Mondays, New Year’s Day, the first day of the month. These are the most popular days to start a diet or to quit smoking or to begin a new habit such as getting more sleep or eating healthier.

And those are all commendable goals to strive toward.

But usually after a few days, a few weeks or perhaps even a few months, the motivation wanes. Old habits creep back in like a snack after midnight even though losing a few pounds was the goal or staying up late to watch your favorite show even though getting more sleep is needed.

Admitting defeat, you give up and call it quits. You failed, so there is no purpose in continuing. But this “all or nothing” mentality is not good in the long run…nor in the short run. Somewhere in the middle is O.K. because ultimately, something is better than nothing. 

For many of us, we like to have an impending start date such as the beginning of the new year or the start of the week. If so, use July 1 as a fresh start. Whereas January 1 is usually cold and dreary, July 1 offers sunshine and heat…lots of it. With July 4 falling on a Monday, use Tuesday July 5 as a starting point.

There is no reason a vow to eat healthier can’t start on a Tuesday. In fact, use that Monday to stock up on healthier snacks at work to prepare for the transition. Day-after-day of poor eating is not good for you but one day shouldn’t derail all your well-intentioned plans. Bonus: If you vowed to eat healthy during the week and have “cheat days” on the weekends, you only have to make it through four days before taking a break.

Just because you don’t get a good night’s sleep one night doesn’t mean you should resume staying up late every night. Resolve to get to bed earlier the next night. And five good nights sleep out of seven is better than nothing. 

Perhaps you know you should be saving toward something in the future, whether its a child’s college savings account or a new car or just an emergency fund. Every little penny adds up. And if there is a week that a “penny” can’t be set aside, so be it. Just resume putting those pennies in the jar the next week you are able.

Speaking of pennies adding up, the 2022 Big Give McCook isn’t until November but organizers are hard at work right now preparing for the one day of giving especially with a deadline quickly approaching. Any new non-profit organizations which have a presence in the area are eligible to join by July 5. Just go to biggivemccook.org to find the registration button.

The Big Give McCook is a great example of not succumbing to the “all or nothing” mentality. Organizations don’t expect donors to give all of their financial resources, but the non-profits cannot continue if nothing is given. 

Instead, the Big Give concept works because everyone can give something. And when all those donations are added together, the organizations are successful. 

The McCook Chamber of Commerce also recently overcame an “all or nothing” hurdle by opting to move its’ Crazy Days event last week, rather than cancel it.

Kudos to the McCook Chamber for its ability to quickly move the location of its Bash on the Bricks celebration. The event easily could have been cancelled simply because logistics were too much. Instead, everyone worked together to move the event and continue on because something was going to be better than nothing. And from comments heard afterward, the Bash was a success and something to be continued and built upon for next year.

And finally, the Culbertson Freedom Run is Monday, July 4th. Maybe a 5K run was on your to-do list this year but training hasn’t gone as planned - if at all - but that shouldn’t stop you from signing up for the race on Monday at 8 a.m. After all, it’s a great way to start off the holiday. Visit mccookymca.org to signup today.

Nowhere does it say anyone has to “run” the race. Walking is perfectly fine. Waddling, skipping, hopping. Those are all perfectly acceptable ways to cover 3.1 miles. Push a stroller. Bring the dog. If your cat is good on a leash, go for it. 

There is no time limit. Yes, the Culbertson Fourth of July parade starts at 10 a.m. but there is a scooter to pick up those people who simply can’t finish. And there won’t be an official time if you shorten the course by turning around early, but participants can return to the start line whenever they want, shortening the distance. Those on the course are still going further than those who never got off the couch. After all, there is never a perfect time, there is only now; and something is better than nothing.