This has been quite a busy last couple of weeks! Not only has it been a blend of hustle, bustle, shopping, eating and just all around merriment that comes with this joyous season, but I have been witness to a number of really special things that will stay with me for a very long time. I know it's late and Santa is on his way so I'll share just a couple of them with you.
    The other night when I was reading Charles Dickens' classic to my two boys, we got to the part when Scrooge was looking back at the party at "Old Fezziwigs". If you've never read the original text, it's certainly something to try at least once in your life. If nothing else, you get a real taste of what literary genius is. Anyway, in that scene, Dickens is describing the scene with such amazing elegance that I wasn't sure if my boys were genuinely grasping how huge this party was. After a particularly long passage, I commented, "they are seriously partying!" to which my older (and more serious son) mentioned that's how he prefers to enjoy a party, in a more serious way. Clearly missing my description, my youngest (and far less serious) son jumped in and quickly corrected him, "no they're just having a great time!" His older brother was not swayed but I assured him that his little sibling was dead on correct. I couldn't help but to think about this after they went to bed and it really gave me a great appreciation of how we all view things differently and how our attitude can often get in the way of something genuinely special in our lives. My older son is a great kid with a fantastic sense of humor but he has trouble letting his hair down, as it were, and opening up to good things around him. He's missing the joy that comes from sharing with others and I'm ashamed to say that I'm pretty sure he got that from his dad.
    This evening, I had the pleasure of watching my favorite Frank Capra movie and once again being thoroughly moved at the outpouring of love that George Bailey receives at the end. The message is so simple. He didn't become "the richest man in town" by keeping to himself. He became the man he was by his love for others and by reaching out to them every chance he got. Of course he had his bad days. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't a martyr either. He was a good man doing good things and making friends every step of the way. This is something we can all do.
    It's easy during this season to reach out to the less fortunate, extend a warm wish to others and share a cup of cheer with a perfect stranger. That's the magic of Christmas! My challenge to myself is to lock that feeling in my heart every single day during this upcoming new year and to adopt an attitude of perpetual joy. It'll be like Christmas cheer all year long! I'm going to let down my guard, and let in some more light...and hopefully some more friends. I challenge you as well, be a role model for your kids that shows them the power of a caring and Godly attitude. Money and success are great but remember the sign below the late Peter Bailey's photo in the movie? “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away”. This is a year of rebuilding and we should start today. Smile more. Be ready to help more. Shake hands more and be the friend that you've always hoped to be. And one last thing, never forget to seriously party every chance you get. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    It's that magical time of year when we hang the lights, wrap the gifts and enjoy all the goodies of the Christmas season. It's also that time when begin to reflect on the year that was, look ourselves in the mirror and honestly admit that we didn't exactly change the world like we had hoped. Fret not, my friends because the new year is upon us and just as sure as you're gonna gain an extra three pounds on tasty treats, you're also going to get the opportunity to make a difference in 2012! Now is the time to start getting your ducks in a row, though. Don't wait until January 15th to do something bold because like most of us, we typically start things on the first and January 1 is going to be the day your starter's pistol goes off and you make your run for fame.   

I must admit, 2011 wasn't a banner year for myself either. I had some pretty high hopes but ya know why I didn't accomplish my goals? I didn't write them down. I didn't track my progress. I didn't determine if my goals were even reasonable. And the results of my shortcomings? Of Course, I didn't achieve my goals. This year will be much different. Notice I didn't just say, "this year will be different." It's a subtle difference, I grant you that, but this year is not only going to be different, it's going to be monumentally different and that's what makes this declaration so profound. I'm not just shooting for "better". I'm shooting for AWESOME or as Les Brown told us, "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars." I'm shooting for the moon this year, Baby and my goal is that you hear about it when I do. You see, I don't know if a falling tree in the forest makes a sound if no one is around but I do know that you and I do nothing to change ourselves for the better, no one is going to care. It's time we make people care.

    I've grown very tired of the lack of character in our society. Yeah, I know that's something you hear from your grandfather, but the truth is...it's true. We're all sucked into this vortex of reality television, political theatre and 24/7-all-bad-news-all-the-time lifestyles that is very difficult to get out of. Especially when our solution for avoiding all this garbage is to watch some dopey sit-com that degrades that family and the standards that our grandfathers all stood for.  No more. Starting now, as in right now (call it a running start), I am going to be an example of what can happen if we choose to make a difference and I want to encourage you to do the same. I've teamed up with new group called The Values Network who are working to join together individuals, businesses and groups towards the common goal of bringing values back into our lives. I ranted on this a bit last month and shorty thereafter I found this group. They're small but energized and filled with a spirit of doing not only the right thing, but doing the necessary thing. Don't settle for what you've always done. Expect more and BE more....and enjoy those Christmas cookies!