We’ve all seen the pattern. Things begin and end. We begin again. This may mean starting your exercise again or dieting. You may find yourself smoking again and have to make a promise to yourself that you’ll quit. You may have quit drinking and need to jump back on the wagon. You might have sworn you’d be kinder and nicer to people and lost your temper. Fortunately, you’ve got a second chance.

Sometimes, it’s out of your control. The weather changes and a beloved plant dies. What do you do? Plant again! Dig in and sow new seeds. Get your hands dirty. The effort you expend will make you feel good. And, it will pay off. It may take a while for those seeds to sprout and grow. But, they’ll grow. Your psyche will improve right away. The plant may take a while to come back, but in time, it will.

Other times, you were the culprit. You gave in to desire. You convinced yourself it was OK to stop stretching before or after a run. You ate some junk food. It didn’t show right away, but the habit eventually displayed itself with a sore tendon, causing your runs to be painful. Or, your physique lost tone because of the junk food. There’s hope! You can change it. And, you’ll notice you’re happier as soon as you start.