This is so true. I think discipline is the key to being a true adult. I struggle with this all the time, but I overthink it. Really it’s more simple than we make it out to be, it’s just implementing it on a daily basis that sometimes is easy to fall away from. Great post!

I finished Lucia Lucia last night. Loved it. I will now have to seek out the series you mentioned.

Stephanie,
The series is older so you could probably find it at a library. If you like the NYC angle, her latest novel, Very Valentine, was also set in the city. I loved this book even more because I have visited many of the places she talked about in the book. Trigiani called in to my bookclub meeting and told us that she really lives in the awesome apartment she describes in the book.

This is so good. I have been working on my own discipline this past month or so — being more disciplined about leisure computer time so I can get my editing work done; disciplined about lifting weights 3x a week; disciplined about eating a salad for lunch every single day; disciplined about what I wear on my body and what it says about me.

What you said about being careful about what comes out of your mouth reminds me of sometime I read a long time ago about the three most important words in one’s marriage: “Don’t say it.” ;o) The “I love you” is obvious, of course, but when I think about it, there’ve been about a million times in 19 years where I’ve wished I’d told myself “Don’t say it” and regretted not having done so — but then there are about three million times when I remembered “Don’t say it” and was happier for it. The small, petty remark, the witty comeback that’s also vaguely insulting, the scorekeeping, the “I told you so” — they are so tempting sometimes, but don’t belong in a loving relationship. My husband and I have talked about whether a particular action brings love into our relationship, or discord — and which do we choose? And what we do in marriage is also a good model for our conduct in other relationship that’re important, I’ve found.

Anyway, didn’t mean to hijack! The idea of “Don’t say it” was triggered by your comments.

This may sound stupid, but post-it notes help me develop and reinforce good habits, like going to the gym regularly. I have three in plain sight about the gym, and I swear that seeing them dozens of times a day has affected me by osmosis.

Great subject today — lots of potential territory to cover.

Before we got married, a priest told me that the key to a good marriage was to remember five words “Be nice to each other.”
Now I will also remember those three words “Don’t say it.”
Over the years, saying “it’ has probably caused me more trouble than I care to admit.

Your last sentence is true for me as well, Kristi.

Ah well, we ARE working on our discipline, right?

It seems to be “in the air” today, because here is another blog posting on the very subject:

http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.com/2009/06/indecision-disparate-round-up.html

I loved this post and reread it throughout yesterday. Even when you think you have a bad habit licked, it can creep back up on you so easily.

I’ve been slack about my eating habits lately, and the same laziness is starting to creep into my exercise and writing. Thanks for reminding me that discipline makes life easier – not harder. It isn’t a bad word.

Marriagewise, I really took one of Anne Barone’s tips to heart – “Give up the need to always be right.” Both the dh and I have know-it-all tendencies, so it was tough. However, righteousness just isn’t worth bruised feelings.

That red T looks very chic – just relaxed, not sloppy or ill-fitting. The necklace pulls it together. As does your fabulous posture!

Love this post. I have been lacking discipline these past couple of weeks and I am starting to feel the effects. I have been so busy with work and family visiting that I neglected to take care of me. I need to return to sensible eating and exercise.

Lovely post regarding discipline, thank you. I have had an ambivalent relationship with discipline most my life. When I was younger I was disciplined to the point of being unhealthy and anal about it which resulted in self-loathing. Within the last 10 years, I’ve veered in the opposite direction. It solved some issues, but created others. Now I am working (feels more like struggling) to have a core of discipline enhanced with healthful spontaneity and all encompassed with a loving acceptance of myself as I am right now at every moment. My thought is that formula will result in tranquility (I hope