
As the calendar transitions into 2020, I find myself setting intentions for the year (and years) ahead. I see it as an opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge all that the past has taught me and to carry those lessons forward so I can move in the direction of my most meaningful life.
With that in mind, I invite you to join me in stepping into the new decade with a positive outlook.
Let’s start with gratitude and count our blessings for all we have: for all the goodness that is around us in our daily lives; for those who teach us and support us and are there for us no matter what; for the opportunity we have each day to wake up and start again.
Let’s focus more on what we can influence and change and less on what’s beyond our control. Let’s find ways to minimize distractions so we can pursue and make progress toward our deepest passions and biggest goals.
Let’s have confidence in ourselves, our own actions, and our ability to independently pursue our ambitions. Let’s trust in our potential — and believe that, with the right resources and knowledge, we’re capable of achieving anything and everything we set our minds to.
Let’s be respectful in our words and actions. Let’s give others the benefit of the doubt, recognizing that most of us are doing the best we can with our given circumstances. Let’s focus more on our similarities than our differences, and more on what people are doing right than what we perceive as wrong. Let’s seek common ground. Let’s love and respect those with different viewpoints.
Let’s protect the earth and all the people and creatures living on it. Let’s own the responsibility of caring for this precious planet we call home and work together to find innovative solutions for the challenges we face as its inhabitants. Let’s make it a better place for everyone who’s here now, as well as for future generations.
Let’s love one another in spite of and because of our differences in race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and age. Let’s embrace what makes us unique — in body, mind, and spirit — and be role models for love and respect. Let’s show one another and our children how to love unconditionally and inclusively.
Let’s infuse positivity and encouragement into everything we do: in how we speak, write, and think (about ourselves and one another). Our thoughts influence our feelings, which guide our actions. With an optimistic mindset, we can bring good to all we do in this world. And there’s a lot we each can do.
What would you add to this list? I’d love to hear the intentions you’re setting for yourself for the new year and new decade. Feel free to share them with me at bakradi@lt.life.
In the meantime, my wish for the world and all of us is more peace, unity, thoughtfulness, care, and love. I believe we can get there.
Happy New Year to each and every one of you.
Bahran, congratulations on building a business on quality of life and high value. Your business is a great case study of customer’s having many lower cost options choosing Life Time recognizing the high value and better meeting their needs.
We are members at Life Time in Westwood MA where the staff does a great job providing a clean, active and enjoyable environment. One of our goals for 2020 is to continue to live a heavily lifestyle and use more of what Life Time has to offer.
Hello Bahram Akradi,
I just joined Life Time in January and love your place. I have one request I want to make to you. When I workout I like to watch the news. I like to watch Fox News or OAN news. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks
Peter Thomas
Mr. Akradi, Happy New Year to you and your family. Your thoughts on a new year and decade I share as you touch on all that is important in a challenging world where there is more to celebrate than complain about that which may divide us. As I read your thoughts, I see your goals and values in your team that serves our community of Des Moines. You have assembled a group of associates who embrace your values and your successes in our city as well as your plans for growth do not seem accidental. It doesn’t just happen without reflection on what our core values should be to each of us. Those may well differ but I believe it starts with feeling good about ourselves and the small things like a friendly hello or a smile. The little considerations for others before self do not go unnoticed. Thank you for investing in our community with not only financial resources but with a mindset of self improvement, care and collaboration with others to improve ourselves and with a sense toward positivity. You have quite the exemplary organization! Congratulations and all the best to you and your family in 2020. Cheers!
Outstanding article and advice.
Nicely said. Fully concur. Glad I joined this club in April 2019!
You for got to say:
Let’s wipe the sink area after you use it, so the person that uses it after you does not have a wet dirty mess around the sink.
This piece is soul-nourishing and carries a sense of grace-in-living. Thank you.
All of that is great but you keep raising my dues and I’ve been a member ,a founding member for nine years.. Sooner or later you will start to lose me and plenty of other members because to pay almost $200 a month for one person is ridiculous..
Well said. I appreciate the all encompassing reflection, to include societal issues, generational ones, spiritual ones and environmental. This puts fitness somewhere in that list, but not the only thing on that list. So easy to focus on fitness, because it seems to be the most tangible. But like you expressed, there are so many other what’s we can contribute to having a better quality of life for ourselves and others!
As a grateful founding member of the Folsom Lifetime Facility I had an unfortunate incident tonight at the gym, upsetting enough to prompt writing this to you.
As my usual I love to use your rowing equipment. I went in at 6:30pm and began my workout, all the rowers were empty. About 15 min into my routine I was stopped by a Lifetime member, Patrick, and asked to get off the machine as a class was about to begin. No sign had been posted. He said either join the class or get off. I got off, found a manager and explained what happened. Together we went back, he and Patrick spoke briefly and then they rather reluctantly allowed me to resume my workout. I got back on the empty machine only to get the evil look for the rest of my workout.
For the first time, I had a bad experience at your facility and honestly, It ruined my night.
I later found out a bit later it was “commitment day” and the goal was to get new members working out. This goal however, came at the expense of treating a long standing member in a disrespectful manner.
Thank you for letting me vent. Again up to this moment I have been nothing but happy with your facility. This however was a terribly embarrassing and frankly degrading incident for me.
Sincerely
Christian Swanson
Folsom, CA
916-765-2280
I have been a member of Life Time since 2004. Since that time period, I have had a heart attack, actually at Life Time, I’ve had both knees replaced and just 6 weeks ago my left hip replaced. I am 78 years old and yet I still try to get to Life Time twice a week and workout on the plate machines for a minimum of 2 hours each day I am there. I still work full time so I can only get there in the evening. I am a former Naval Officer and served in Underwater Demolition Team 12 and SEAL Team 1, both in Vietnam. MY QUESTION IS SIMPLE, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO OFFER THOSE OF US THAT ARE SENIORS A “SENIORS DISCOUNT” and or a Military Discount like so many other facilities do.
Thank you for your attention,
Fred Kaiser
Great message – thank you!
Well said 😊 and I thank you for Lifetime Fitness gym. I joined earlier in the year and could not be happier. I am inspired and healthier and look forward to 2020!
Your comments and recommendations are incite full and I am very happy to the part of the Garden City Lifetime community.
I do recommend adding more bathroom outdoors as I witnessed an inpatient grown male walk to the back of the outdoor cafe and go to the bathroom as he didn’t want to wait his turn or walk back indoors.
Our monthly dues was increased without any upgrades so this bathroom would be very much appreciated.
Happy New. Year.
I have been a member for four years now and am quiet happy with the trainers and my progress in losing weight and feeling stronger. I do have some impute that I would like to share. We just had some upgrade done to our location,Burr ridge. One of the upgrades was the locker locks were changed to combinations. These might be nice for key loss, but for seniors its hard on the eyes, and locker location because the lack of key tags. I wonder how many times lockers are opened because members cannot remember their combination or there locker number. It would be nice to have some lockers with keys. Another concern I have is the cleanliness. The locker room has Q tips and razor covers on the floor of showers and main locker room floors. Also, do to winter, members are coming in with their workout shoes on, trailing salt on their shoes into the work out area. maybe something can be done about this. Thank you for the chance to express my observation.
You are an awesome person and I admire you greatly. I hope all the world will hear your message and think more like you do. Thanks for all you do for so many people.
Well thought out and beautifully written!
Lifetime you are my happy place
Tku!
Can you explain why at least one highly publicized event my gym, Lifetime Folsom, was sponsored by Juul in 2019? Seems to contradict the company’s emphasis on healthy lifestyles. Also, I didn’t appreciate being faced with a huge CBD product advertisement as soon as I walked into the gym. What’s up with the drug and marijuana product promotion? It leaves me with the impression that the company cares more about lucrative advertising income than members’ health.
How come the Rochester Hills facility will not accept my United Health Care ( AARP) benefits when United just came out with a new program ( January 2020 ) called ” pay no more ” regarding the insurance beneficiary. This means that they would pay all of my membership dues. Please advise.Thank you.
Well said!! Thank you for Lifetime. It is an asset to Folsom and our lives.
Happy New Year Mr.Akradi,
The New Year intentions you mentioned above are the best thoughts and actions anyone should be doing every day and every minute of their life.Thank you for sending such beautiful thoughts and as you mentioned, if each and every person did all these, the world would definitely be a better place.
Our family has been members of lifetime for over three years now and we love everything about it.
Thank You.