My New Blog

I like the December month. It is filled with happy moments. It is a time we celebrate the coming of Christ. Well, retailer$ would like to think otherwise.

I spent my time during December to look back and to look forward. The first two weeks are spent reflecting on the past year. The last two weeks are used to put together a goal for the coming year.

Spending time to look at the past year and plan for the coming year reduce much of the stress of the Christmas holidays.

Here are two life changing lessons:

Lesson 1: Slow down to know what is important. Sometimes we are caught in a hectic pace. However, when we slow down, truth reveals the foolishness of our activities. As we pause, we see things that are important in life.  

Lesson 2: Look forward. When you pursue a dream, it gives you a reason to get out of the door. As you engage to a noble goal, you spend less time stewing over past problems.

During the Christmas season, look back to uncover the gems of the past and look forward to polish the gems arriving at the scene.

Have a Merry Christmas.

This year I will do something different. However, I will still write my 2008 goals. I will go hike Diamond Head on New Years day to greet the coming new year. I will watch Hawaii play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

This time around I will share my 2008 goals to two trusted friends. The two friends will share their goals to me, too.  This is what we agreed:

1. We will meet once a month and update each other check our progress.

2. We gave each other advance permission to hound, push, encourage, or whack each other if we are not working on our goals.

3. The commonality we have is that we are writing a book. Therefore, we touch base to each other once a week.

Life is too short. We accomplish more when we have friends around us encouraging us to press forward. At the same time, life is more joyous when we encourage others to excel with their dreams.

Well this is my approach to the 2008 resolutions or goals. I hope 2008 will be great for you.

The true character of people rears its ugly head during this season. People are impatient. People cut corners to save time. People abandon their moral compass to chase after alluring trinkets of the world.

It is a wild world during this season. Here is your chance to shine. Take time to smile at people and at you situation. Take time to extend a helping hand to the needy. Give encouragement to everybody - that includes you. When you do these simple acts of kindness, you are on your way to a happy Chrismas season.

I was at McDonald's a few days ago. Four people huddled around a small table. I overhead the conversation as one shared her experience at a home supply store. She went to purchase an air conditioning unit. She spent a minute or two in the store when Kelly met the customer. Kelly greeted the lady with a warm welcoming hello.

The lady asked for an air conditioning unit. Kelly warmly answered and said there was one more left that was on special. Kelly asked another associate to take the lady's cart that was filled with items to the cashier and wait for the customer.

Kelly explained the capacity of the unit. She slowed down and addressed the concerns of the custormer. Kelly took the extra time to make the customer welcome.

The lady went to the cashier and another associate helped the lady load items in the car.

The lady was so happy with Kelly's help she wanted to share her appreciation to management. So, she went to the customer service counter and asked for the manager. The counter person had some reluctance.

A man came to the counter. The lady asked if he was the manager. The lady almost could read what was whirling on the manager's head. She sensed like a lump of stress in his throat until the lady said, "I just want to thank you for the great service. Kelly really helped me with my purchase...."

The manager released the stress and gave smile as large as the moon.

Christmas has no meaning without Christ. Therefore, allow the love of Christ shine through you. Let Christ be the REASON for this season. When you do this, the madness of life during this season fades away. You live for a  higher purpose and the trinkets of this world lose sits grip on you.

Have a Happy Merry Christmas.