Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus

"Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus."

Every year at this time, we start to question if there is any "good" left in this world. The stories regarding politics, the economy, wars and poverty seem to invade the daily news.

But I am here to say that there is quite a bit of "good" in this world. There are many people that make life a great thing to have. The human spirit remains bold and strong in wanting to do "good" everyday.

Whether you are black, white, Hispanic or Asian; if you are Heterosexual or not; if man or woman; rich or poor; there is "good" in life and in those around us.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts and souls or more people than not. So have a very Merry Christmas and remember all that is "good" in this world.

And stay inspired my friends.

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And now the letter.

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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.

Baking Up A Great Year-end

"Be happy with what you have and are, be generous with both, and you won't have to hunt for happiness." -William E. Gladstone

On a recent trip back to where I grew up, I had an opportunity to visit with family and friends. The town that I spent my early years is small in size but huge in heart. I guess you could say that of most any place, but it seems more so as these are the places I was a young boy.

My sister Pam took me out for coffee with her friends on a Saturday morning. The bakery in downtown Fremont is small, nice and comfy with the smells of fresh baked rolls and pastries. Alotta Brownies sits in the three hundred block of north Main Street. Just the sound of saying "Main Street" brings back wonderful memories. The conversation, coffee and cinnamon rolls pulled those moments from the back of my mind. If you ever happen through Fremont, Nebraska; take a moment to stop in and indulge your memories.

It was very shortly after the coffee and memories that I received a text message from my daughter Sarra. She was checking with me to ensure that I was going to make my annual Christmas batch of fudge. Why of course I am and somehow it has become traditional for me to do so.

I would really like to tell you that my fudge is the best in the world, top class and the thing that bakery chefs long to create. The fudge is typically good enough and I never seem to use the same recipe each year. I'm not creating a great fudge, that is for sure.

What I am recreating each year though is a tradition. It is something that will bring back memories for future generations when they smell fudge being made. When they wander into a bakery somewhere on their travels, a traditional memory will come flooding home to them. It will become a waypost in time as they make their way through life.

This time of year and in fact throughout the year, create traditions for those around you. These will be the lasting moments and memories that make the day easier. They are "you" living on within the hearts of others in the many years that will follow you.

And since tomorrow is Christmas Eve that will flow into Christmas Day, I want to wish all of my family, my sons, daughters, father, brothers, sister, in-laws and friends a Merry Christmas. There are those gone before us that I remember on these days as well; to all of them I have fond memories of many great past Christmas days.

And to you my friends out there, the happiest of Christmas Days and a safe holiday season. Stay inspired my friends.

A Void of Loneliness

"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty." -Mother Teresa

Yesterday I wrote nothing, I posted nothing and nothing was read on that day. It was a day meant to spark a feeling of "missing" something in your daily routine. When you are used to having words to hear from someone else, not having that creates a void.

There are thousands upon thousands of people in our world that are alone this holiday season. Some are by their own choice. Others are simply alone due to circumstance. Many are by themselves due to death, divorce, or any of a number reasons.

Two things can happen which will fill the void of loneliness this holiday season. The emptiness can be filled throughout the year. It can change "two lives" in the blink of an eye. And it starts with simply connecting with each other. By simply acknowledging others around us, sharing a smile, saying hello or Merry Christmas. A spark of warmth will light a fire that chases the cold loneliness away.

If you are that person feeling lonely, there are tips and ideas to get you moving. One such tip is to "stop being lonely by reaching out to people." Pretty simple and probably easier said than done. In an article by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen, this one tip about basic human contact starts to break down loneliness.

Laurie says that something as simple as chatting with the barista in a coffee shop can help with separation loneliness. It is connecting with others that slowly dissolves and brings you into a great new world. there are other tips in the article, but as I started out, it starts with connection.

Those of you that are not lonely can also have an impact on the lonely. It begins by reaching out to others you normally wouldn't. Again, its about making connections and can start with just a small gesture. In an article on the subject of loneliness, it indicates that a small gesture (an offhand invitation to lunch), is often the better antidote. A simple connection, a simple act of kindness extended into the void of someone's loneliness will begin to fill their life.

Loneliness comes in many different forms and becomes very heightened during a holiday season. The weight of feeling lonely can be crushing and the only way to lift it is with two people. A connection is made and things begin to change.

Don't let another holiday pass by in a void of loneliness. Fill it with connections and AVoid loneliness in your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Families Made Of Love

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces." -George Santayana

Yes, the last 50 years have seen a huge rise in divorce with the U.S. having the highest of any industrialized nation. Cohabitation rather than marriage, "blended" families of both gay and heterosexual design, and children born out of wedlock are common these days.

But regardless of what the family looks like today, how you live and nuture each other within the confines of that matter greatly. We each have defined roles that determine the structure of each family. The parents, the children and the love that exists within are the things that make a family.

We may not have as many "traditional" families as once there were, but families can still exist and do in many of the different forms. As long as there is love, respect and nuturing within those walls, the family will continue to exist.

As I returned from visiting my siblings and father, it has made me think about these words. We grew up in a traditional family and around non-traditional families. My wife and children make up the strings of a blended family that bind together a family put together by a marriage after divorce. We are a family many would consider oddly formed, but it is solid and filled with love.

Both types of family units have taught me quite a bit about life, about raising children, and about the love that binds us together. With love we can and do overcome the squabbles, the hurt feelings, and any other obstacles that get in the way. It is love that fills the voids and makes a family what it is.

So as you gather with your own family, make love the greatest part of your gathering. Hug each other. Say "I love you" to each other. Love the moments no matter what type of family you have.