As you prepare yourself for the Christmas Holiday or even as you approach the new year, it is a good time to evaluate your life. I like to say that 'now' is the best time when you are making a decision to make change. But there are many people that use a calendar event such as the first of January.
So what are the things you should be thinking and preparing for? Here are three questions to ask yourself.
1. Where are you?
- Examine yourself, are you happy, do you have strengths and weaknesses, is your life the type of life you want it to be? You need to understand where you are and who you are to better equip yourself to succeed.
2. What do you see around you?
- Meaning what do you see for you, do you have a vision for your life, a goal or dreams. Why go anywhere unless you have a destination in mind. The same goes for success in your life. Unless you have a goal in mind, the journey has little direction.
3. What do you want?
- You have established a goal, a set of dreams and visions of what you want your life to be. So do you really want it? Do you wish to simply sit still and only dream and plan, never moving closer to realizing it? You have to be bold now and move towards that dream. One step, small or large it all begins with being bold enough to start it.
Your new year will bring many changes if only you take that first step. Be bold, I know you can do it because all of us have it in us. Goals and dreams are powerful motivators, let them drive you to a great life.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
Holiday Loneliness
The weeks go by so quickly during this holiday season. The rush at work to finish year end projects, the holiday shopping and simply too many things to do. So much that we have to do in our lives.
It is also a time to think of others, a time of the year to lift others. You can do so much to help others...invite them out for coffee or even over to your home for dinner.
If you are one of those folks that does experience loneliness for what ever reason, an article titled Loneliness and The Holidays offers some ideas. Remember, there are others out there to help you, but much of what we do in life comes from within. You have to make the first step to take yourself out of your condition.
- Be Good To Yourself
- Understand That You’re Not Alone
- Rethink Your Expectations
- Get Connected
- Give To Others
- Examine Your Feelings
Enjoy the holidays, immerse yourself in making it a little brighter for others and immerse yourself in stepping out of loneliness. Movement creates change.
It is also a time to think of others, a time of the year to lift others. You can do so much to help others...invite them out for coffee or even over to your home for dinner.
If you are one of those folks that does experience loneliness for what ever reason, an article titled Loneliness and The Holidays offers some ideas. Remember, there are others out there to help you, but much of what we do in life comes from within. You have to make the first step to take yourself out of your condition.
- Be Good To Yourself
- Understand That You’re Not Alone
- Rethink Your Expectations
- Get Connected
- Give To Others
- Examine Your Feelings
Enjoy the holidays, immerse yourself in making it a little brighter for others and immerse yourself in stepping out of loneliness. Movement creates change.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Giving Spirit
Here we are at the end of a holiday weekend here in the U.S. Our short holiday before the Christmas and New Years celebrations. There were many of course that had to work but hopefully many were able to spend a small amount of time with their loved ones.
To be thankful for all that we have is something each of us around the world should be. Taking time to think of all that we do have and not concentrate on what we don't have. For me, I'm thankful for the huge generosity of those around me. Those that are close friends and those that are coworkers, the ones that supported a donation effort.
A little over two weeks ago, I started a donation drive for members of an Army Signal Company (U.S. Army), which is currently in Iraq. My son is a member of that group and we were taking donations of items for the entire group. Items that bring 'home' a little closer and items that just say thank you for all that they do.
There are many varying opinions about our presence in Iraq and I'm not here to debate it. I'm here to simply state that there are many people here at home that are generous in their giving. We collected over 600 lbs of goods including snack food, toiletries, games, magazines and other items. There was also an outpouring of a monetary amount which enabled us to purchase a flat screen TV and game equipment.
People that I never knew came forward to help in this effort. One such person was a lady name Lisa. Her husband had been a member of a motorcycle club that supported veterans and he had served in the military himself. He died in November of 2006 (non-military) and in memory of his love for fellow man, she gave in generous kindness.
It is this wonderful giving and thoughtfulness on her part which sends my heart soaring. She is an example of all those that give. Giving to others, supporting others in a generous manner. Take time to be thankful for what you have and then turn that into a giving act. Find a cause or a reason to help another.
To be thankful for all that we have is something each of us around the world should be. Taking time to think of all that we do have and not concentrate on what we don't have. For me, I'm thankful for the huge generosity of those around me. Those that are close friends and those that are coworkers, the ones that supported a donation effort.
A little over two weeks ago, I started a donation drive for members of an Army Signal Company (U.S. Army), which is currently in Iraq. My son is a member of that group and we were taking donations of items for the entire group. Items that bring 'home' a little closer and items that just say thank you for all that they do.
There are many varying opinions about our presence in Iraq and I'm not here to debate it. I'm here to simply state that there are many people here at home that are generous in their giving. We collected over 600 lbs of goods including snack food, toiletries, games, magazines and other items. There was also an outpouring of a monetary amount which enabled us to purchase a flat screen TV and game equipment.
People that I never knew came forward to help in this effort. One such person was a lady name Lisa. Her husband had been a member of a motorcycle club that supported veterans and he had served in the military himself. He died in November of 2006 (non-military) and in memory of his love for fellow man, she gave in generous kindness.
It is this wonderful giving and thoughtfulness on her part which sends my heart soaring. She is an example of all those that give. Giving to others, supporting others in a generous manner. Take time to be thankful for what you have and then turn that into a giving act. Find a cause or a reason to help another.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Being Thankful
With the American holiday of Thanksgiving nearing, it is good to remember what this day is all about. On this day, people give thanks with feasting and prayer. The holiday is celebrated in the United States and Canada. Interesting enough, potatoes were note a part of the first celebration...Irish immigrants had not yet brought them to North America.
In America, the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving in 1621 after the first harvest and are generally considered the founders of this holiday. These were the folks that settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. But on December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers had arrived at Berkeley Hundred, about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607.
This group stated that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a "day of thanksgiving" to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf stated, "Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god."
Traditionally, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Yet, the first North American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578 when the English Navigator, Martin Frobisher, held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland. He did this to give thanks for surviving the long sea journey, and other settlers arrived in Newfoundland, and the tradition was continued by them. This holiday is held on the second Monday in October in Canada.
Regardless of who was first or where it occurred, the point is to take time out of your busy schedule to be thankful for what you have. It isn't a day of rest before going out the next day and spending all of your money. Take the day to reflect on all of the goodness in your life.
“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey
In America, the Pilgrims celebrated their first Thanksgiving in 1621 after the first harvest and are generally considered the founders of this holiday. These were the folks that settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts. But on December 4, 1619, a group of 38 English settlers had arrived at Berkeley Hundred, about 20 miles upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia was established on May 14, 1607.
This group stated that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a "day of thanksgiving" to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf stated, "Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty god."
Traditionally, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Yet, the first North American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1578 when the English Navigator, Martin Frobisher, held a formal ceremony in Newfoundland. He did this to give thanks for surviving the long sea journey, and other settlers arrived in Newfoundland, and the tradition was continued by them. This holiday is held on the second Monday in October in Canada.
Regardless of who was first or where it occurred, the point is to take time out of your busy schedule to be thankful for what you have. It isn't a day of rest before going out the next day and spending all of your money. Take the day to reflect on all of the goodness in your life.
“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey
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