Time Well Spent

“Time goes by so fast, people go in and out of your life. You must never miss the opportunity to tell these people how much they mean to you.” -Unknown

The year is drawing to a close and a new one quickly approaches along the horizon. We have done so much this past year, gathered new friends and greater purpose in our lives. We have also lost loved ones, missed opportunity and in some ways lost time.

“Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine; but lost time is gone forever” -Samuel Smiles

The older we become, the more precious this time becomes. Those in their younger years that realize how to make use of time early, find that they can accomplish so much more. Time given to others in love and friendship; time given to make their world a better place to live in.

As we hold onto these remaining minutes of 2008, think of what is to come in 2009. We are not given an eternity in this life. Find a way to use the time we do have such that you will not be grasping onto every final minute. So that time will have been felt well spent.
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Johann Pachelbel

Johann Pachelbel
1653-1706

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After Christmas Boxes

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up." - Allen Klein

Here it is, December 26th, the day after Christmas and also considered "Boxing Day" in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, certain areas of Australia.

It is health-wise a dangerous time for people vulnerable to cardiac problems, including heart attacks, arrhythmia's, and heart failure. The medical emergencies are referred to as Merry Christmas coronaries. People tend to indulge a bit much and the body can react in a 'not so favorable' way. So be careful in your celebrating by being aware of your eating and drinking.

It is also the day after all of the 'good feelings' and 'good intentions' of gathering. When the reality of a house full of family and friends can cause just a bit of anxiety or grief. The niceness of each of us begins to wear a bit thin and tensions can rise a notch.

In an article by Beth McHugh from a couple of years back called, "Coping with Christmas & Family Gatherings", she offers a few tips in dealing with the stress a holiday can bring.

I have shortened the description and encourage you to read the full article. My comments are in italics.

1. Take a leaf from the magazines and be prepared.
Prepare yourself in advance of the holiday. Don't wait until the last moment to be left looking for ideas for gifts, activities or things fill the day.

2. Look after yourself physically in the lead up to Christmas.
Do not try to 'over do it'; meaning moderate the eating and drinking and find time to relax and actually enjoy the day.

3. Plan something pleasurable to do on the day after Christmas.
The good feeling from a holiday should linger and allowing yourself the pleasure of something good the following day will help with relaxation.

4. Try to bear in mind the real meaning of Christmas.
There are religious reasons for celebrating Christmas as well as non-religious ones. Find the ones that make it meaningful and a time to reflect.

5. If you habitually come away from a Christmas family get-together feeling bad, then look at ways that you can make a difference to someone outside your family this Christmas.
Visit friends or find a charitable organization to help with Christmas meals or celebrations. Helping others that need it is one of the greatest gifts you can give.

This day after Christmas will be filled with a lot of different people doing a lot of different things. Just remember to keep the colors of Christmas Day in your heart and mind the day after Christmas and for all of the days that follow.
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Yes Virginia, There Is

Story is reprinted from Newseum

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
"Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
"Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
"Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

"VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
"115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
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