We’re all about choices this month and how the choices you make every day, in many ways determine what your life looks like.

I set aside the day to write. I get pulled in so many directions, that I have found I need to get away from the office to write. Luckily I have many picturesque cafes and coffee houses nearby and Village Baker (in the photo) is my choice today. I often leave my laptop behind and take pad and pen because they are comfortable old friends.

I saw one of my favorite journalists walking her dog but she seemed like she was having a “Zen” moment so I made the choice not to stop. But, seeing her brought a smile to my face and a sense of this wonderful community I’m lucky enough to live in.

When Joan Pleuss, our Nutrition Expert, sees this photo I know her eyes will be rolling skyward. But, rest assured Joan, the choice I made for breakfast this morning (a sticky bun laden with fat and sugar) is not my normal fare. And, it will “eat” up all my extra Weight Watchers points for the week! I did make the choice three weeks ago to banish caffeine and I feel much calmer, centered and in control.

I’ve talked about re-phrasing in a past column and I think our choices theme is a perfect time to remember that so often when we re-phrase, it empowers us. For instance, I could say I can’t have caffeine. But, rephrasing it, I choose not to have caffeine is closer to the truth. I choose to feel better and have made choices to ensure that I do.

I can say I have to exercise. Or, I can say I choose to exercise today. It, to me, is a much more powerful choice than an affirmation. For instance if I say, “I enjoy exercising every day!” my mind immediately says sarcastically, “Yeah. Right!” But, if I tell myself “I choose to “whatever,” I feel a sense of control and power.

Obviously, there are things that happen in our lives over which we have no control. But, even then we can choose how we react. I know a woman I admire very much who is quite ill. She not only faces her life with joy most days, but chose to allow some experimental treatments both to heal herself, but also to further the research to assist others with the same rare disease.

And, we don’t always have to choose to be brave and in control. Sometime we choose to fall apart and allow others to nurture and support us. We’re human, right?!

Think about the choices you make every day and how they affect your life. Maybe some of the choices we make each day are diminishing our quality of life. Do we choose to exercise, eat healthily, get up, take a shower, and dress to look our best? Do we choose to overspend or take control of our finances and save for that special vacation or pair of shoes? Do we choose to show our partners, friends, and family that we love them or do we take them for granted or worse? Do we choose to enjoy our homes by keeping them clean and ordered? Do we choose to support our communities and enjoy a richer life?

You get the gist. We are in control of the choices we make and those choices often determine the quality of our lives.

Recent studies show that those who choose to make several changes at the same time meet with even greater success than just choosing one thing at a time. You can choose to transform your life. Start by reading our Experts excellent columns. Choose to start making choices today that help you to move closer to the life you envision. Make the choice to start now. We’re here to help. And, we can all choose to help each other.