So You Think This Is Going To Be About Sadness . . . Wrong!!!
I’m talking about hope.
With a whole lot of truth thrown in. You see, whenever you think of loved ones who have passed, they’re right here with you. It could be a physical touch or a sound in another room.
These are all reminders of those we loved and the connection is forever there.
We can grieve, but we’re also healing when we know there is no loss . . . at least in another form. Yes, our loved ones aren’t here to share that secret family recipe, but they are always present.
Making Me Rethink My Priorities
I was thinking of not putting up my Christmas tree this year.
Yet, I know how much a tree is a family tradition. It may not mean a lot to me, but it means everything to them.
So, Christmas and other holidays aren’t about you or me, but those who have influenced us and are now watching over us. This gives me a different perspective.
By putting forth the effort . . . just as they did for you . . . in the end will be the greatest gift you can give them . . . and a major gift to yourself. In honoring them and validating them, you’re benefiting from it as well.
Sure you have to put forth the effort . . . but remember how many times they put forth the effort for you when they didn’t feel like it.
Stop to think for a moment of all the sacrifices they’ve made for you.
You May Not Believe In The After Life
But it does exist.
You feel it. You think it. You don’t have to believe it to make it true.
We’re visited in dreams. We’ve felt that familiar touch of having your hair brushed from your forehead, ever so gently and lovingly. There are also playful tugging of your hair or a squeezed cheek . . . you instantly think of a loved one who has passed.
Yes, we do think of them more around the holidays. Yes, they are still around, watching us and protecting us.
They’re not judging. They want us to live our lives, to love, have joy and happiness. Not guilt, grief and sadness. Let go of all the what ifs, if onlys and should haves . . . it does no good. Lift that burden from your mind and shoulders this holiday season.
Honor your memories and celebrate the good times you had. Love is never=ending.
Just think about this . . . honestly . . . think of the strange or unusual things that have happened . . . coincidences . . . a sound or fragrance . . . a dream . . . something that reminded you of someone . . .
The list could go on and on, but this is your moment to remember and reconnect within yourself . . .
You may think I’m nuts . . . that’s fine . . . but with a few minutes of searching your memory of any unusual event . . . you’ll know . . .
Holidays Are To Be Celebrated
Over the years I’ve met many people who are extremely sad during the holidays.
They dwell on the loss of a loved one or a divorce or other form of break-up.
Those who have walked through their pain, loss and sadness have created holidays that suit them. Many people are alone . . . they are joyous and carefree . . . they made their holidays joyous. It’s not easy, but worth the effort.
It’s like having a make-over.
You’re making over the holidays. You’re creating new traditions that suit you and make you happy. You may be celebrating it alone, but you’re having a good time without expectations or obligations.
It’s a freedom I hear echoed by many. You’re free to eat what you want . . . relax and enjoy yourself however you wish.
Many don’t have a big meal. They break it up in small courses. Some begin with dessert . . . wouldn’t that be lovely!!! Life is truly grand without rules.
You can relax with a good book, watch the fire in the fireplace, drink a hot beverage, take a walk or stay in your pajamas all day.
It’s your new tradition of doing what pleases you . . .
And it can change from year to year. You can keep some traditions, but you can create new ones . . . just for you.
No matter how you celebrate this Christmas, make it meaningful and worthwhile for you . . . and your family.
I wish you much happiness this Christmas and throughout the New Year.
I’ve been very fortunate to have very vivid dreams.
That is, when they are positive. I’ve had some that may have been exciting, but they made me face my fears. I suppose that could be a good thing.
Things like speaking in front of a large group of people. Dreams of flying . . . without an airplane. Being out at sea . . . swimming with dolphins.
If you can think it, you can dream it . . . and maybe it may work out for you.
Many Ideas Come From Books
It’s always fun to ask, “What if . . .” and see where the story takes you.
Have you noticed when you’re reading, you do see the characters and the location and even the action. That’s all imagination. It can take you on many adventures.
Many Ideas Come From Our Aspirations
I have a number of websites and I was thinking of getting rid of a couple of them.
I may still do that, but the one that was top on my list I decided to keep. I thought it was not something I wanted to write about any longer, but I found it was very much a part of who I am and what I enjoy.
There is one that was just a whim I had . . . and I’ve decided to let it go. I’m fine with my decision to eliminate it. I may replace it with something much more exciting. It all comes down to being true to yourself, you interests and your aspirations.
Yet, I also thought that getting rid of some websites would be excellent to give me more time to devote to other websites and other interests.
As I’ve mentioned many times in this blog, I love to write and I do want to write more . . . not just for my blogs, but to write books. It’s a grand undertaking . . . one I’ve done before and is now time to revisit.
Priorities
It’s important to consider priorities.
Even a schedule. I’m not a schedule person like I used to be, but it may be time for me to get back with it.
This evening I was talking with some friends in my internet marketing group.
We discussed some interesting changes from Amazon to Google. Did you know Amazon is going to be delivering packages via drones? It does seem amazing, but it is definitely workable for them to do. And Google is making some changes. Not with drones, but with what Google does best.
I guess it has to do with apps and making what we want to do easier for us to do. I don’t know all about it, but there are going to be webinars and articles written about it so we can learn as things develop.
I did find some changes have already taken place with Google+ Hangouts. I was talking with my friends on a Beta version. So I guess it is in a test mode, but it worked out and we had a delightful few hours of conversation and sharing.
This sharing with people in a hangout may be considered a waste of time, but in reality it was very productive and enjoyable. It may become a new priority for me.
It’s truly amazing how you can connect with people in different parts of the United States as well as the world. That may not be a big deal to you who have been doing this, but I’m still amazed each time we make a connection.
Yes, I’ve been doing the Google+ Hangouts for over a year once a week, but I’ve found it beneficial to connect with people far far away more often. You can spend some valuable quality time together.
This works when writing a blog or just talking and sharing.
With the internet and the imagination of these technical people, it’s wonderful what they’ve been able to do to make our lives much more enjoyable.
Imagination and Technology
We’re in a magical age . . . not just a magical season.
Even non-technical individuals can take advantage of all the wonderful facets of the internet. I am truly amazed and overwhelmed.
This must be how people felt with the telephone . . . to actually be talking with someone miles away.
I do wonder when we’ll be able to discover about heaven and connect with those who have passed. Wouldn’t it be great to speak with loved ones or people in history to get the real story.
Maybe this is beyond the realm of the technology we have available today, but I would imagine at some point this would be a reality for us. I’m sure from time to time you’d like to talk with a loved one . . . get to know them better or ask them questions about their life . . . and perhaps learn that they may have moved on . . . there is definitely a lot we have to learn.
I know that could be a bit science fiction for some of you . . . but “what if . . .”
I don’t know if I’d really like to travel through time . . . but it could be an interesting concept to explore.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if someone was working on that right now. Just as some have found and others are perfecting the ability to speak to the dead . . .
I do believe that just about anything is possible.
Yes, even life on other planets and in other galaxies. It may be a bit far fetched, but so very possible.
I may have gone a bit too far, but with imagination who knows what can be done . . . and what we can learn . . .
What Are Your Dreams?
It’s definitely something to think about.
You can leave a comment if you desire to share your dreams . . . or write them down some place for your future reference. It may be fun to go back from time to time to see how your priorities have changed . . . or your dreams, goals and aspirations.
This is an excellent time to imagine the future and your role in it. What do you truly want in your life? What would you like to be or do?
Dreaming is always fun . . . and who knows . . . they may even come true.
Have You Noticed That You’re Always Catching Up On Tasks?
I am.
I promised my brother I’d print out some pictures for him . . . that was months ago . . .
I finally decided to get to it. Once I got started it wasn’t that big of a deal. Maybe you’ve found the same to be true for you.
It’s embarrassing how I put things off. I know it is a bit early for New Year’s Resolutions, but this procrastination is one thing I need to stop . . . or at least get a handle on it.
I used to be much more organized and task oriented. I’m not sure what happened. Maybe getting involved in too many things.
It’s difficult to go back and discover when it all started, but it may be a sense of overwhelm I was experiencing or maybe starting something new that took up most of my time.
I’m not looking for excuses, but an explanation. What I know for sure is that procrastination hasn’t worked out for me. I’ve let others down and myself as well.
I don’t remember what was so important. That’s the truth of the matter. Sure I was taking a writing course, but that shouldn’t stop me from doing other tasks.
Yes, I was building websites . . . there was room to do other things right along with it.
I have no explanation and no excuse for procrastinating on important tasks. Have you found the same to be true for you?
Sorry For Making It Personal
I’m frustrated with myself for procrastinating.
It’s also embarrassing to be called on not following through. Even with the best of intentions, I don’t like letting others down.
It’s not right, in my way of thinking, to essentially tell someone that what I’m doing is much more important than what you asked me to do. It’s not how I felt at the time, but my lack of follow through showed that or conveyed that thought.
I’ve found that when I truly want to change my behavior, I make up my mind to do it.
At this point I’m tired of catching up. I want to be more organized and maybe get on a schedule . . . maybe that’s going a bit too far . . . but I may have to do just that to achieve the change I’m seeking.
Life Demands Multi-Tasking
I don’t know if the days, weeks and months seem to go by quickly for you, but they sure do for me.
It’s always “I’ll get to that tomorrow” mindset that has me catching up all the time.
I have found some priorities, though. It has to do with bill paying and answering letters, but when it comes to other tasks, I’ve found I’ve messed up.
Having a schedule may be important to get started. I want to eliminate procrastination from my behavior habit.
I’m all right with a flexible schedule. Maybe one that has the tasks written down for the whole month and then checking them off as they’re done. And maybe numbering them to get the most important ones accomplished first . . . but also squeezing in other tasks along with them. It may make my time more productive.
My websites are a priority. I love blogging, but find I’m not as dedicated as before. It may be due to having more websites than I can handle or losing interest in some and this frustration has resulted in allowing my favorite ones to suffer as well.
I know I’ve been struggling with a couple of websites that have gotten me down. This has been weighing on my mind for quite a long time. I think it may be time for me re-evaluate them and let them go to give me time to devote my time to those websites I enjoy.
Yes, there is a time to let go when you find things aren’t allowing you to progress.
Have You Noticed How Your Priorities Change Over Time?
I’m sure this is only natural.
We’re always learning something new. This could be conscious or subconscious or even unconscious. We’re picking things up from all forms of media as well as snipits of conversations we hear when we’re out and about.
Something clicks within our minds without us being aware of it at times. And I believe it gets us thinking about it on some conscious level to make sense about it and how it applies to us.
Not to sound selfish, but honestly it is about you and about me. We’re always wondering how something is going to affect me. It’s natural, not selfish.
It’s a basic part of human nature. We hear about a drought and wonder how it affects us personally. We want to know what we can do to help the situation rather than make it worse.
We do want to play an active role in many issues, mainly so it won’t impact our lives or lifestyle unfavorably. I like being comfortable and not worrying about things.
I want to improve my life and my skills. I want to continue learning, but not at the expense of other things that are equally important.
There are only so many hours in the day. I know I need to be as productive as possible. And also to give myself some time to relax and recharge.
My priorities have changed to some degree. And in order to be true to myself, I need to address those issues that are draining me and putting me into a procrastination mode.
For me it’s some websites that are draining rather than fulfilling. Yet, it’s difficult to let go . . . that’s my struggle right now. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to let go of that struggle and other struggles that are dragging me down?
It’s almost a no-brainer . . . so why is it so difficult?
When I figure that out, I may have something important to share that will be helpful to others.
If you have any suggestions be sure to let me know. I’m eager to learn something new and beneficial that makes my life easier and easier for others as well.
Some like printing it out on card stock so it doesn’t wear out as quickly, but regular printing paper works fine. It may actually be easier for folding.
I like this cootie catcher. Here’s a quick look inside:
How can you show people that you are grateful?
How do you feel when you say Thank You to someone?
Three things I’ve Thankful for today are.
Why is it important to be grateful for things in your life?
Which book are you thankful for reading?
This may get everyone talking about their memories of personal experiences they’re grateful for having — maybe not at the time, but now that you’ve had time to reflect. It’s a wonderful activity for young and old to share their thoughts and feelings.
It’s not the best quality, but it is a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree.
It’s an Amazon Best Seller for good reason. It reminds us all of the True Meaning of Christmas.
It’s a delightful conversation piece that would be excellent on a buffet or dessert table.
This is a 24″ Lonely Tree with a blanket inspired by Charles Schultz Peanut characters. One red ornament and Linus’ blanket is included. This is for indoor use with some assembly required.
Here’s a video you may enjoy:
Yes, this lonely little tree is a delightful remembrance of what Christmas is all about and may it brighten this Christmas season for you and yours.
