New Beginnings

Discovery of America by Salvador Dali

"The beginning, is half the whole." - Aristotle

Last night I was a volunteer in the kids rooms at our church for Wednesday night service. Every fifth Wednesday, the regular volunteers get a break (same thing on every fifth Sunday) and others within the church are called into duty.

I'm not sure what it is, but my wife and I get placed in the infant room each time. It is always a struggle for me leading up to it, but once I get situated it all works out just fine. The idea of herding little infants (up to one year olds) can be an overwhelming thought for some of us.

With two of us working the room with six kids, our work was cut out for us. There was the quiet and content Isaiah; the 'its been a long day' Saxton; sweet and happy Katherine; the inquisitive Kent; 'wow whats that' Langdon; and finally 'everything goes in the trash can' Nolan. Each have their own wonderful and distinct personalities which are slowly beginning to evolve.

As I watched...ok, herded...these kids around, it occurred to me that this is really just a very small start for them. Their lives are just in the very early stages of development with a huge world of opportunity before them. They will be shaped by all that is around them and all that they do. We would say these kids can be anything they want to be.

Yet we can say the same thing about ourselves. In your twenties, forties, sixties, older or somewhere in-between, a new beginning is possible. We each may feel that we are in the 'whole of our life' and that we are past the opportunity of new change. Nothing could be further from the truth, a new beginning can take place at any point along the timeline of our life.

All we have to do is have the courage to try something different. An infant attempts new things out of new born curiosity. They reach out to discover possibility in their ever expanding world. My thought to you is to take your well-learned life and attach that new-born curiosity to it. You will see things in a whole new light and change will once again become possible.
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Stand By Me

Your day can drag on in what seems like a 'you against the world' type of atmosphere. All that you try to do is a lonely uphill battle with no end in sight. You tell yourself that if you try hard enough, you can accomplish it on your own. This can be true at times but is not always the case.

The great thing about our human existence is our connection to other people. There are others that will stand by us and help steady our climb. They offer encouragement, a helping hand or the means to keep moving. As coincidence may have it, a friend of mine sent me the following video.

I was in the middle of writing this article at the time and his email came to me titled, "Something to smile about ..." It is a video put together from street performers around the world performing the classic Ben E. King song, "Stand By Me."



It can put a smile on your face and one of the things to take away from it; we can all stand together, help each other and empower each other to make it in life.
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Expect the Unexpected

EXPECTATION by Gustav Klimt

"If you do not expect the unexpected, you will not find it; for it is hard to be sought out, and difficult." - Heraclitus of Ephesus

All of us have expectations in life. We expect,

- our kids to be good
- our marriage to be wonderful and exciting
- our jobs to be enjoyable and well paying
- our health to be good with little suffering
- our car to always function properly
- our retirement to be well funded and relaxing
- our death to be pain free and peaceful

But having an expectation and actually having it happen requires some level of work on our part. Many of the above expectations do not simply 'occur' to our benefit. They require that we put time and effort into achieving each of them.

Achievement in each of these or many other areas of our life depend upon us having some level of expectation. Expectation is the yearning for something that we either dream of or envision for our life. It drives us to attempt and reach a goal.

It is with this expectation that we learn to "expect the unexpected" that life will either throw at us or give to us. You can't plan for it, but you can accept that the unexpected will happen. While we tend to accept that bad things will happen, we should put as much effort into believing that unexpected good things will happen as well. If you concentrate on the bad things, you are going to miss the good things that will happen.

So 'expect the unexpected good' that will happen in your life. Move forward towards your dreams and envision the outcome. Before you know it, the reality will occur.
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Vacation Day

“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.”
-Robert Orben

Yes - nothing today as I'm on vacation. Attending a Golf Tournament, not playing but sitting and watching for a "hole-in-one" at the thirteenth hole. Its a tough job but someone has to do it.
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Earth Is Under Attack

What was old is once again new. Back on October 30, 1938, Orson Welles performed a radio show about aliens attacking earth. It was based upon a novel written in 1898 by H.G. Wells called The War of the Worlds.

It scared thousands of listeners, mostly those who tuned in late. Each thought it was a live news broadcast of a real invasion. It was estimated by a Princeton psychologist in a study of mass hysteria, that 2 million people were alarmed into thinking an alien advance was happening.



Orson Welles said, "Radio in those days, before the tube and the transistor, wasn't just a noise in somebody's pocket - it was the voice of authority. Too much so. At least, I thought so. It was time for someone to take the starch out of some of that authority: hence my broadcast."

Now take a look at the social media outlet called Twitter. A micro-blogging application that is very popular. I myself 'tweet' quite a bit, almost to a point of obsession some might say. Twitter and similar web applications can be great sources of news informations, general information, the mundane and even breaking news.

But Twitter or "tweets" can be misleading as well. With the ability to 're-Tweet' other peoples comments, a statement of 140-characters or less can spread like wild fire. It is not that much different from Orson Welles radio prank. Think of where one person tells a story and passes it along; the story changes. But with Twitter, the re-Tweet repeats the same message over and over until people take it as truth.

You don't have to be skeptical to the point of obsession. Just remember to get the full story first. If Orson Welles were alive today, he might adjust his quote and say, "Twitter these days, isn't just a noise in somebody's pocket - it is the voice of authority. Too much so. At least, I thought so. It was time for someone to take the starch out of some of that authority: hence my tweet!"

Enjoy the technology that is out there, but don't lose common sense over what you read. For that matter, check what I've said.
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Earth Day

Yes, today April 22 is "Earth Day".

Are you doing anything even in the smallest way to acknowledge our stewardship of the planet for future generations? Regardless of how one might feel about global warming, my whole belief is that its about 'quality of life' for present and future generations.

All that we do while here on earth is about stewardship in a reasonable and smart way. All it takes is doing the small things which collectively add up to large things.

Some of those small things;

- No-Print Day
Surprising how much paper we could actually do without.

- Turn off your computer while on lunch break
Saves energy and money.

- Use your own mug & utensils
Means less Styrofoam & plastics thrown away.

- Skip the elevator if you can
Less energy again and better health for you.

Sensible things we can each do, not only today but each day.

Writers note: The only hard part about posing for the picture above was holding my arms that high in front of a green screen while kneeling in a loin cloth. Really, I'm not kidding!
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The Reason

Believing in a vision is so important. So what is my reason for writing? After all, I try to be a good person every day. I try to encourage people as much as I can when they need it. Isn’t that enough to satisfy the motivational and inspirational needs of others?

It could be enough, but it isn’t enough because I know that I’m capable of more. My own vision is to inspire others to greatness in as many ways as possible. But to fulfill my vision, I have to extend my reach in as many different ways as possible.

Why is this vision the one I have many will ask? It actually forced me to think about it and to write it down. It also happened innocently enough when someone asked, "Why do I bring Christianity into my writing?" It was an odd question because rarely do I speak as if a preacher conducting a revival.

In fact I am always cognizant in "walking the line" of secularism and my religion. I understand there are many people that have different belief systems or non-belief systems as others may say.

In thinking about the question though it occurred to me that maybe it is the writing that brings out my Christianity. The way I write might be exposing my belief system to others. It was likely this exposure the individual was asking about.

There are two things that explain why I do this.

One is that my intent is not to "preach" and "convert" all people through my writings. It may come out in my writing, but it is what I grew up in and is a learned belief.

I am also proud of my beliefs and unashamed to say so. Yet I am not a religious scholar and in no way could I ever pretend to be one. So relax, I'm not here to lay hands on and convert the masses.

The second thing I want to express is that my writing is really about giving one or many people just a bit of encouragement. It is my way of saying, "sure, we all struggle and want a better life." I can not guarantee anything nor will life in general, but many times all we need is just a word or two that gives us the extra push to succeed or get over a difficult time.

But of course this leads to another question, "what am I selling then?" My response is that we are all selling something; a product, a service, a belief or ourselves.

But it isn't about the money, which in deed any money I do make goes to a non-profit organization. The money has been very small but the responses I get from people are really what I earn. Those that respond with a simple, "thank you, I needed those words today" are profit.

It also energizes me into knowing that I am doing some level of good. You see, it was the few simple words of encouragement from others that pulled me through really tough times. Each of us comes through change and it only takes some encouragement from others to push us through.

So my hope is that people keep reading and get some level of encouragement from the words. If it makes a difference even in the smallest of ways, then I am happy for you.

Thank you and remember;

"Believe in your vision, act upon that vision and then realize the vision."

Seven Minute Workout

Attempting to get back into the swing of things after being sick the last three days. But it gave me a chance to catch up on some reading and found the following advice from Dr. Mehmet Oz. It is simple advice for those of us that simply don't exercise as much as we should. The clip below appeared in the April 2009 Esquire magazine along with some other very good articles on health.


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The Passion

Holbein's "The Passion of Christ" - 1524

Here it is, Good Friday, a noted and important religious holiday. It is primarily a Christian rememberance of the crucifixion of Jesus. Since I am certainly not a religious theologian, I will not pretend to teach anyone of the theology behind this holiday.

What I can do is tell you that everyday is a day to be remembered. There are both good and bad days which mark your own life's journey. Some may say, why remember a death of some person from so long ago?

But why then do we remember Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, any number of saints or other political figures? It is because their life had meaning and purpose for us. We both honor and take time to remember how these people impacted our lives. That impact may not seem obvious, but each created change that lives on today.

Your life has a lasting impact on others as well. It is very likely that you will not have a holiday named in your honor, but others will remember you. So this Good Friday, we will remember the death of Jesus, but also remember those that have had an impact in our lives.

Have a Good Friday everyone; enjoy a reflective and peaceful Easter weekend.
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A Simple Life

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." - Henry David Thoreau

I happened upon a blog post by "Wat da Wat?" during a recent trip around the Internet. The article speaks to "living the simple life" and what it means to the writer. I liked the self-reflection and search that was undertaken.

Each of us are searching for our own view of a 'simple life' as well. Those views remain different and are very personal. The idea is that you seek out the balance you want for your life. By having a better understanding of what you want in life, you will be able to discard that which isn't needed. What remains is your definition of simplicity. It all becomes clearer.

The simple life is what you make it. The same thing goes for a great life, it is what you make it. Imagine, dream and act upon what you want. Life will become much simpler as you figure it out...it always does.
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Where is Matt?

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I have always liked this video because it simply makes you feel good after seeing it. The guy in this, Matt Harding started out with seemingly little ambition. But soon he learned that there had to be more, so he caused movement in his life. He got up and decided to do something different.

The video came about innocently enough in that while traveling with a friend, they got a bit silly and taped Matt's impressive dancing ability. They posted it on the internet and a large company saw; liked it; made Matt an "offer he couldn't refuse".

So there you have it, something to make you smile a bit more today but also something to encourage you to create change in your life. Dance away friends.
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Should You Stop

As I was reflecting on what to write today, I kept glancing towards a Witness Subpoena sitting on the desk before me. It is a court request for me to appear as a witness in a trial regarding an accident in which a motorcyclist was killed.

The accident happened nearly two years ago and the court date delayed several times. My part is that it happened in front of me and I assisted as much as I could. It was the proper thing to do in assisting both the victim and the other party. Simply put, it was a tragic accident that changed forever not only their lives but for those near to them.

But as I look at the subpoena, it occurred to me that I was becoming perturbed by the delays and 'inconvenience' all of this causes me. I had to stop and examine those thoughts. Is this why many people do not stop and assist others in need? There were many that left the scene of the accident, not wanting to involve themselves. I began to wonder if it was worth my effort.

It shook me back into reality, the understanding that it was the right thing to do. It may inconvenience me, but people's lives were at stake then; people's lives are at stake now. I think of both these people, one that died, one that survived and wish that things could have been different. Two minutes later leaving the house for one, having another cup of coffee or any of a hundred different scenarios. But fate brought these two together and nothing can change that now.

I will attend and give my witness statement, other evidence will be brought forth and lives will be changed once again. Yes, the accident did change me in ways but it did not change my belief that stopping to assist someone in need is the right thing to do. I would have wanted someone to stop for me and I am sure that you would have as well.
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The Project

"I'm not in a hurry to do a lot of projects. I am very resolved in each project I take on." - Maya Lin

Your life is your project whether you want to realize it or not. It take four facets in order to get ahead and move forward in life. These are shown above and mean so much when it comes to seeking a great life.

The first one is to "DREAM" of what you want in your life. Great things in life do not normally just fall in your lap. That which you want is very personal and has to be something that you will hold onto as your very own.

Secondly, you have to "BELIEVE" in yourself and what you want in your life. It takes work to hold tight to that which you want. When other people are not providing encouragement or work to ridicule you, hang on and believe in yourself.

A third item is to "ACT" upon what it is you need. Sitting at home wishing and dreaming will not get you closer to the dream. It takes movement or action by you to begin working towards that dream. If its a new home, the simplest action might be to start saving extra money each week. Maybe it is to change jobs, then career training might be the right 'action' to take.

The last thing is to "REALIZE" your dream. It will happen and you will achieve great things. It is very possible that the final achievement may not be exactly what you first envisioned. Yet the end result will be exactly what you needed.

And when the dream is realized, dream again and again and again. Never stop moving forward in life. Enjoy and achieve all that you can. It is possible and it all starts with the sparkle of a dream.
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Ebb and Flow

Ebb & Flow - Mary Wagstaff

William Shakespeare wrote in "Loves Lost Labour"

"As true we are as flesh and blood can be:
The sea will ebb and flow."

Ebb and flow is the flowing out and in of the tide. The physical happening of water flowing in and out. The wave "flows" into the beach and then "ebbs" back out into the vast waters of the ocean. The movement causes changes to the shore in small and sometimes in large ways.

There are sea shells left deposited for wondering eyes to search out and treasure. Gentle layers of sand are slowly shaped and carried back out to sea. It is a constant and almost imperceptible change.

There are then the major events in which a strong storm surge violently attacks the beach front. Wide swaths of beach are reclaimed by the sea, sand castles destroyed and the landscape changed forever.

Our lives and those around us are impacted by the 'ebb and flow' of connections between each of us. Our daily life with family and friends are constantly being affected by relational ebb and flow. Our words and actions that may seem mundane have a long term affect. We either leave small jewels of goodness or take away in a selfish manner. The 'beach' we have established with another person can change over time.

At times there may be a large storm within those relationships where lives can be turned upside down. Homes can be destroyed and the landscape of our existence can change forever.

If you build a strong base and take care of it, the home (relationship) can remain standing even after the storm subsides. It is for us to understand the 'ebb and flow' that is occurring in our own life. By doing so, we can strengthen the foundation of our connections with others. In turn, when a storm comes along, we are better prepared to overcome the fury.

"As true we are as flesh and blood can be: the sea will ebb and flow."
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April Fools Day Quotes

(Image from Nova Reinna)

No one will take me serious with anything I write
today anyway. So here are some famous quotes by other
folks. Enjoy, reflect and enjoy the day!

April 1. This is the day upon which we are reminded of what
we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.
~Mark Twain

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
~Chinese Proverb

If every fool wore a crown, we should all be kings.
~Welsh Proverb

I hope life isn't a big joke, because I don't get it.
~Jack Handey

We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.
~Japanese Proverb

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people
all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.
~Abraham Lincoln

The trouble with practical jokes is that very often they get elected.
~Will Rogers

A man always blames the woman who fools him. In the
same way he blames the door he walks into in the dark.
~Henry Louis Mencken

A common mistake that people make when trying to design
something completely foolproof is to underestimate
the ingenuity of complete fools.
~Douglas Adams

It is the ability to take a joke, not make one,
that proves you have a sense of humor.
~Max Eastman

I have great faith in fools;
self-confidence, my friends call it.
~Edgar Allan Poe

Suppose the world were only one of God's jokes, would you work

any the less to make it a good joke instead of a bad one?

~George Bernard Shaw
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Small Acts of Gratitude

I was reminded the other day about my son's service in the military. He spent 15 months on a base outside of Tikrit, Iraq serving in the U.S. Army. The tasks he was trained for required travel into the countryside, to smaller bases and in the training of Iraqi personnel. This exposed him as it does thousands of soldiers each day to the possible violence that can occur.

It is his service and the service of hundreds of thousands of other military personnel that are helping a country rebuild itself, for which I am thankful. The political debate can take place in other forums of discussion, yet it is in my heart to know that military personnel are simply doing their job and doing it well.

And so it is with that, I thank them. You also have a way to thank service men and women when you see them in public. A very simple and easy way is by giving the 'gratitude' sign to military personnel. It is similar to the 'thank you' sign, but many folks may have a tough time giving a 'blowing kiss' sign to the military.

In the 'gratitude' sign language, you can use both hands or a simple one-hand indication. The idea is to simply sign a non-verbal symbol of thanks to those in the military for their service. I'm thankful to my own son for his service and to the many others. I thank you for thinking of them as well.

"That best portion of a good man s life? His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love." - William Wordsworth
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Send In The Clowns

Today is about forgetfulness, the kind that a sibling shouldn't have but does in a hectic life. Okay, now I'm starting to make excuses. It was A. A. Milne that said, "Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” Well that is what I did a couple of days ago, started to think about calling my brother on his birthday and then....

What was it I was talking about again? Oh yeah, my brother John's birthday. Being that he is six years older then me, forgetfulness should be more akin to someone his age than mine.

So without further ado and before I forget again,

Happy Birthday To You, a few days ago !!
Happy Birthday To You, a few days ago !!
Happy Birthday dear John, a few days ago !!
Happy Birthday To You, a few days ago !!

Okay, I've paid my penance. Can I have my marbles back now?

P.S. Do clowns still bother you?


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St. Patricks Day

It was a fine day for the Irish in all of us, St Patricks Day - Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig.

From Wikipedia: Legend says that Patrick banished snakes from Ireland, though all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolized as “serpents”. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of 'three divine persons in the one God'

So I celebrate my mother's heritage which is mine as well and raise a pint to all and say, 'Sláinte chuig na fir, agus go mairfidh na mná go deo.' In other words, "Health to the men, and may the women live forever!

Erin Go Bragh
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Thank God Its Friday

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies;
but let the thankful heart
sweep through the day and,
as the magnet finds the iron,
so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward Beecher

This cartoon caught my eye and got me to thinking about being thankful in life and being able to express it. It seems to be the only phrase that a majority of people are willing to use the name 'God' openly. Most everyone of us has said it, "Thank God Its Friday" at some point in our life.

The words are simple and meaningful in expressing an idea that you have been able to make it through a work week. It is an open expression to God thanking him for helping you accomplish so much. Also, for getting you to the weekend where you can relax from the toils of your job.

What I find more important though is to find things to be thankful for through out the week. The idea of TGIF is just a reminder that we really do have quite a bit to appreciate in our lives. things such as 'having a job' that we can go to. So many people are out of work currently with an unemployment rate of over 8% here in the U.S. (as of February 2009), many predict it will reach 10%. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have A Job" each day.

Every morning you get up and are able to get to a job. Your health is good and only the occassional cold seems to bother you. When you arrive at work, you take the stairs in order to get a little bit of exercise, maybe stop at the gym after work or even play with the kids on the weekend. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have My Health" each day.

And what about those kids of yours? Also a lovely wife and a great friend or two that you can say hello to are great to have around. The ability to talk with someone else and have a friendly conversation. So maybe we could start saying, "Thank God I Have My Family" or "Thank God I Have Friends" each day.

Even when you feel you have nothing in life or even if you have everything in life, each and every day we can find something to be thankful for. Try to be more thankful in your life and appreciate that which you do have. All you have to say is, "Thank You God."

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Economy Hurts Harder For Some

There is a lot of pain and suffering going on across this nation and most certainly across the world. Economic fortune can turn from good to bad very quickly for some people. The folks in this video are in Sacramento, California and should not be considered the entire picture of our U.S. economy. But they are an indication, a real example of a portion of our society that are hurting.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

When all is said and done, it means you need to work as hard as you can and appreciate the things in your life that you do have. This economy will eventually turn for the better as is the nature of economic cycles. We only hope that those which have fallen further then others are able to climb back as well.
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Paint It

As I will be with a bunch of other folks painting today, here is a short video to get us moving. I just could not foresee us painting in this early morning sun!!



Okay, maybe it is about a guy mourning the death of his girlfriend, but it really is a pretty "catchy" tune. Enjoy your weekend everyone!!
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One Step Finance

It was Benjamin Franklin that said, "Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship." And so it is during these tough economic times, you need to be more aware of where your money goes each and every day.

There is truth to the fact that how an economy rises once again is by getting people to spend that money. It does not mean that you should be expending dollars in a 'willy nilly' fashion. What it means is to spend in a smart and structured way.

When times are great and we have lots of money, it becomes very easy to toss our money about. Excess of anything allows us to become lazy in how we treat that excess. But when things become tighter, we usually have to learn once again how to become disciplined.

So how do you become disciplined? I like the idea of keeping it simple and not throw to many steps or bullets out there. Having too many steps to follow simply complicates it. Some call it the 'kiss' principle or 'keep it simple stupid', which is similar to Occam's razor.

Either way, my one step suggestion is (hold on, this is earth shaking); "Create a budget."

Exactly, the one thing we've been told over and over again in our life but never seem to fully adhere to. Create a budget which covers your personal finances. It doesn't matter how you do it or how complex or how simple. What matters is that you do it. When you create a budget, it lets you know what your financial 'reality' is.

Most people don't create a budget because they are afraid to really know how much they spend or how little they really have. Reality can 'bite', but it is the only way you can truly understand how to get through a tough economic time and enjoy even greater the good economic times.

The U.S. government has a really great website that provides lots of free information on a wide range of topics. The site is called the Federal Citizen Information Center and is a forgotten service the government provides that has a wealth of information. To get started on your budget, I suggest reading, There’s a Lot to Learn About Money. It will give you some basic information and a starting place to put you back in charge of your finances.

To quote Benjamin Franklin once again, "All mankind is divided into three classes: those that are immovable, those that are movable, and those that move." Be the type that moves and change your life forever.
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Winning Lottery Number

So what would you do if you won the 'Mega Money Mucho Bucks' Lottery? Would you hide out for a while and try to figure out what to do with the winnings? Would you jump up and let the world know of your new riches?

You can dream and wish to win some of the biggest lotteries. Some take those dreams and wishes to Las Vegas to try out their luck. Each and every one of these are dreams that do come true for some people. So I'm not here to debate or lay opinion on lotteries.

What I am here is to let you know that you can plan your dreams even if they are not about winning money. Planning for your dreams are important in order to place yourself in a position to actually achieve them. By planning, you become more aware of what is needed to succeed. But what does planning have to do with winning the lottery?

First, the planning on what you would do with the winnings is practice for what you would do by reaching your others dreams. Practice, practice; plan and plan all in an effort to get you closer to that vision.

Second, you have to participate in your dream. Success does not just come to you, you have to be involved in order to grab it. Same is true of a lottery, if you don't buy a ticket, you have no chance in winning the 'pot of gold'. As Hunter Thompson said, 'buy the ticket, take the ride.'; involve your self and take the ride to your goals.
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Forecast Great Things

The weather channel says there is a probability of rain or snow. The news channels begin to repeat it over and over. The impending storm could possibly happen and there is no shortage of people reminding you. So you run to the store and buy bread, eggs and milk along with some extra batteries. You are convinced the storm will happen so preparation is your motto.

Early in the morning you wake to see just how bad it is outside. The surprise on your face tells the story. The hype of news over snow materialized and now you have a lot of egg sandwiches to eat. The idea of being prepared is not what I'm writing about though.

Being prepared is a good thing. Looking to the future and believing in a forecast is like believing in your own goals. The forecast and signs of success are there, but do you prepare nearly as much. Do you believe in what you have forecast for yourself and then done as much as you can to get yourself ready for the outcome?

You must believe in your goals, more importantly in yourself. The forecast for you is success and great things; are you prepared?
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Blue Danube

Johann Strauss II
October 25, 1825 – June 3, 1899



The Blue Danube is the common English title of An der schönen blauen Donau op. 314 (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), a waltz by Johann Strauss II, composed in 1867. Originally performed 9 February 1867 at a concert of the Wiener Männergesangsverein (Vienna Men's Choral Association), it has been one of the most consistently popular pieces of music in the classical repertoire. Its initial performance was only a mild success, however, and Strauss is reputed to have said "The devil take the waltz, my only regret is for the coda -- I wish that had been a success!"

Being Around Greatness

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great!" -Mark Twain

Immerse your life with negative people and that is where you will stay. Surround yourself with great people and your life will be drawn to greatness. Two fairly easy statements to understand and adopt.

I try to do this as much as I can, get near to great people and learn from them. One of my recent ventures is with Twitter. A social networking site that is full of one-line comments, musings along with the inevitable people wanting to sell or promote something. What I like about it is getting to read the general and everyday musing of successful people.

What is neat about it is that I can respond to them. Not sure at this point if they actually see my replies. It could be that they are simply waiting to make sure that I'm not a stalker (To follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement). And I can assure you that I am not.

The intent is to draw close to these successful people, learn from them and hopefully provide them with some inspiration in life as well. some of these people may cross into your life while other times you need to step out boldly and introduce yourself. From there it is like any friendship in how it develops. Some do and some don't, but once you do, there is so much you can learn from others.

Great people want to see other people become great. Get near these people, learn from them and then give back to others what you have been given.
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Mayan 2012

"Many believe when the Mayan Calendar ends in December 21, 2012, the world as we know it will end with it."

Okay, so is the world going to end in 2012 as predicted in the Mayan calendar? I have my doubts about it and I don't feel it necessary to dissuade others from believing in it. There are belief systems all around the world that I don't necessarily agree with. This is one of them and it reminds me of the concerns of life as we know it ending in the year 2000.

The world didn't end then and I personally doubt that it will end in 2012. There will be those that take advantage of the 'impending doom' and develop plans to earn money from it. There will be plenty of people that feel I am taking this too lightly. My preparation will be for the possible ramifications that unwarranted hysteria could cause.

But what if I'm wrong they will say? If I'm wrong it won't make any difference from all that is supposed to happen. You can scare or amuse yourself at 2012 Doomsday Predictions. But if it does come to pass, it is out of our control anyway. There is nothing you could do to prepare for it. So the focus of all your energy on worrying will do you no good.

Take that focus and turn it towards doing something good in your life today. Focus on what you can do to better your life and the lives of those around you. To stop and worry now, when the 'doom and gloom' fails to happen, you will be left in the same place you are now.

In other words, keep moving forward in a positive light. Go forward, be prepared for changes in life but keep moving. The year 2012 will come and go; will you?
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The Rain Will End

"And it's rainin' all over the world; It's raining all over the world" -Electric Light Orchestra

It can certainly feel that way when things are going tough for you. I remember the feeling when going through a divorce several years ago. That sense of nothing left came on a day that my neighbors dog died while I was taking care of it. In the midst of a painful divorce, I was still helping others and now their dog dies.

It was actually a rainy day and you couldn't have convinced me that the sun was shining anywhere on earth. It was raining when I found the dog, it was raining when I buried the dog and it was raining as I sat on my back deck pondering what I had left in life.

As I sat there slowly letting the rain engulf me in absolute sorrow, the darkness of it all was quickly overcoming me. I would like to say it was then that the rain stopped and the sun shone down upon me. A sign of sorts but not exactly. What happened is that a small light began to open inside of me. There was something telling me that the rain would end and the sun would again spread its warmth around me.

At that moment, with the wet rain still beating down upon me, I decided that I was no longer going to be the victim of my circumstance. I was going to pick myself up and move on with life. Most certainly it took work on my part, but the greatness one achieves doesn't come without effort.

Just understand in your own life that the 'rain' is temporary and the sun will shine once again. Allow yourself to be whole once again and move towards a greater day.
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Wedding Of David & Shirin

Two special people in my wife and my lives are getting married today. Our daughter Shirin is marrying David in a seaside ceremony. The weather in Malibu is a challenge but the beauty and splendor of these two is undiminished.

As they embark on a wonderful life full of new adventures and challenges, it is love that will carry them through.

As any parent would be, we are so proud and happy for them. We will watch them grow together and be happy in the knowledge that they are together. Our love and the love of so many family and friends are with them today.
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Valentine For You

My valentine I pray that thou wilt be,
Not for a day, but for eternity.

- Charles Nelson Douglas -

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Taking a Journey

I will be taking a few days off. My daughter is getting married and any 'in-between' time left, I'll try to write something. I'm excited, happy and hopeful for her life that lay ahead with her new husband.

It is the anticipation of change that sometimes prevents people from actually embarking out on a new course. It can be a daunting task but you will never experience the greatness of change without actually stepping out in change.

There will be up, downs and many sideways events in your journey. Just keep your eyes focused on the end. You can always correct your course along the way. Most of all, enjoy the journey.

See you in a few days!

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit
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Create Your Attitude

Jack Canfield is an American motivational speaker and author. He is best known as the co-creator of the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" book series, which currently has over 124 titles and 100 million copies in print in over 47 languages.
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Be A Person Of Action

"Man is born for action; he ought to do something. Work, at each step, awakens a sleeping force and roots out error. Who does nothing, knows nothing. Rise! to work! If thy knowledge is real, employ it; wrestle with nature; test the strength of thy theories; see if they will support the trial; act!" Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, patron saint of youth is quoted as having said this back in the late 1500s.

It is very appropriate even today as we each struggle to achieve a great life. It is action that is required on your part. You must choose a door, step through it and into a new way of doing things. For very few people is this an easy task to accomplish. Many of us simply have a hard time making a choice, let alone acting upon that choice.

Go ahead, make the choice and step through to a greater life. Let the person inside of you to take hold, try something different and see your life change. Be a person of action.
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Ursula Garnitz

Ursula Garnitz
May 3, 1933 - January 30, 2009

There are people in your world that simply make you smile when they enter the room. One of those people is Ursula Garnitz, someone that made me feel great and lifted my spirits whenever I was around her.

Today, she passed away with her loving daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter by her side. She peacefully entered God's loving arms and heaven above is stronger for her presence. The flowers she will being tending to will brighten heaven with her touch.

While the natural world we live in will miss her dearly, we know that her love still peacefully lives within each of us. Thank you for being a person that always lifted others; thank you for being a caring person to others; thank you for being Ursula.
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Job Loss - Now What

Your year is breezing along with expectation of more great things to come. You wake up feeling extra happy with the way things are going. The goodness of the day just seems to be spilling over as you enter your workplace. A cup of coffee in hand and focus on the tasks which lay before you.

Shortly after fully engaging in the work, the boss needs to meet with you. You know there is much to get done as you head off. This will most certainly put you behind, but you can make it up in the afternoon you tell yourself.

As you enter the room, your inner sense tells you something is wrong. Your outer shell puts up all defenses in anticipation. The company has decided to "Go in a new direction. Thank you for your services." Wait, did you just hear that correctly? The company you have given your heart and soul to is 'going a new direction!'

U.S. employers cut 2.6 million jobs in 2008, the most since 1945, pushing the unemployment rate up to 7.2 percent in December of 2008. As of the end of January 2009, the rate will most certainly be higher with recently reported job cuts. It is quite likely that double-digit unemployment rates are nearing.

The 'macro' environment of this economy is out of any one person's control. You can only concentrate on those things that you can effect. With sudden job loss, some people get generous severance packages, which are few and far between these days. Others may get a month while there are many that receive nothing.

And what is it exactly you can do when this happens to you? First, take a few hours to self-pity, cry, worry and maybe vent about the condition. Then you have to pick your self up and get on with the business of survival. Nothing will be achieved by holding onto the pain and frustration. It changes nothing, it doesn't make the former employer regret, it doesn't stop the bills and it only serves to keep you down.

Now take time to assess what your current financial state is. What are the bills that need to be paid monthly. Don't worry about the overall debt, focus at this point on the bill payments. Prioritize them according to survival; home, utilities, vehicle, food. Remember, if you are going to work, you need a place to live and a way to get to that job.

Look at ways to cut out all other spending. The Internet you may say is vital to job search but public libraries offer free Internet access all over this country. Cell phone, find ways to cut the bill to minimal service and lose the home phone. There are many other ways to cut your spending if you look hard enough.

A few words on cutting personal spending; economists and leaders say that is the worst thing you can do for this economy. If everyone cuts their personal spending, it worsens the problem. The thing is, it isn't your job to save the economy at this point. Bill collectors are not going to forgive easily non-payment of bills because you are doing your part to 'save the economy.' It becomes a point of personal survival. The greater economy will sort itself out eventually.

Now chart out a 6-month, 1-year and 5-year goal. Set out simple tangible goals for the 6-month goal; working in a stable job, salary enough to cover my reduced expenses. The 1-year goals should contain items such as how to start reducing your debt load, ways to start you on a course for the long term goals. The 5-year goals are the vision of where you want to be; new home, more reliable vehicle, new love, job advancement, etc.

The locations are laid out in front of you with these goals although no roads exist showing you how to get there. But each is a definable item and all of them look overwhelming. Reduce your focus now back to the immediate; job searching. This is your most crucial goal. The rest such as paying bills are irrelevant if you have no money, so your energy, some call it 'worry', should be on finding a job.

There are many good resources on the Internet, simply walking into businesses and applying in person and keep networking with people as much as you can. Pride should not be an obstacle at this point. Everyone has a piece of fear in them regarding job loss. So most will do what they can to help you in little and sometimes big ways.

In ending, I do not pretend to believe any of this is simple. In fact it is hard and will test your emotions and resolve. My word to everyone is 'faith', have faith in yourself, have faith in others and more importantly, have faith in God's ability to help guide you. I normally stay away from religion in my articles, but there is something to be said for trusting your faith.

A job or change in your life can be traumatic, whether it be job loss, divorce, a death of someone close, but it doesn't need to spell the end of things. It spells the beginning of something new. Trust in your abilities, have faith that you were given those abilities to succeed and you will.

Through this dark and stormy night
Faith beholds a feeble light
Up the blackness streaking;
Knowing God's own time is best,
In a patient hope I rest
For the full day-breaking!
- John Greenleaf Whittier
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Happy Birthday Mom

Happy Birthday Mom !!
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Devoted Lives

Since the passing of my mother in October of 2008, I have been searching for something. A piece of understanding about the relationship of two people being married for nearly 60 years. It is not a burden upon my spirit but a yearning to know what it means.

In the search for that meaning of their life together, it occurs to me that it can serve as a lesson. A lesson of devotion, commitment and love that two people can achieve. I would read poems and inspirational words from many different sources. Words of Austen and Dickinson to Shakespeare and Whitman, with many different verse in between.

To my surprise I found the words in the notes of Thomas Jefferson. He and his wife Martha were married for a mere 10 years, but their bond was one that only two people can understand fully. As Martha Jefferson lay dying in September 1782, she began to write out sentimental words to express a sense of the situation. She wrote, copying from her husband's own literary book, lines originally adapted from Laurence Sterne's Tristram Shandy.

It is these words that complete my own parent's relationship of 59 years. One that I choose to remember and move on from. It will guide me in my father's remaining days and my own.

"Time wastes too fast: every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity life follows my pen, the days and hours of it are flying over heads like clouds of (a) windy day never to return -- more every thing presses on --"

At this point she could write no more, but the words continue in Thomas' own handwriting.

"and every time I kiss thy hand to bid adieu, every absence which follows it, are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make!"
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Felix Mendelssohn

Felix Mendelssohn
February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847



The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) - Overture
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Running Dream

Our life is filled with pursuits of dreams or visions of things that we want or want to accomplish. We turn those pursuits into reality when we turn the dream or vision into goals. The goal being something defined and real that we can measure.

We then head out in haste, racing towards achieving the goal. We move fast and then seem to run out of energy or ambition. We find ourselves running at the pace of a 5K race when in fact the race is a marathon. With nearly 42 kilometers to run, we find self-doubt in completing the goal.

It is in those defining moments, here at the building near the crossroads that you can choose to quit. You will leave your tattered dreams tacked to the walls of the room inside along with others long forgotten. Dreams that will always remain dreams.

But in that defining moment you can also decide to step through the door of choice and continue the race. You will make adjustment along the way, adjusting the pace of your pursuit. The building of lost dreams will be left far behind and as you near your goal, that building will have completely disappeared along with its disappointments.
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Simple Things

"The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life."
-Robert Louis Stevenson



Life can have its fill of trouble and complication, but it is filled so much more with the simple things. I can remember my youth and imagine the youth of my parents. There were and remain those pieces to our lives that are enjoyable and loving in memory.

But those things can be found, in the modern world of today. In fifty years, those same images shown in the video will be those that you created. Simple memories, loving memories that gave your life meaning and purpose.

Enjoy the simple things of today, enjoy the simple memories of yesterday and live with joy in your heart for the 'simple things in life'.
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Sweeping Streets

I'm ending the week with two great quotes that I like to repeat once or twice a year. They speak to much of what I believe and try to conduct my life. Read from them, be inspired by them and live your life by them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

Martin Luther King Jr.

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The longer I live
The more I realize the impact of
Attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important
Than the past,
Than education,
Than money,
Than circumstances,
Than failures,
Than success,
Than what other people
Think or say or do.

It is more important than

Appearance,
Giftedness or skill.
It will make or break
An organization,
A school, a home.

The remarkable thing is
We have a choice every day
Regarding the attitude
We will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past.
We cannot change the fact that
People will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do
Is play the string we have.
And that is our attitude.

I am convinced that life is
10 percent what happens to me and
90 percent how I react to it.
And so it is with you.

Charles Swindell

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Happiness

"Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside. Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, but only in giving. Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug. Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." -Og Mandino
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Blogging

"The first thing you need to decide when you build your blog is what you want to accomplish with it, and what it can do if successful." -Ron Dawson

Today is just a chance to poke a little bit of fun at myself in all this realm of seriousness. Blogging is a great opportunity for people to make a difference, to enlighten others and for some to simply waste space and time on the internet.

My opportunity is to help one or several people with encouragement and advice. I am not always right or 'on the mark' with all that I say. Yet my belief is that it starts with one person taking the time to impact the life of another in a positive way. The wave started will eventually impact many others.

Begin a new wave this year by choosing to help at least one other person. I will keep blogging away, share my thoughts with others, share your thoughts with others.
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Time For A Mentor - Time For A Friend

So I finally get around to commenting about a person that I hold in my heart as a great mentor and a great friend. A person that I've worked with for a number of years retired this past year and quite frankly I miss having him around.

Those that read this will know that he and I worked in the same facility for a long time. But over the past several years he has worked in our Boston location while I remained here in Atlanta. Knowing he was there and I could ring his extension made things very comfortable.

His name is Art and I owe a lot of my career to him. We had both worked at this same company for a number of years but never knew each other. I moved into the Atlanta area to take a job in technical support. It is here that we met and he took me 'under his wing' and taught me a great deal.

It is that mentoring spirit in him that says so much about a person. It is something you can do in your life with others as well. By taking a portion of your time and giving your wisdom, advice or encouragement to another is a great gift to give.

My own life was changed by his time shared. In his retirement I hope that he finds relaxation and peace. Along with his wonderful wife Pamela, there will be many years and much more time.
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Creating Habit

A brand new year is well under way now and so many of us have set forth resolutions to accomplish this year. A large percentage will make a commitment to join a gym and working out. A survey sponsored by Weight Watchers found that 45 percent of Americans say losing weight will be their New Year's resolution for 2009 and 97 percent of those resolved to do so will need assistance to keep that resolution. The more telling statistic is that about 70 percent of new clients drop within a couple of months.

There will be many other types of resolutions; all well intentioned and for the betterment of one's life or surroundings. Setting goals and starting your walk towards change is a fantastic way to start the year. But the change doesn't come without a cost. It can be a difficult road and 'instant gratification' is what many people want.

A friend of mine, Dean Sweetman has this saying which goes, "conception is fun but birthing is hard!" An amazing but very applicable statement to make in the context of trying to accomplish things in life. Much of what you will attempt in your new year resolution is supported by initial enthusiasm and excitement. You will be the first one in the gym using all of the various equipment.

The first week you are there every day, the pain is great but you know progress is being made. The weekend comes and you take a day or two off. The following week the stiffness is just a bit much so you tell yourself you should back off to only two or three days a week. Gradually you find yourself going less and less; finding more and more excuses not to go.

Long term commitment and 'habit' and are the keys to success in your new year's goals. As Dean said, the excitement of change in the new year is fun; the continued commitment to achieving the change is hard.

When you create habits in your life, they will become automatic. This is true for bad habits as well as good habits. Smoking was not an instant thing because you developed bad habits that will take time to remove from your life. Becoming more healthy will take time as well along with any of the other many changes you may want to make.

Be excited, be joyous that you are doing something great; yet be ready for the work it will take to create good habits in your life. Be ready to see your goal getting closer as you continue to work and achieve. Eventually you will get there and it will have seemed so automatic. Have a great and prosperous 2009!

The Approaching New Year

AULD LANG SYNE

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old times since ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
And surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well-known in many English-speaking countries, and it is often sung to celebrate the start of the new year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day. Follow this link for more information; Auld Lang Syne.

Happy New Year to everyone, enjoy the celebration, be safe and look forward with anticipation to the new year called 2009.
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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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