It’s always a challenge for me to stick with the discipline of putting in the consistent non-glamorous work day after day. As I like to call the Hum Drum Work.

These are the tasks that are important, but not urgent such as; writing 1-2 pages of your book, any ab workout, practicing your scales on an instrument, getting up before the sun and knocking out 5 miles on the empty streets or pecking out the opening scene of your next screenplay. These everyday disciplines is what builds the character and fortitude I need to continue on.

When I allow an excuse to keep me from showing up during these moments, I feel defeated and broken. It’s so easy to give in at times, “just this once” I say. The cunningness of what Pressfield calls resistance – is one that cant’ be trusted. Never.

We must dig in. Dive deep. Push on through the fear and uncomfortableness of the unknown and not look back. The details are in the doing not the contemplating of it. I have to remember that.

As I’ve heard said, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I suppose that’s true, but in most situations, I would rather just quietly be putting in the work.

We seem to have more respect for those who don’t boast of their accomplishments, complain of their troubles or want attention for their ego to be filled. I do. I’m more drawn to those who take responsibility for where they are and put their head down to get back at it.

Now, those who speak up about where they’re going can be appreciated as well. Who doesn’t like an energetic person who knows exactly what they want in life.

A little humility and self-awareness is all. I think we could all use a bit more of that medicine.

There was a scene in the movie “A.I.” (2001) directed by Steven Spielberg where the main character – a young boy – had the opportunity to spend one day with a loved one who had passed away years prior. The rules were simple: He wasn’t allowed to mention anything in regards to her being “brought back” from the other side to have this time together and he had just one day. No more, no less.

He chose to spend it with his Mom and I was quite touched with the simplicity and tenderness of the montage. The two spent the day doing various activities around their high-rise home; baking in the kitchen and having conversation, playing board games while enjoying each other’s company and then finally with her tucking him in for bed after reading a story together.

Spielberg was able to capture how precious these moments he had with his Mother, even if they were simple activities.

I often reflect about what I would chose to do if I had just one day with a loved one who has passed. I think it would be very similar to the film. Being with someone you care about deeply and just connecting with them while engaging in the most basic activities that both of you enjoy.

On those days when I’m feeling like a victim of my circumstances, I do my best to take pleasure in the most simple activities with those who I love and care for in order to ground myself and re-calibrate my perspective so I can find gratitude where I am in this moment.

Maybe more is better, but from what I can tell, this can be more than enough. Is that another way of saying, we should seek balance in our lives? Possibly.

Working hard at something you like to do is good. But, is more better? Often times, we – especially as American’s – tend to believe that if a little bit of something is good, then more is always better when we should be seeking balance in other areas of our lives.

It may be because we have a tendency to look at others as competition rather than allies. Maybe we should be creating support groups and friends to help us diversify and explore.

There’s no doubt we can become experts in a specific field once we have committed the time to do so, but maybe we should be asking at what cost?

Most people who have athletic ability and play sports with any amount of success have several things in common. One of them is good foot work.

Whether it’s shooting the basketball, laying the ball up, throwing a football or taking a ground ball at second base, if our feet are not in the proper position and/or moving throughout the entire process, your chances of succeeding have just dramatically decreased. It starts with our footwork.

We can easily forget that because no one is looking at your feet. Their looking at the shot, the throw or the fielding of the ball. Who watches feet?

Often times, we can forget that moving our feet in life can produce the same successful results as on the field. We just have to keep moving them forward. Standing still is not going to get you the results you’re looking for. This is the ground work – the fundamentals – the foundation.

Without good footwork, our mechanics can break down and we can get frustrated with the whole process. Let’s work smarter not harder.