My Last Thought in 2010. (A bit disjointed, but what else is new?)
Today’s message comes via a 4:30 a.m. unplanned and unscheduled “wake-up” call. Nothing to worry about … just an old seasoned marketing guy who is finding it harder and harder to sleep through the night. Thanks to a “busy” brain.
It snowed this week on the East Coast and with it brought non-stop news reporting that sounded something like this: “Man, is it snowing!” As far back as I could remember, people have been asking, praying and hoping for a White Christmas Season. They got one. They whine about it.
Not me. Not my wife.
We drove 1500 miles for snow and we will drive 1500 more next week when the Holidays are over. “Hey! If you’re cold, put on a hat!” And ask any guy. Nothing is as toasty as a tight fitting pair of Long Johns.
The reason we drive so far every year has a lot to do with the old fashioned CHRISTMAS TREE. The bigger the better according to my wife, Barbara.
“No message yet, Mike. Where’s the beef?”
Cold or no cold, north, south, east or west, it is the Holiday Season (Christmas, Hanukah, and New Years.) This is a great time of year, tree or no tree. It marks the end of a chapter and a promise for all sorts of good, fun, challenging, interesting, thought-provoking and sometimes even exhilarating times ahead. Give yourself the “fog” test. If you can still fog a mirror, life is still good … as my t-shirt and coffee mug reminds me daily.
It is a time for celebration and a time to renew our intentions, plans, and to refresh our personal bucket list. (Me? I just added a visit to Quebec to my list. Bon jour. Bon soir. Bon appétit. Bon Jovi) ) It is a time to challenge our sense of humor for the next 365 days, and keep it well-oiled and ready for immediate use.
But it also is a time to think, reflect, and to breath and relax. It is a time for all of us to be good to ourselves while we are being kind and considerate of others. It is time to get serious and to lighten up all at the same time. (Worth the effort.)
Some say it is the best time of the year … yet many have found what they feel are valid reasons to whine, complain, mutter and grouse about a cancelled airplane or a beautiful snow drift around their old bucket of bolts. I say “GEDOVAHIT!” (Get over it – an offshoot of FUHGEDABOUDIT!) Buy a book. Here is a novel idea for some of you: The next time you find yourself delayed for any reason whatsoever, (traffic, Dentist, or airplane, etc) read your book. Enjoy the delay.
Mike’s New Year Reminder: In 2011, when you run into a whining, boring, negative slug, give them a wink and a “thumbs-up” and then run like hell in the opposite direction. Do not, DO not, DO NOT play their game. Misery will always love company. Ruuuuuuuuunnnnnn!
For those of you who deplore cutting down Christmas Trees, I defer you to www.treehugger.com.
To the rest of you, I’m bundling up and going out to knock down a snow drift. See you all next year. Stay safe and make it your goal to be good to yourself in 2011.