Merry Christmas

“Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad.” - John Greenleaf Whittier

For anyone celebrating this time of year, all the best to you, your families and friends. It will be a chance to renew yourself, to let the worry and stress of life be set aside for a short while. Let your world relax for a few moments.

• Afrikaans - Gesëende Kersfees
• Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
• Danish - Glædelig Jul
• English - Merry Christmas
• Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
• Finnish - Hyvää Joulua
• French - Joyeux Noël
• German - Froehliche Weihnachten
• Greek - Kala Christouyenna
• Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
• Irish Nollaig - Shona Dhuit
• Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
• Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
• Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
• Latin - Natale hilare
• Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
• Norwegian - God Jul
• Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
• Portuguese - Feliz Natal
• Russian - Srozhdestovm Kristovim
• Spanish - Feliz Navidad
• Swahili - Kuwa na Krismasi njema
• Tagalog - Maligayang Pasko
• Thai - Suksun Wan Christmas
• Vietnamese - Chuc Mung Giang Sinh
• Welsh - Nadolig Llawen

7 Minutes

Coming up, the day before Christmas. I've taken the past week off to prepare for the holiday season. I have also been finishing up work for different customers before many take off for their own holiday.

In these final days of 2006, my family and I have been blessed. We in turn have taken our good fortune and passed it on to others. Since it has been seven days off from writing, consider it my '7 Minutes' of reflection that I've written about before.

The seven days have been busy and full of figuring out how to help others. It has also been a week of passing on to our children, family and friends. The whole holiday season is one that you can use to bless others which in turn will be returned to you in time.

There will be periodic writings over the next week or so as I prepare for the new year. It will give me time to continue reflection and focus on my wife and family. Take time yourself to do the same, please come back to read more. Tell those that you think may benefit to come back and read. It only takes seven minutes of your time, '7 Minutes' of reflection to take your life to a whole new level.

Maya Angelou 'isms'

Today, I am sharing what I'll call Maya Angelou 'isms'. Bits of wisdom from an American poet and novelist.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow."

"I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."

"I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life."

"I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life."

"I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance."

"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back."

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision."

"I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one."

"I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone."

"People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back."

"I've learned that I still have a lot to learn."

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

Simple words of wisdom that all of us can learn from. If you only take a few of them, life for you and those around you will be better for it. Take a moment to turn your life from a negative tone into one that you can enjoy.

Take Lifes Opportunity

Winslow Homer - Four Leaf Clover

"Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets." - Unknown

At various points in your life, someone will enter or pass through your life. They will prompt you to move and take charge before you believe that you are ready. What do you do? You take hold of that opportunity is exactly what you should do.

Too many times we sit around trying to plan out every aspect of what will happen next. All in an effort to plan the perfect experience, plan the timing to meet all expectations or simply over thinking the decisions that have to be made. You can certainly perform 'due diligience' in making decisions, but you can certainly over think things as well.

With all of this planning and thinking and 'gnashing of teeth', opportunity will probably pass you by. The timing will never seem completely right, the opportunity will never seem completely right and you will likely never be 100% sure of your decision. But take it and run with it...the feeling of not being quite prepared or it being a bad time will make you work all that much harder to succeed in that opportunity.

It is said that "many an opportunity is lost because a man is out looking for four-leaf clovers." Always continue your search through the clover, but also take opportunity when it is presented to you. Chances are you will find a four-leaf clover amid the new opportunity.