I’m a Juster. There I said it. I’ve admitted it. I’m. A. Juster. Not to be confused with adjuster, although I can’t pass a crooked picture without straightening it (that is a whole other blog post). No, there’s a naughty word I use far too often which excuses what I should be doing.

‘I just have to start eating better’

‘I’m just too tired to exercise today’

‘I just need to finish this to-do list before….’

You get the idea.

The thing is I need to do, to make, to be. We all do. Yesterday I thought ‘I just need to finish the laundry and then I can enjoy my coffee and watch a movie.’ Why? Would it be the end of the world if I enjoyed my coffee and watched a movie and left the laundry for a couple hours? Let’s face it, I’m not going to let us go naked. It’s Canada. And it’s winter.

I think many of us use this four-letter-word to procrastinate. It’s a delay. People don’t just need to start being kinder. They DO need to be kinder. It’s the same thing as saying I’m just going to let the world pass me by. I’m just going to hope change will happen without me. I’m just going to wait until next time. I’ve just about had it with my justs!

I use the j-word when I’m afraid to take a step forward. I just don’t want blah blah consequence. I just need more time. The truth is I’m not ready. I’m scared.  And that’s okay.

I stopped myself this morning. I needed to get a writing project sent away. I just wanted to check it over… for the 1000^th time. I just wanted to get a few errands done first. Truth is, I was afraid to send it away. I risk criticism or…gulp…complete rejection.

But I sent it. Because by giving in to my just one more day…week…year…  I’m guaranteed to fail. I will not have giving myself the opportunity to succeed.

I can see my kids cringe when I use that word. Just a minute, just let me finish this… I throw it out there without truly listening to what they’ve said.  I might as well say, ‘your request – whatever it is –  is not as important as what I’m doing.’ It takes bravery to ask for what we want, the last thing I want kids to think is that their needs and wants will fall on deaf ears or that asking isn’t really worth it.

I just need to change that.

No. I DO need to change that.

Even better; I WILL change that.

Empower yourself. Watch your language. Don’t hide behind the j-word. Just one more cookie? No! It’s, Hell yeah I’ll have another of those bad boys! (Or hell no, have you seen my butt?) See the difference?

Don’t be a juster. Be a doer! Be a giver! Be a haver!