Resilience

resilience [ri-zil-ee-uhns] -noun 1620s. from L. resiliens, from re- "back + salire "to jump, leap."

1. the power or ability to return to the original form, position,etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity

2. an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change

Ever play with a children's bop bag? They're the inflatable plastic punching bags that have an envelope of sand in the bottom. You punch them. They knock over. They they pop back up.

But more importantly, these bop bags are a metaphor for one of life's greatest lessons: When you get knocked down, get back up.

There are all sorts of temptations and reasons why we fail during The Hard Routine: lousy work schedules, sickness, kids' activities, family parties, emotional depression, vacation, dinners with friends, busy lifestyles, injuries, marital divorce. Go ahead. Pick a reason. Or maybe call it an EXCUSE. Do these things control you? I doubt that roadway potholes determine your final driving destination. Neither should these obstacles keep you from your goals.

• Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is unseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake of your blunders. How will you know your limits without the occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come. -- Og Mandino

In my life, I have been called "resilient." I take that as an extreme compliment. I think it says a lot about the way I was raised, and how I currently live. Especially in my career, I have experienced many derailments. But I keep asking myself, "Is this problem going to keep me down?" I think you all know how I answer. I'm proud to be not only be standing on my feet, but running at full steam!!

The Hard Routine is HARD. I'd expect most of us to stumble a few times during the two month campaign. However, are you one of those who break one of your "rules" only to throw in the towel and quit? Or are you the one who puts that failure behind you and get back on course? Those of us who have stayed the course have been seeing great results. Join us. Even if you have strayed over the past few weeks.....