I’m trying to implement…no, change that…I HAVE been implementing some of the things I had written in an earlier post about keeping friendships alive.

This week I’ve written a few emails to friends I have been out of touch for months. I went down to meet an old friend (school buddy) at his shop…wanted to surprise him but unfortunately he was out and will be back only next week. Well, I did my part (…and will be back again to meet him next week!)

I also called up an old friend, created a blog for another (a super-busy friend who I’ve been trying to meet unsuccessfully for the past month) and made plans with another friend to come and stay-over at our house over the weekend.

I’m getting there.

As I’ve started working towards rebuilding relationships and going after my own goals (my 15 day book writing challenge that begins Oct. 1), I’ve realized the importance of habits.

Most habits are formed without much thought and then they stick with us for a lifetime unless we consciously decide to evaluate all our habits and do away with the unproductive ones and strengthen the productive (or good) ones.

Saying this is humongously easier than doing it, and don’t we all know that?

But writing stuff down on this public blog is making things a little easier. It provides a bit of a leverage when I sit down and think about what habits I should do away with and what new habits should now become a part of my life.

e.g. I have a serious problem with focus. Maybe it’s ADD (attention deficit disorder), I don’t know…never have got that clinically checked, but it’s been the main stumbling boulder (.. or maybe mountain would be better) in the pursuit of my goals.

I need to develop the habit of prioritizing things, then focusing on one till it’s complete and then moving on to another. The 15 day challenge came about because I knew it was high time I completed a book and 15 days is probably the maximum I can focus on one thing before launching into another project and also because 15 days is probably the minimum time I’ll need to write a decent book.

Also, making a public declaration about this makes sure I don’t chicken out after about 3 days into the challenge. With friends watching, I sure don’t want to get out of the challenge by giving lame excuses.
If I successfully complete the 15 day challenge (I know I will) , I know I would have laid the foundations of one of most important habits anyone could have (and struck a mortal blow to my habit of procrastination).

Just changing this one habit will have a massive impact on life. Imagine what would happen, if I rooted out all (or most) bad habits and planted new, better ones?

Onward, brave soldier!