New Year's Eve

It is strange that every year, at this time, folks are hurrying the clocks ahead to put the year behind them.

I have known some folks, myself included, who have battled some serious stuff in the past.
Although I wouldn't wish my troubles on my worst enemies, I don't think I'd change anything.
What I have been through ~ the bad stuff ~ has only served to teach me vital lessons, to make me stronger, more resilient, more self-sufficient, more assertive, more discerning.
I may not have been having a party while dealing with those things, but hurdles and hardships are necessary in life.
They encourage us to enjoy and celebrate the tiny victories we achieve.
They enable us to measure our forward progress.

Life is not all peaches and cream.
I am a much better person for having survived all the nonsense that has occurred in my life.
I am more tenacious and more determined.
Don't wish your year or your time away.
Celebrate the blessings you've had.
They are for more numerous that you might imagine.
Enjoy the abundant joys around you.
They are everywhere!

I wish you a most blessed and prosperous 2014.
Make it what you want.

Resolutions

2014 is fast approaching.

Whimsical evenings are being planned with the anticipation of a fantastic year forthcoming.
Outfits are purchased.
Food is prepared.
Liquor is gathered.
Friends are invited.

Whatever occurs on New Year's Eve . . . know this.
There are consequences to every action.
Please don't drink and drive - you are risking far more than your own self.

The resolutions you make are yours to achieve.
Create attainable goals.
Take baby steps.
Tell folks - so you'll be accountable.
Reach!

You just never know what lies ahead . . .

Be Better

As of late, it seems I have a large group of friends, from various facets of my life who are being bombarded with bullies and bs. Having waded through so much of this in my lifetime, I feel fairly and adequately enabled to expound upon this situation.

There are several very important things to take note of:

For the bullies:

1. The way you treat people says a lot about who you are.
2. Be careful. Your actions are screaming over your words.
3. If you cannot be positive, then at least be quiet.
4. Never judge someone by the opinion of another.

For my friends:

1. Surrender to what is.
2. Let go of what was.
3. Have faith in what will be.
4. Never judge someone by the opinion of another.
6. Strong people don't put other down . . . they lift them up.
7. The most important decision you can make is to be in a good mood.

You cannot change another person - only the situation you are in with them.
If the situation is ugly - remove yourself.
If the actions of others is hurtful - disregard them. They are only looking to interact.
If you don't invite or incite, the bullies will lose interest.

Be Better.

The 'New Nike'

It is better to try to do something and fail,
than to try to do nothing and succeed.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Just do it.

Wishing you blessings

Here's hoping that the spirit of the holiday
did not get discarded with the paper and the boxes and the bows.

The joy of the season
should live in your heart every day of the year.

Wishing you blessings, always!

Merry Christmas

 

Christmas at the Gas Station (a long one - but worth it!)

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

 Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go." 

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty.  Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front.. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ones .." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it.  "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.  

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been. He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered that the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.
 
"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.
 As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

 George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought.  All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

 George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is.  Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

 "None for me," said the officer..

 "Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

 "Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop reached for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to him, "we got 1 too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time.  The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry.  "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

 George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man stopped crying, and looked at the cop "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer." he said.

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

 "Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other. "That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

 The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered,  "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a  break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

 The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

 "And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

 The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

 George turned around & found the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you'd left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

 The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday.  Merry Christmas."

 

 

Wonderful Christmas Wardrobe

. . . You must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
You must take allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you.
The most important piece of clothing you can wear is love.
Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Live in Peace.

Six Gifts for Christmas

There are six essential qualities that are the key to any success:

Sincerity
Personal Integrity
Humility
Courtesy
Wisdom
Charity

I do hope that your stockings, packages, bags, and boxes are just chock full of these invaluable gifts.
The more you use them . . . the better your 2014!

Ahhh - Yes!

It came without ribbons.
It came without tags.
It came without packages, boxes, or bags.
Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas means a little bit more.

The greatest of men
is he who does not lose his childlike heart.

Peace

Very appropriately, at this time of the year, we speak of Peace!

No man can think or act clearly when his fists are clenched.

Arms are made for huggin'.
Ears are made for listenin'.
Hearts are made for lovin'.
People are made to help one another.

Give Peace a chance!

Trust

You know that 'small voice' that everyone talks about that you should listen to?
Well, it has been screaming at me for the past three or four days.
I always pray that God gives me something to write about each day. That He will put something in front of me that inspires me to rant, or inspire, or help someone else.

I had a dear friend very humbly come to me and ask for help for the holidays.
She had never had to do something like this before and it was very difficult for her.
Of course, I took on the task.
I put out the word to the folks that I know.
The response I got completely overwhelmed me.
I have no idea how my dear friend will comprehend what I'm going to give to her in the next day or two.
I've had a few donors who were blessed with a good year. They paid it forward.
One of the gracious donors popped by last night and donated.
He is not wealthy. He is not well off.
He simply trusts that his windfalls should benefit others, as he has benefitted from the kindness of others in the past.

My friend trusted me.
I trusted my friends.
My friends trusted in what they have already received.
Others trusted in what they were certain would be provided.
I must admit that I have been in tears for the past few days with the outpouring of kindness.
It has truly and profoundly touched my heart.

I trust that all those involved
will revel in the notion that their good deed will provide more good deeds.

Trust.
Wow!

A beautiful Christmas gift

You bring out the best in yourself
by looking for the best in others.

Wrap up a compliment or two
and place them happily at the feet of someone else.

It costs you nothing,
but carries with it a beautiful Christmas gift
for both the recipient and the deliverer.

Integrity

It has come to my attention, a lot as of late, that integrity is an outstanding tool.
It measures the level of folks you associate with.
It creates an arena in which your fellow players either rise to the occasion or fall away as unworthy opponents.
It defines who you are.

I am me.
I am flawed.
I am broken.
I am what I am.
But I won't ever pretend to be something I'm not.

I will stick to my guns, as they say, both figuratively and literally.
I will continue to do what I've always done because changing to please someone else, pleases no one.
I will honor the lessons my mother taught me.
I will be the same person I've always been and, like it or not, that won't change.

People amuse me with their tantrums and unfriending me.
People, we are adults. (At least most of us!)
If your opinion differs from mine ~ that's fantastic!
I welcome a good discussion and enjoy listening to alternate viewpoints.
I may still disagree with you, but that doesn't mean I'm going to 'unfriend' you.
That choice is yours - but what does it say about your integrity?

Folks - we are each created in a specific and unique manner.
We have each travelled our own exceptional and distinctive path, learning personal and extraordinary lessons along the way. This journey has carved out the most amazing person that you have become. Don't allow someone else to make you any less than you are.

Stand firm in your convictions.
Stand firm in your beliefs.
Stand firm in the knowledge that what YOU believe is right for YOU.
Those that walk away, fall away, or 'unfriend' you (whether on a computer or in 'real' life) were never intended to be any more than another stepping stone for you in your journey!

Your integrity is so vital to your existence.
Shine it up.
Wear it proudly!

Joy

This is such a tiny word with such a powerful impact.

You can be filled with joy.
You can spread joy.
You can sing of joy.
You can embody joy.

One of my most favorite joys is to assist others.
When given the opportunity to help, folks, hop on that train.
The scenery is breathtaking, the ride is definitely worth the trip,
and the destination is one you'll never comprehend unless you get on board.

Today,
be filled
spread
sing
embody
Joy.

Be joy-full!

In The Grand Scheme . . .

If you start that phrase with either of my kids, after years of hearing it, they would finish with:

"does it really matter?"

Far too often we are irritated, bothered, dragged down, and frustrated by the silliness, stupidity, selfishness, or insanity of other people. It is only human to 'react' to situations, but if you apply just a minimal amount of patience, it is truly astounding what you are able to do.

With just a little restraint, instead of freaking out and getting even or retaliating, you can calmly remove yourself from a situation, or change the course of the situation, or create just a tiny change in the climate of the ruckus and avert disaster.

You need only ask yourself, prior to exploding,

"In The Grand Scheme of things . . . does it really matter?"

If I'm scheduled thirteen days in a row, I can choose to lose to my cool and rant and rave and behave like a lunatic, or . . . alter the issue.

If someone is saying untrue things about me, can I alter what comes from their mouth? No. I can trust in the fact that folks know who I really am.

If the idiot in the silver Mercedes cut me off only to arrive at the stop light eight seconds before me, should I be having a hissy fit? No. I will get where I'm going - eventually. They obviously have some place they need to be.

"In The Grand Scheme of things" . . . if it doesn't physically injure me, my family, or my friends, . . . does it really matter? Will it truly and meaningfully impact my life? Most of the time, the answer is a giant, emphatic NO!

If you can defuse a situation - get to work.
If you can alter a disaster - start shifting gears.
If you cannot fix other people or what they do - does it really matter?

Remember . . .

Each day on the 'right side of the grass' is a blessing.
If you're still around, that means that there is something positive for you to do.

You have a life to impact,
a smile to pass on,
someone to help,
a gift to give,
a dream to chase,
an opportunity to pursue,
love to give,
a hug to share.

We may be inundated with negatives,
or troubles,
or grief,
but

remember . . .

stop and catch, or create, the miracles!

Strive To Be First

We, as a nation, have sort of lost the will to compete.
It seems most folks are content to have all the players win because they tried.
Well . . . ugh!
This is fodder for an entirely different blog, because today, I am urging you to . . .

Strive To Be First!

First to nod.
First to smile.
First to compliment.
First to give.
First to hug.
First to offer.
First to forgive.
First to love.

Go ahead . . .
Strive To Be First!

Believe

The holiday season is all about 'believing'!

Believing in something beyond yourself.
Believing in a higher, greater, grander source.
Believing in miracles.

Believe!

Go

Where you choose to go,
go with all your heart.

Leave nothing on the table,
nothing in the tank,
nothing on the field.

Go!

Good Stuff

Do the things you used to talk about doing but never did.
Know when to let go and when to hold on tight.
Stop rushing.
Don't be intimidated to say it like it is.
Stop apologizing all the time.
Learn to say no, so your yes has some oomph.
Spend time with the friends who lift you up, and cut loose the ones who bring you down.
Stop giving your power away.
Be more concerned with being interested than being interesting.
Be old enough to appreciate your freedom, and young enough to enjoy it.
Finally, know who you are.

Good stuff right there from Kristin Armstrong.
Good stuff!

A Little Retail Therapy

You!
You are so special!
You are spectacular!
Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything
that no longer serves you, grows you, or makes you happy.
If you aren't being treated with love and respect,
check your price tag.
Maybe you've marked yourself down.
It's YOU
who tells people what your worth is.
Get off the clearance rack!
Get behind the glass where the valuables belong!
Sparkle!
Shine!
Glow!

In honor . . .

To honor the passing of the incredible Nelson Mandela, I will use one of his quotes today.
It is one of my favorites and something I believe in strongly.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear,
but the triumph over it.
The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid,
but he who conquers that fear.

In fact, I was speaking with a good friend last night who sent me a great little snippet that I will also add to this:

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

Today, as Mandela lived every day, let us seek and practice peace.

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html#2jsUyt1EsS85Rx5S.99

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html#2jsUyt1EsS85Rx5S.99

I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/n/nelson_mandela.html#2jsUyt1EsS85Rx5S.99

Four Rules I Live By

1. Learn to love without condition.

2. Talk without bad intention.

3. Give without any reason.

4. And most of all, care for people without any expectation.

Peace

Peace on Earth! Good will toward Man!

I really should not have to elaborate a whole lot, but it would seem in this 'I want it NOW' society, we've sort of displaced this notion. The fist fights for big screens, the stealing of Salvation Army buckets, the 'discussions' of nativity displays.

People . . . did we lose sight of what this holiday is about?

Remember the Reason for the Season.
Show a little compassion, a little understanding, a little good will.

Peace!

Twinkling

I literally spent all day yesterday cleaning my house and then Christmas-izing my house.
Nearly every room is touched with some sort of seasonal surprise and hubby even put Christmas music on the TV for me so I could dance and sing all day.
Every year, I find just the greatest joys in unwrapping each packed Santa or Angel or snowman or Snowbaby or whatever might come from the crates. Each item draws with it the memory of who gave it to me or where I got it from.
These are not just items placed randomly about my house.
They are memories - twinkling - for the whole month for me to share the holidays with those who offered a piece of themselves in each gift I received.
Hubby was so excited when he got home that he went straight to the garage and grabbed the outside lights. He climbed up on the room, in the dark, and we lit up the night.
Each light - twinkling - in the darkness. Each light offering a glimmer of the Reason for the Season and each light a reminder of every blessing we have shared. It's very bright over here.

And, in that cold, clear night, all those stars - twinkling.
Some say those stars are just those that have gone on before us - lighting the way for others and giving us hope of a brighter tomorrow.

Oh - it's the holiday for twinkling!

The stage is yours

Your worth
is not a product of your intelligence,
your talent,
your looks,
or how much you have accomplished.

It is, instead, measured by what you do
with that intelligence,
that talent,
those looks,
and what you have accomplished.

To help another human being
is one of the grandest acts you could ever perform.

The stage is yours.