count! Consistent effort beats doing something “perfectly” (and never getting started …) every time!

Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have. ~Unknown

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There is a pattern to change. You begin moving in a particular direction, then you find a rest stop or simply an exit from the journey. Just except it but realize that, of course, no one actually lives at a rest stop or the exit area right off a highway.

The stop — the pause — is merely … a rest stop. A place to stretch your legs, breath in fresh air, refuel and plan for the remaining journey. This is also a place to obtain extra Grace; Grace to accomplish what is next. And continuing to drive simply means you will run out of “fuel” and have to backtrack to the place beckoning you to simply rest.

Grace is what sustains you while you wait — while you rest. Because before you know it, quickly it will come. And when it comes, you will know what to do.

“Single handling requires that once you begin, you keep working at the task, without diversion or distraction, until the job is 100% complete. You keep urging yourself onward by repeating the words “Back to work!” over and over whenever you are tempted to stop or do something else.” —Brian Tracy