Keep It Going Go! See! Be! Do!

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by Suzanne Reisler Litwin

Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I want to tackle the world. I want to do everything! I want to cook soup, bake breads and cookies. I want to run and ski and walk. I want to clean my home from pillar to post. I want to work in my garden all day straight into the night. I just want to do, do, DO!


Then there are days when I just want to stay in my pajamas and be quiet and write all day. Not even wash my face. Just stay put and be oh, so quiet. “Shhhhh, be very quiet.”

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It’s then when I hear this quote in my head, “Lazy is what lazy does, nothin!” – Seymour, my father.

On those quiet feeling days, I remind myself of how important it is to, “Keep it going”. To move the body and move the mind forward. Move something, anything. Get up and move it and start thinking about my very own “Personal Challenge”.

My birthday falls at the very end of December. A couple of days later it’s the New Year. With every birthday and every New Year I say to myself, “What will I do this year that I have never done before?” What new challenge am I going to bring into my life? What new experience will I have? What will I do different?

This is NOT a New Year resolution. It’s greater than that. This is a “Personal Challenge”.

I do this so as to grow as a person. Learn new skills and/or move my body in a way I have never done before. The challenges are not always difficult they are just new to me and my world.

One year I decided to learn to speak Italian and take Italian cooking courses. That went quite well as I can now make a buono pasta and sauce.  Another year I decided to participate in a dance competition. That felt sexy!  Recently, I tried to snow board – that was a huge painful challenge.  It wasn’t easy, but I’m glad I tried it.

By trying new physical activities or mental challenges, we grow as individuals. We allow ourselves to interact with the world in a different way. We meet new people along this journey. We expand our minds and bodies. Perhaps we will find a new hobby, love, or interest. We keep it going! We move it forward.

As children, we were always curious and interested in trying new things. Now as adults we tend to find what we like and stick to it. We have a tendency to not go beyond our comfortable borders and further our interests.

I say, “Go! See it! Be it! Do it! Try it! Say it, Move it!”

I also do this in response to another quote I live by.

“I shoulda, coulda, woulda…” – Noonie, my mother.

I don’t want to get to the end of my life wishing I had done something that I didn’t. The time is NOW. We are all living in the now. So, keep it going!

Last year I tried to roller ski, that’s cross country classic skiing on dry land. It was so difficult, but I’m willing to try it again. This year I’m learning how to line dance. 

What will be your personal challenge this year?  Will you go, see, be, do it?

Something to think about:

1. Think about what you have wanted to do for a long time and go do it! Go! See! Be! Do!

2. Bring a friend along on your new personal challenge and open their world to challenges.

3. Make this positive difference in your life and share it. Tell all and spread the joy!

4. Remember the two quotes in this article and apply them positively. Make up your own quote and live by it, then share it.

5. Enjoy, smile, and be silly while experiencing your new challenge. Silly is crazy fun and fabulous!!!

Suzanne Reisler Litwin is an author/writer/columnist/educator. She contributes every Monday morning to the West Island Blog.

She is an instructor at Concordia University in The Centre for Continuing Education. Suzanne is a freelance contributor to The Suburban newspaper.   She is the author of the children’s book, The Black Velvet Jacket. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her 3 children, Allyn, Taylor, and Duke and her husband Laurie. Suzanne contributes regularly to West Island Blog under her column Keeping it Real.  Please visit her website  www.suzannereislerlitwin.com  to read more of her published articles, books, and poetry.