2013 -My Word for the New Year

What an incredible world we  live in!

I took a little walk this morning behind our community.

This is my first photo of 2013... a little dusting of snow on Mt. Lemon behind Tucson... and between the cactus and the mountains are the red tile roofs of Rancho del Lago.

On my walk I did some more thinking about my new motto or "word" for the New Year.

"Safety."

Which really is stronger in two words.  "Safety First."

This year I want to make every decision after looking thru the prism of "Safety... first."

I have really appreciated the perspective that Robert Kiyosaki has given in the three books I have read so far... Rich Dad, Poor Dad... Unfair Advantage... and Guide to Investing.  In his discussion about risk and safety... and the way to reduce risk in investments is thru financial literacy.  The more financial education you have the more intelligent decisions you will make.

That does not mean one can ever eliminate all risk... but the more cards you know are stacked in your favour the less probability of a disaster.  There will always be ups and downs... but the right choice should yield more ups.

Safety First means do your "due diligence." Look before you leap.

Safety First means making sure the footing under the ladder is secure... and scaffolding is anchored.

Safety First means living by the rules in every aspect of life.

It means driving carefully.  Working carefully.  Playing safely.  Eating properly and exercising regularly to keep, or get into top shape.

Safety First means living a living a life of balance... mentally, physically, financially and spiritually.

I believe and trust in God... and will spend some time every day with Him.

Safety First always has your insurance paid up... with the proper coverage.

One of my past mentors died this past year.  Zig Ziglar was an author, a motivational speaker and a devoted Christian who I met at a Century 21 Convention in Edmonton in the mid-80's.  (In a past life we owned a C-21 office in Peachland, BC.)

I want to conclude my New Years ramblings with one of his many quotes which I committed to memory.

"You are what you are and you are where you are because of what has gone into your mind.  You can change what you are and you can change where you are by changing what goes into your mind." -Zig Ziglar

This year I plan to learn a lot more and will read a lot more... and watch a lot less TV.  I am going to change what I put into my mind.  A month without TV waiting to get the satellite dish set up helped me read two books!  Let's see how many I read in 2013.

"Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs." -Zig Ziglar

Wishing you a fantastic year in 2013... and 13 is not an unlucky number unless you make it so.