Christmas Days Before

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
― Bob Hope

Twas three days before Christmas, when all through the office not a computer was whirring, not even a mouse on a surface. The files were stacked on the desks with care, in hopes that quitting time would be there. Yes, a very quiet day at my office and many business offices around the world.

Many have taken the week off leading up to the Christmas holiday and those still working, the quiet is very nice both in terms of traffic and the general mayhem of a work day. The majority of mayhem is contained to the shopping malls and grocery stores as people make final preparations for the holiday.

In all of this madness, in all of this three days remaining before the Christmas holiday, let us not forget to have grace, kindness and love for those around and among us. Let us have a heart of goodness during the holiday season and throughout the year.

Stay inspired my friends!

Christmas Credit

"The fact is, nearly 75 percent of Americans who use credit cards make only the minimum payment each month. At that rate (minimum payments) you could spend the next thirty years paying back a $3,000 credit card debt and give the financial institution $8,000 worth of interest. It's the principle of compound interest in reverse." - Raymond McHenry

I hope I'm not too late with this post!

To all of those millions of people that use and live by credit cards, it is abundantly clear that we are prey to our own human nature. Credit card companies understand and exploit the mere fact that we are human.

Once you are approved for a credit card, which is quite easy to accomplish these days, they are betting on the fact that you will use that card. These companies are even more sure that you will not pay off your credit card each month.

This is where they make their money...interest charges.

It is those interest charges which begin to create a circle of debt that can make it nearly impossible to ever pay off a credit card. It is this constant debt upon which the companies make their money.

Now comes the rub, late fees.

Most late fees average around $34, instant profit to the credit card company and an addition to your balance collecting interest charges if you don't include that amount in your next payment. The pile of rocks (your debt) grows even higher.

How do you overcome the pitfalls of credit card usage?

Kristyn Kusek Lewis suggests these following tips.

* Remember a due date on your card statement is just that. A postmark date is not the same thing. Many card issuers impose ultra-specific cutoff times (American Express, in example, won't process some payments received after 12 noon in a customer's time zone until the following day), try to make your payment, by mail or online well in advance.

* One way to avoid going over your limit (and facing extra fees as a result): Go to the card company's website. Most will alert you via e-mail when you creep close to your cap.

* If you've historically been a good customer, it can't hurt to ask the customer service department to waive over-limit or other fees.

* Also, if your interest rate goes up, it's worth asking to have it lowered. A study by the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group found when cardholders requested a reduction, about 6 in 10 had their rate reduced at least a third with just one five-minute call.

What I caution everyone is to use credit cards with care.

Do not overuse them and keep them to a minimum balance. Cash is always better but use of credit can be useful. One good way to limit the need for credit card purchases is to pay yourself at each paycheck (10%) and build up your savings. This will cut down the need to use a credit card.

Lastly, read as much as you can about using credit and creating a savings account. Knowledge is power in many instances and the more you know, the better prepared you will be to handle your finances.

Again, I hope I'm not too late with this post!

Stay inspired my friends!

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.