Join a gym

If you're anything like me, you have a hard time motivating yourself. But when you reach a certain age, it's not enough to just watch what you eat, you also need to get regular exercise or turn into a softer, plumper version of yourself. You need motivation. Join a gym.

Why should I join a gym?
Keeping healthy is important, and this requires regular exercise. But what's wrong with exercising at home? The main reason I joined a gym was for motivation. It isn't enough to just provide time for exercise, you also need a reason. Knowing I'm paying for the gym gets me up and out the door.

Aside from motivation, gym memberships provide access to a wide array of exercise equipment. Home equipment doesn't provide as many options, and it would cost a tremendous amount of money and space to own it. Professional gym equipment allows for many different work out options, and will provide flexibility as your strength improves.

Gym memberships also provide free exercise classes for more motivation and education on how to get fit and remain fit so you are not left on your own. You may also hire their staff of personal trainers for one-on-one training designed specifically for you.

How to join a gym?
This is a personal decision only you can make, but these are a few tips to help you decide:

• Visit multiple gyms in your area and walk around them, inspecting for cleanliness. Visit around the time you were planning on using the gym to see what you could expect to find. Make sure it's not too crowded, and that the atmosphere is comfortable.
• Determine what you expect from your gym. Are showers important? What about a steam room or sauna? Are you interested in tanning beds? Do you need a swimming pool?
• Check their workout class schedule to see if it fits your personal schedule.
• Are the gym hours flexible enough for your schedule?
• Local gyms are usually cheaper, but chain gyms usually have more facilities and more locations in case you move.
• Try not to pay upfront for memberships. Avoid cancellation fees in the contract. You never know what you are going to get until you are actually a member. Some gyms only require monthly payments. Others require an initial large payment and then smaller monthly payments. Gyms that require the full year membership upfront aren't as common anymore.
• Some community centers have gyms with incredibly affordable prices. They don't have a professional staff usually, and they're much smaller, but if it works for you, you can save a lot of money.

After you've established a workout routine, you may find the gym isn't required anymore to motivate you. If so, then you're lucky, and you can dump the membership. But if you relapse, head back to the gym.

The candy is on sale, and today doesn't feel quite as romantic...

Why must only one day a year be dedicated to romancing our "significant other"? We should spend time each and every day investing in them, and in that love. Sure, maybe we can't spend hours and hours, or a sizable amount of money on them every day but there are plenty of things we can do to let them know they mean the world to us instead of playing catch up each year on February 14th.

One of my favorite things I like to do for my fiancee, that I've done during the course of our dating relationship, is to make her a mix "tape". While we both love music, I'd say that I'm the one who's much more in tune with the music scene. This is fun for me, because I get to listen to a ton of music while on the prowl for the perfect editions to the mix that I'm building. This has also opened her up to music that she would normally not listen to. There is something special about listening to these songs later. In fact we'll probably use some of these very mix tape songs at our wedding.

Here are a few more ideas:

• When you think about her during the course of your day send her a text message letting her know. Not only is it very simple but more than likely you have unlimited text messaging so it's free. Don't do this to an ex, well, unless you want to be the subject of a restraining order.
• Buy her flowers at random. This is a special surprise when it's unexpected.
• Drop by and see her at work. This not only makes your day all the brighter, but breaks up the monotony of her work day. Plus she'll be the envy of the office because the other boyfriends/ fiances/ husbands don't ever stop by to say "hi" to their loved ones.
• Make dinner or take her out. This is nice especially after she's had a long day at work, and totally would make dinner but absolutely isn't looking forward to it.
• Leave a note for her, and not the "honey-do" variety.
• Go for a walk and hold hands while you're at it. Not only is it good for you but it's good for the intimacy of your relationship.
• Stop supporting Hallmark, and make a card! The investment of your time and creativity makes it all the more special.
• Become a snuggler. I'm not ashamed to say it: I love cuddling! The world just seems to slow to a stop, and nothing else matters but the other person.
• Let her know you think she's beautiful, whether that be by whispering it in her ear or the above mentioned card or note.
• Do yourself and your partner a favor, and read the book entitled "The Five Love Languages."

Keep at it! Love is worth investing in daily. And like that proverbial saying, "practice makes perfect"- the more you love, the easier it becomes.

“Let the wife make the husband glad to come home,

and let him make her sorry to see him leave.”

-Martin Luther

Tie your shoes

It used to be children and elderly people wore slip-on shoes because they didn't have the dexterity or flexibility to tie their own shoes. Now it seems like everyone wears slip on shoes, even if there are laces. This mostly applies to men, because women still put effort into presenting themselves, where men's fashion has basically turned into a contest to see who can be, or look, the most lazy.

This mainly applies to trainers (athletic shoes or sneakers). It all started with skateboard shoes becoming mainstream. Apparently in skateboarding, it's a good idea to have shoes that fall off while you're airborne. But soon, everyone began wearing these shoes, and never tying them. I was among them. This trend progressed, and the act of leaving the shoes untied has gone to basketball shoes, boots, and even "dressy" tennis shoes. I've even seen shoes that are designed to look like they have laces but possess none.

Why should I tie my shoes?
There are many reasons to tie your shoes, and I'll explain a few of them here. Of course this doesn't apply to loafers, drivers, pumps, and other shoes designed without laces.

• Foot health
• Shoe longevity
• Comfort

Foot health
Many people do not know how to fit shoes to their feet. Some people may not even know why they should know. Shoes serve a purpose, and that is to protect your feet from dangers on the ground and the environment. But shoes are not natural, and can impede the natural movement of the foot. Fitting shoes properly to your feet will help your foot move more naturally, and avoid future foot problems. But even if your shoe fits properly, it will not perform properly unless the shoe is tied.

Some shoes are designed without laces, and they were meant for specific purposes - like driving, lounging around, or attending galas. These shoes are not meant for much walking. If you are walking, or running, you should wear shoes with laces.

Shoe longevity
A side effect of not tying your shoes, or tying them loosely and wearing them like slip-ons, is that the back of the shoe gets collapsed over time. This can even happen with lace-ups (why you should have a shoe horn), but it is especially the case with slip-on shoes. The heel tab and/or Achilles notch will become compressed, leaving stress points and even fraying seams. I encourage taking care of your property, including your clothes, to save money, time, and even the environment. The longer your shoes remain in good care, the more value you receive for your dollar.

Comfort
Another side effect of slipping on shoes is also related to foot health. Shoes worn loosely might feel more comfortable, but as you wear them they will wear on your feet. Lose shoes create friction, which can cause sores, bunions, and blisters. Shoes made for slipping on are designed differently than lace-up shoes, so this doesn't usually apply, but even with these, they will rub your feet. Just ask any women who wore pumps all day.

How should I tie my shoes?
This is the fun part. I created a helpful video to show you three ways shoes are tied, and why each one is better than the last. I start with the standard shoe lace knot, and then show you a modified version of it that lays flatter on the shoe. Then I finish up with my preferred knot, which I borrowed for Ian's Shoelace Site years ago. It's called Ian's Secure Shoelace Knot. It is the best shoelace knot I've ever used. I use it on my hiking boots and my dress lace-ups. It lays flat, it never comes loose, and it is released just as quickly as other knots.

I have a good friend who works with middle-school aged active boys and I showed him this knot and he uses it on his kids now and loves it.

Improve Your Elocution

Do you often have to repeat yourself? Do you mumble, talk to fast or too quietly? Some of us make every word understood when we talk, but many of us need to improve the way we talk to be better understood.

You may recall the musical My Fair Lady where Audrey Hepburn was given lessons on speech. Rocks were put in her mouth to help her learn to form sounds. You don't have to go through such lengths to improve your own speech, and you don't need wealthy busybodies to help you out. All you need, as with most skills, is practice.

Why should I practice speaking?
When you speak with proper elocution, you are better understood by friends, family and those you work with. It will help others understand what you are trying to say more quickly, and with less error. It will help you in many areas of your life.

At home
Domestically, the biggest frustrations my wife and I face are in miscommunication. Often times this is the result of my mumbling. Perhaps if I could better speak the words I'm saying, my wife would be able to understand me and she wouldn't be frustrated by her misunderstanding, and I would be less frustrated by not being understood.

At work
Speech is one measure we all use to determine intelligence and capability. If you can go into a job interview and speak clearly and intelligibly, you have an advantage over someone who mumbles, or who is otherwise incoherent. When giving presentations at work, or distributing information, it is important that others are able to understand what you are saying. For those above you, you will seem like you have what it takes to lead. For those below you, or collaborators, you will reduce errors by providing the right information. You will also improve efficiency by not repeating yourself over and over again.

How do I improve my elocution?
Classical stage actors know the importance of elocution, and they spend much of their training making sure they can be heard and understood. One example of such elocution is John Malkovich. His elocution is a bit exaggerated for use on stage, but you can hear and understand everything he says clearly.

Some of us have real speech impediments which may require a tutor. Hopefully you were able to get help early in life as your speech developed to get past these issues. But for you, and for those of us without these problems, it's a good idea to continue this practice even into adulthood. Even professional speakers, politicians, and executives practice speaking to improve themselves in business or politics.

So what can you do to practice?

The first thing I suggest is professional help. This can be found at your local community college. There you can find classes on public speaking and speech which can help you out. You can even find specialized elocution classes online, or in local community business and personal development classes.

As with most skills, it takes more than just a few classes and know-how, but it takes practice. Practice at home. Maybe get together frequently with a few friends to help each other practice.

Find a few resources, like this and this, which have exercises you can practice at home. Practice at full volume for several minutes at a time. You might feel silly talking to yourself, but it will pay off eventually.

Additional help
In addition to elocution, it is good to practice vocabulary, rhetoric and even acting.

Vocabulary
The more words you use in common practice, the more intelligent you appear. Ways to do this are to use the dictionary and thesaurus regularly, sign up for "word of the day" emails, and play word games like crosswords, Scrabble, Boggle, and similar games.

Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of developing ideas to make them understandable, and even the ability to convince others to accept these ideas. There should be Classics and Rhetoric classes at your local community college, and you can always read these classic works:

• Institutio Oratoria, by Quintillian
• On Invention, by Cicero
• On Oratory, by Cicero
• Topics, by Cicero
• The Art of Rhetoric, by Aristotle
• Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres, by Hugh Blair

Acting
Taking basic acting classes at the local community college or community center can improve your confidence when speaking before people, and teach you how to present your body, as well as your speech, to the greatest effect.