What's On Your Adult Christmas List?

Last week, I wished you a week of reflection, peace, and observation. I hope you are making yourself a priority and getting in some personal, quiet time!

Two things caught my attention this week. First, we ask the kids to make up their list for Santa. What about an adult list? Second, I heard Tim McGraw’s song, “Always Stay Humble and Kind.” With these two in my head, here are my thoughts for the week.

If you haven’t heard Tim McGraw’s song, the gist is what actions to take to always stay humble and kind. Some of his references are:

         Visit Grandpa and Grandma every chance you can - it won’t be a waste of time.

         Hold the door.

         Say please and thank you.

         Don’t lie, cheat, or steal.

         When work put in is realized, let yourself feel pride.

         Don’t expect a free ride from anyone.

         Don’t hold a grudge or have a chip on your shoulder as bitterness keeps you from       flying.

         Know the difference between sleeping with someone and sleeping with someone you love.

         Don’t take for granted the love this life gives you.

         When you get where you’re going, don’t forget to look back and help the next one in line.

         And always remember to stay humble and kind.

With this song in mind, I started to develop my own adult Christmas list remembering to always stay humble and kind.

Dear Santa,

This is what I want for this Christmas season and for 2018:

         Continue with my good health. I promise to continue working out at least six days a week.

         More special times with my 90 year old mom especially sharing stories of when she       was little.

Continue my experiences with all 7 of our grandchildren and pictures to commemorate our times together!

         Continue my daily gratitude for each day spent with Jon.

         Enjoy each beautiful sunrise and sunset, never taking it for granted.

Continue to be appreciative for the little things – making sure please and thank you are always a part of my appreciation.

To always enjoy each moment, to be present and not miss what is happening.

To spend more time reflecting on what I need to do to be a better person for me – not comparing myself to others.

Continue to read at least one book a month.

Continue to look for ways to make life better for someone else each day.

Continue to learn and grow in my physical, emotional, and spiritual life.

Continue to smile, have sincere conversations with friends and family without any phone interruptions.

Continue to look for information and be informed based on facts not what is being construed as fact on social media.

Continue to support and encourage our WorldVentures team in all they are doing to build their own business. 

Always remember the true meaning of Christmas – to keep Christ in Christmas.

Keep this feeling of positive, loving, grateful, and healthy attitude each day throughout the year.

I wish you a week of enjoying your family and friends. I will not be posting a blog on the 26^th, as I also plan to be enjoying my family.

Merry Christmas to each of you. I appreciate your friendship throughout the year.

          

        

        

Does Your Life Reflect Your Values?

Last week I wished you a week of reflecting on your priorities for the rest of this holiday season and for the priorities you set for yourself to guide you in your thoughts and actions throughout this holiday. How are you doing? Have you allowed time for yourself to truly enjoy being present and taking in each moment? OR are you telling yourself the same thing you tell yourself every year…I’ll do that next year.

There are times it’s very difficult to be positive when there is so much divisiveness in our world. You can’t read a newspaper, turn on the news, or turn on the radio when you aren’t hearing the anger and frustration people are venting. I’m reading an article about “The Problem of Identity Politics and Its Solution,” which is fascinating. In my opinion, we are more divided along racial, ethnic, gender, and religious lines than at any other time I can remember.

The colleges and universities, businesses etc. want us to be identified as belonging to a specific group, the media breaks down the demographics in specific groups, the entertainment world does the same. If we disagree with a particular line of thinking, we’re called “racist” or “homophobic” or “misogynist” etc. More labels. It’s not acceptable to have differing viewpoints. 

Even during this holiday season, we are bombarded with what is and isn't acceptable. What? According to who? 

I live in Boulder and Boulder has always been known to others in Colorado as more “out there” and “doing its own thing.” It’s often referred to as the “Republic of Boulder.” There’s definitely some truth to that and like anything else there are the pluses and minuses. Yet, I see the “group think” much more prevalent in this area than what I remember when I moved here 42+ years ago.

Yet, then I go to Ulysses, Kansas or Okawville, Illinois and I see the small, Midwest towns that continue to have the values I remember growing up with in Iowa. Okawville has their yearly Wheat Festival with a parade, carnival, and families young and old gather in the park. There are USA flags waving, the police, fire and first responders are all part of the parade being cheered as they drive down main street.

There are school programs, during the holidays, that sing Christmas carols and have  Christmas decorations on display. The national anthem is played at all sporting events and people stand with their hand over their hearts and caps are removed. Young children are taught to stop and pay attention.

These are hard working families that depend on the land for their livelihood. These are families; young and old, that aren’t spending their days worried about what name should go on the bathroom doors. These are people celebrating our country’s history and working to make life better for each person no matter their race or religion. These communities don’t think twice that a Nativity scene is on the front lawn of the Court House. There is a definite, true sense of community.

I say all this because I’m making it my own personal mission, to stay in touch with the values I grew up with and the values I see my children have passed on to my grandchildren. A key value is what God has taught all of us which is “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Those values, for me, include saying Merry Christmas to the clerk checking me out at the grocery store or the barista making my coffee. Those values also include personal relationship time. That may be having coffee to catch up, enjoying time with family and friends without cell phones ringing. It’s those times playing games, putting together puzzles, making fudge or holiday goodies together because it’s the conversations that happen doing those activities that are so memorable.

It’s also my personal mission to pay attention to my environment. I “hide” anything on my FB or Twitter pages that have any negative political commentary and definitely there can be NO foul language. If I want a political conversation I will talk with you one on one. There is a definite difference in areas of our country and what people believe. That’s always been the case, however, it’s much more apparent because of the media, entertainment world, social media, and the identity politics. Instead of conversations, we seem to be far more into name calling, threats, and fear mongering. 

I hope and pray that you will take a sincere and realistic view of your life this past year. Each year we talk about doing things differently. Each year we make new resolutions for a change in our health, finances, relationships etc. I hope that also will include asking yourself if you're leading the life that God has created for you or are outside influences taking control of what you think and your actions? Have you been caught up in "group think" at work? in your social group? in your church group? in your politics? 

“Change can be scary, but you know what is even scarier? It’s allowing FEAR to stop you from GROWING, EVOLVING, and PROGRESSING.” It's the "group think" that has more control over you than knowing what is really The Best You.

It’s December 12^th, 2017. There are 13 days until Christmas and 19 days until New Year’s Eve. At that time another year has passed by. My prayer for you, no matter your age, is that you will take stock in what is important to you in ALL areas of your life, and you will make changes where changes are needed. Life is way too short. I pray you do not have another year of same old-same old because you “don’t have time.”

I pray for you to have gratitude in your heart and that you rise above the negativity and hate which can be overwhelming. A great quote I read recently said, 

“Positive thinking is not expecting the best all the time but accepting whatever happens is the best for the moment.”

I wish you a week of reflection, peace, and observation.

Tis the Season to Be Jolly - REALLY?

Last week, I wished you a week of deciding your PRIORITIES for this holiday season. The goal is to make a difference for yourself THIS year! This first step could be what “winning in life” means to you through your ACTIONS! What will you list as all your successes come January 1^st, 2018?

21 days of a consistent behavior done repeatedly each day will create a habit. Three weeks ago, I challenged you to take on an attitude of GRATITUDE. How many of you took that challenge? I’d love to hear your thoughts and reflections. Each day I read my niece Kelly’s gratitude for the day as she posts it on Facebook. Good way for accountability. She’s been doing this for over a year…do you think she could ever stop now? NO WAY! It’s beyond a habit. Now it’s a part of her daily routine.

Gratitude is a powerful mindset. It’s also a way of keeping us observant and sensitive to all that is good versus the negative. Unfortunately, that negative voice seems to be the loudest, and we seem to listen to it more. NOT, however, if you have a grateful mindset that is a habit.

This week, I want to reference a commencement address that Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola gave several years ago yet applies even today -  especially during this holiday season.

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends, and spirit – and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends, and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

Remember that word BALANCE? Even during the next few weeks with all that is on our plate to be ready for the holiday, the word BALANCE is even more challenging than usual. Yet, it’s also THE most important word to keep in mind especially now.

Here are a few suggestions on how you might BALANCE things this holiday season and beyond:

1.    Avoid comparing yourself to others. This only undermines your own sense of self-worth. It’s ok to have store bought cookies at a cookie exchange.

2.    Set goals that work for you NOT what others deem important. You are the only one who knows what is best for you. Be careful when you’re finding what others are saying does not coincide with YOUR goals.

3.    Avoid taking for granted what is closest to your heart. That includes family, friends, your home, your children etc. Are your actions reflecting your priorities?

4.    Live your life one day at a time! Be present and enjoy each moment. That means not going through your “to do” list in your head while you’re “listening” to your child’s music program.

5.    Haven’t we all heard,”I don’t remember what I got for Christmas, but I do remember the memories and experiences we created together?” Keep that in mind when you’re shopping and stressing out about finding THE perfect gift.

6.    Give yourself permission to be late in sending out Christmas cards if that is a stressor for you. I remember sending them out in July when I was teaching and people loved it. I got more responses since people had time to sit down and read my letter.

7.    Keep in mind that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated. That might be a tip or special food item for your mail carrier, beautician, milkman etc.

8.    Even the UPS and FedEx guys/gals who work long hours and days during this season could use a few smiles of appreciation. It could be as simple as opening the door and saying thank you when they bring the packages or a gift certificate for coffee/tea.

9.    The easiest way to show appreciation is to have a constant mindset of patience, a smile, and a thank you when in a long line, on the phone, in a crowd or in traffic.

10. Remember EVERYONE is busy and EVERYONE has their own TO DO list. Yours isn’t THE most important. 

Be ok with saying NO to something that will not add value to your goals and desires for the holiday season.

11. LET GO of having everything perfect! YOU will be the only one who notices. What people WILL notice is if you’re stressed out, short tempered, and frowning.

12. Remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas or Hanukah.

13. Take 15 minutes of quiet time every day! Surround yourself with music that you love and relaxes you, read from an uplifting book, or just sit and “be.”

What will you think and feel after this holiday season on January 2^nd 2018? Will you be exhausted, worried about how you’ll pay the bills that are already coming in, and “swear” that you’ll do things differently next year? OR will you have beautiful memories of the people and the fun times together, you stayed within the budget you set, and you’re feeling pleased with how everything went this season?

I wish you a week of reflecting on your priorities for the rest of this holiday season and for the priorities you set for yourself to guide you in your thoughts and actions throughout this holiday.