Christmas Learned Experience

“And if my heart be scarred and burned, The safer, I, for all I learned.” ― Dorothy Parker

Many things happen in life that we would just as soon not have to go through or deal with. It could be small minor things such as a flat tire, an expensive electric bill, or possibly a small stomach ache. There are also major ones in life such as job loss, divorce or death of a loved one.

There are many flavors in between all of the daily living we do.

We tend to focus on these bad things which happen to and while that may seem like enough, the television and newspaper stir up our lives with everything else. The good in life never seems to have a chance to surface and breath. The negative will always try to consume us until it feels like complete darkness.

The message remains that it is going to be okay.

When you fail at something, it is going to be okay. When you have issues going on in life, things will change. From failure or pain will be a new thing learned about yourself. There will be something you will learn from the situation, large or small.

That something can propel you to something greater.

If a person gets terribly ill and you have to face their death, remember the cycle of life will never end. Take from the experience what you learn or experience from having known the person. Turn that experience into a memorable and loving one.

Life occurs in cycles of good, bad and sometimes the ugly.

What we can do is not let the negative dictate our life. You are in control of your own attitude towards all the good, bad or ugly. The greatness comes from not allowing negative things in life to keep you down. Greatness comes from living life and knowing everything is going to be okay.

Stay inspired my friends!

Christmas Glow Stick

"Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart." - Washington Irving

So which type of holiday person are you? The "bah humbug" or the "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach" Ebenezer Scrooge from the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol?

This time of year, hardly any one of us would say we are the "bah humbug" version. What with the many gifts and cards we gather and give to others, it would be hard to imagine we are anything like a Scrooge. We are giving gifts as proof, correct?

The thing we must consider is "we are giving out of cheer and love for others", without any expectation of a gift in return? Or are we giving as a way to either receive a gift in return or as a penance for having been a Scrooge the rest of the year?

Giving to others both of love, time or gifts can be very liberating. It has been shown in research from the field of health psychology, that one of the best ways to rid ourselves anger and grief is to actively help others.

Science supports the assertion that "giving help to others measurably reduces the giver's stress; improves health and well-being in surprising and powerful ways; renews our optimism about what is possible; helps us connect to family, friends, and lots of amazing people; allows the deep, profound joy of our humanity to flow through us and out into the world; and improves our sense of self-worth."

There will be a glow of something that seems undefinable, but is quite evident coming from you. The hurt, grief or other gets broken inside and a glow begins to shine from inside of you. It is revealed in your eyes, your smile and in your words.

Consider those glow sticks that are used in a variety of ways. What happens when you break the stick? Of course, it glows and becomes a bright and radiant light.

Take what brokeness you might have and be a light that shines upon others not only during the Christmas holiday season but throughout the year. And stay inspired my friends.

Christmas Rush

“I’m in no hurry: the sun and the moon aren’t, either. Nobody goes faster than the legs they have. If where I want to go is far away, I’m not there in an instant.”
― Alberto Caeiro

The author Leigh Hershkovich has written “In the rush of life, it is quite easy to forget what’s important. As cliche as this is, it’s easy to take life for granted when you don’t have time to focus properly. It is only when life diverts from the ‘plan’ that we suddenly take time to see what is really important.”

A poignant and true statement of how easily we get wrapped up in trying to create a life instead of living our lives.

Not only do we speed about our day during the holiday Christmas rush, but most every day of the year we are pressing along faster and faster. No one is a stranger to this way of life. Multi-tasking with a cup of coffee in one hand, the other feverishly working the computer mouse; a day's worth of tasks to complete.

We rush through the grocery store shopping for the next holiday meal, all the while a cell phone is planted to our ear discussing even more plans. All of this having to occur before we pick up the kids, the dry cleaning or a day planner calendar.

A glance at the wall clock and wonder where the time went.

Have we forgotten how live life and are simply rushing around creating life instead? Do you ever slow down and enjoy longer moments or are those moments only fleeting? Can you slow down the rush of Christmas, of the month, the day or the hour and live what is important?

The maddening speed of Christmas is increasing even more as we near the actual day. Stop for a few minutes in your gift buying, in your perfect meal planning, in your party participation and reflect on the wonders of your life. Reflect upon the important things that will carry you to the end.

There is no need to reach the end in an instant. Enjoy this time, every day and the great and grand things in and about your life.

Stay inspired my friends.

Christmas Vibrations

"Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity."
~ Edwin H. Chapin

A cool way to explain what a vibration is in terms of human understanding is, "A note is a vibration that our eardrums pick up and sends to the brain. The brain perceives this vibration as a sound, which we label as a note."

The article above goes on to explain that depending upon the thickness of a string and how tight the string is will determine how fast it vibrates. Faster vibrations, higher notes; slower vibrations, lower notes.

Pretty simple music theory for sure but it illustrates what comes from the vibrations of a string, which are musical notes. But vibrations result in many different ways. There are physical movements you make, gestures and even the words coming from within you.

In its worst case;

- striking another abusively time and again vibrates for a very long time.
- never smiling at your children or chiding their lives with negative words.

These types of negative vibrations have a lasting impact. I call these vibrations the screeching, unpleasant musical notes in our life.

You can also create wonderful musical notes in your life. You can create great and wonderful vibrations every day;

- holding your partner's hand softly and walking quietly together.
- words of encouragement expressed your child.
- smiling when someone enters the room.

Vibrations that create a lasting impact, these will vibrate in beautiful composition throughout your life and well on in the memories of those you have touched. Put down your fist and anger. Remove the sarcasm and criticism from your speech.

It can begin now, during the holiday season. It can begin at anytime, it simply needs to begin. Create a wondrous vibration in your life. Create wondrous music which is your life.

Stay inspired my friends.