Celebration

Some Motivation For The New Year

If you have ever looked at my opening article, you will see that it is a quote from one of my sources of motivation, Og Mandino. So as I prepare for this New Year, I thought it would be only fitting to share with you, something else written by Og Mandino.

Use this as a source of motivation as you prepare your goals and resolutions for the up-coming year.

THE SEEDS OF SUCCESS

God, I thank you for this day.
I know I have not accomplished as yet all you expect of me, and if that is your reason for bathing me in the fresh dew of another dawn, I am most grateful.

I am prepared, at last, to make you proud of me.

I will forget yesterday, with all its trials and tribulations, aggravations and setbacks, angers and frustrations. The past is already a dream from which I can neither retrieve a single word nor erase any foolish deeds.

I will resolve, however, that if I have injured anyone yesterday through my thoughtlessness, I will not let this day’s sun set before I make amends, and nothing I do today will be of greater importance.

I will not fret the future. My success and happiness does not depend on straining to see what lurks dimly on the horizon but to do, this day, what lies clearly at hand.

I will treasure this day, for it is all I have. I know that its rushing hours cannot be accumulated or stored, like precious grain, for future use.

I will live as all good actors do when they are onstage – only in the moment. I cannot perform at my best today by regretting my previous act’s mistakes or worrying about the scene to come.

I will embrace today’s difficult tasks, take off my coat, and make dust in the world. I will remember that the busier I am, the less harm I am apt to suffer, the tastier will be my food, the sweeter my sleep, and the better satisfied I will be with my place in the world.

I will free myself today from slavery to the clock and calendar. Although I will plan this day in order to conserve my steps and energy, I will begin to measure my life in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not seasons; in feelings, not figures on a dial.

I will remain aware of how little it takes to make this a happy day. Never will I pursue happiness, because it is not a goal, just a by-product, and there is no happiness in having or in getting, only in giving.

I will run from no danger I might encounter today, because I am certain that nothing will happen to me that I am not equipped to handle with your help. Just as any gem is polished by friction, I am certain to become more valuable through this day’s adversities, and if you close one door, you always open another for me.

I will live this day as if it were Christmas. I will be a giver of gifts and deliver to my enemies the gift of forgiveness; my opponents, tolerance; my friends, a smile; my children, a good example, and every gift will be wrapped with unconditional love.

I will waste not even a precious second today in anger or hate or jealousy or selfishness. I know that the seeds I sow I will harvest, because every action, good or bad, is always followed by an equal reaction. I will only plant good seeds this day.

I will treat today as a priceless violin. One may draw harmony from it and another, discord, yet no one will blame the instrument. Life is the same, and if I play it correctly, it will give forth beauty, but if I play it ignorantly, it will produce ugliness.

I will condition myself to look on every problem I encounter today as no more than a pebble in my shoe. I remember the pain, so harsh I could hardly walk, and recall my surprise when I removed my shoe and found only a grain of sand.

I will work convinced that nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. To do anything today that is truly worth doing, I must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in with gusto and scramble through as well as I can.

I will face the world with goals set for this day, but they will be attainable ones, not the vague, impossible variety declared by those who make a career of failure. I realise that you always try me with a little, first, to see what I would do with a lot.

I will never hide my talents. If I am silent, I am forgotten, if I do not advance, I will fall back. If I walk away from any challenge today, my self-esteem will be forever scarred, and if I cease to grow, even a little, I will become small. I reject the stationary position because it is always the beginning of the end.

I will keep a smile on my face and in my heart even when it hurts today. I know that the world is a looking glass and gives back to me the reflection of my own soul. Now I understand the secret of correcting the attitude of others and that is to correct my own.

I will turn away from any temptation today that might cause me to break my word or lose my self-respect. I am positive that the only thing I possess more valuable than my life is my honor.

I will work this day with all my strength; content in the knowledge that life does not consist of wallowing in the past or peering anxiously at the future. It is appalling to contemplate the great number of painful steps by which one arrives at a truth so old, so obvious, and so frequently expressed. Whatever it offers, little or much, my life is now.

I will pause whenever I am feeling sorry for myself today, and remember that this is the only day I have and I must play it to the fullest. What my part may signify in the great whole, I may not recognize, but I am here to play it and now is the time.

I will count this day a separate life.

I will remember that those who have fewest regrets are those who take each moment as it comes for all that it is worth.

This is my day!
These are my seeds.
Thank you, god, for this precious garden of time.

~ Og Mandino ~

New Year - Video

2006 is almost over.

I don't know where it went ... do you?

What I do know, is that I will continue to seek out things to celebrate, today and everyday of each and every year. And in that spirit, I hope you enjoy this short video as you prepare to celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Celebrate Nature With Your Christmas Tree

Have you looked out into your backyard lately?

If you do, you might notice that it's at this time of the year that the birds and even the squirrels, are scrounging around for food as well as for nesting material. Because just like you, they need to prepare for the winter ahead.

Now, if you celebrated Christmas with a real Christmas tree, or even a holiday wreath made from natural materials, you are probably getting ready to dispose of the them in the very near future.

So, this can be a win-win solution for both you and the birds, because there is a way for you to recycle what you have into something they need to have. Just pass that used Christmas tree and slightly dried-out holiday wreath, down the food chain and re-gift them to some of nature's neediest and smallest creatures. Give them as gifts to the birds and squirrels, and you will be celebrating nature in the process.

How To Prepare The Tree To Bring Outdoors

• Take all the ornaments, lights and decorations off the tree. If you used tinsel or icicles, make sure you remove them all.
• Decide on where you plan on setting up the tree outdoors.
• Place the base of the tree in a bucket, then fill the bucket with sand, stones or water if the water will freeze to ice when placed outside. Or, you can always leave the tree in it's indoor tree stand.

How To Trim The Tree For The Birds

Basically, you can use just about any of your holiday leftovers as tree trimmings. The birds, and even squirrels aren't too picky when it comes to our table scraps. Even what we consider small portions are useful to them. Here are a few decorating suggestions to help you get started.

• Bread, the harder the better, cut into smaller pieces. - Attach by hanging with string or stick on the branches using peanut butter.
• Donuts, pastry or crackers are favorites, plain or covered with peanut butter and rolled in bird seeds. - Hang with string or yarn, or attach with peanut butter.
• Oranges or tangerines, cut into slices and hung on the tree branches.
• Apples and pears, cut into slices and hung on the tree branches.
• Cranberries on a string. - Hang like garland on the Christmas tree.
• Popcorn on a string. - Hang like garland on the tree.
• Pieces of string and yarn attached to the tree. - Used for nesting material. 

You can use all of these items to decorate a wreath as well. Just make sure that there are no items  used that contain glitter or paint. We're doing this nature's way, all natural.

So there you have it. A fantastic way for you and the entire family, to celebrate nature as we near the end of this season of holiday celebrations.

Have fun! I'm quite sure the birds and squirrels will.

National Chocolate Day Recipe

In honor of National Chocolate Day, I want to share with you a very simple and old fashioned way of making hot chocolate. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against the powered variety of hot chocolate but, if you want some really, really great tasting hot chocolate, then you have got to try this  simple recipe.

HOT CHOCOLATE

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups milk

Chop up a block of semisweet chocolate

Place the milk and chopped chocolate (you can also add sugar or sweetner to taste) in a saucepan over medium heat.

Whisk the mixture periodically until it reaches the boiling point and is foamy.

Remove from heat and if more foam is desired, use a wire whisk or hand held blender to whip the hot chocolate.

National Chocolate Day

Today is National Chocolate Day!

So in honor of chocolate, I plan on enjoying as much of it as I can because I like the way it makes me feel.

Really!

Did you know that a lot of people, including me, experience a "good feeling" after indulging in chocolate? Well they do and it's only one of the pleasant side effects of eating chocolate. That's because there are over 300 known chemicals in chocolate.

For example, one of the best know chemical ingredients, which can be found in small amounts in chocolate, is caffeine. It's believed that the combination of caffeine, and another weaker stimulant,  Theobromine, may be what creates the euphoria that some people experience after eating chocolate. The Theobromine is an ingredient in chocolate, found in slightly higher amounts than the caffeine.

And if that wasn't enough, another ingredient, that's related to amphetamines (which are strong stimulants,) called Phenylethylamine, is also found in chocolate. So when you combine the Phenylethylamine, the Caffeine and Theobromine, which are all stimulants, in chocolate, the combination increases the chemicals in the parts of your brain that affects the way you feel. Eating chocolate tells your brain to stay alert and the chemical ingredients contribute to your sense of well-being.

Cool, huh?

And if that wasn't enough, researchers have identified additional chemicals, that they have think all interact, to make you feel good after you eat chocolate. In fact, researchers in San Diego, California, at the Neurosciences Institute, believe that they have identified additional chemicals in chocolate that affect the brain in the same as marijuana does!

So what are you waiting for?

Go and indulge your cravings and have some chocolate.

In fact, ... I think I need another piece!

Celebration of Kwanzaa Contextualized - Video -

As we taked about in the last article, the Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days, starting the 26th of Devember. But very few people outside of the African-American community, know much about Kwanzaa, or understand the philosophy and symbolism of the celebration.

I hope that the following video helps to explain the origins of the celebration of Kwanzaa. This video presents some clarifications about what the first Kwanzaa celebrants had in mind, independent of the person of Ron Karenga, who was the driving force behind the celebration.

As always, feel free to leave any comments or ask questions.

 

Celebration of Kwanzaa

The African-American cultural holiday Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits," conceived and developed by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga started yesterday, the 26th of December. Kwanzaa seeks to enforce a connectedness to African cultural identity, and to focus on, and reflect upon the seven principles.

The modern celebration of Kwanzaa, which was first celebrated in the year 1966, is celebrated by Africans and African-Americans in America, from the 26th of December, to January 1st. Each day of the celebration focuses on one of the seven principles, and each of them are celebrated through singing, speaking, dancing and reciting from the traditional African heritage. And for every day of Kwanzaa, one candle is lit that represents each principle.

The seven principle of Kwanzaa are:

• unity
• self-determination
• collective work and responsibility
• cooperative economics
• purpose
• creativity
• faith

Kwanzaa is rooted in the first harvest celebrations developed from elements of the African heritage and seeks to enforce a connectedness to African cultural identity, provide a focal point for the gathering of African peoples, and to reflect upon the the seven principles, (Nguzo Saba.)  The four elements that made up the original African meaning of Kwanzaa were unity, awareness of ancestry and heritage, recommitment to traditional values, and reverence for creator and the creation.

The main focus of Kwanzaa where cultural expression is encouraged, is called Karamu, and is celebrated on the evening of  December 31st. The program for the Karamu generally involves a welcome, a remembrance of ancestry, a reassessment of situations, a recommitment to values, a rejoicing, a farewell statement, and a call for greater unity. This is a celebration that is practiced to bring all participants closer to their African roots.

The honoring traditions and the reaffirming of self worth through gift giving, is the focus of the last day of Kwanzaa. And because Kwanzaa emphasizes creativity, which is one of the seven principles, gifts are often made rather than bought.

Unlike Christmas or even Boxing day, the point of Kwanzaa is neith one of gift giving nor religious celebration, but a commemoration of heritage and togetherness. The original ideas behind the seven principles were to bring forth the harvest, and the guiding principles teach the values from African heritage. Kwanzaa serves to bring people together and remind them just how important they are to each other.

Celebration of Boxing Day

Happy Boxing Day

Today, December 26th, Boxing Day is being celebrated in Australia, Britain, New Zealand, and Canada.

Boxing Day is a holiday that is usually spent with family and friends, enjoying good food, while sharing friendship and love. And much like some of our American holidays, the government buildings and small businesses are closed but the shopping centers remain open. Of course for many shoppers, it is a day to utilize the time to go out exchanging gifts or buying merchandise on sale, for their Christmas  celebration next year.

However, to  keep the tradition of Boxing Day alive, many families, businesses and organizations, will donate their money, time or services, to aid community projects like the Food Banks or they may provide gifts for the families or individuals who are less fortunate. Some of the families, organizations or businesses may choose to focus their support on an individual family that they are aware of, that is in need of financial assistance.

While it is rather clear how Boxing Day is celebrated, when it comes to the origins of Boxing Day and why it is celebrated, there seems to be a couple of different theories.

The first theory is that centuries ago, on the day after Christmas, members of the merchant class would give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. The gifts were an expression of gratitude much like in today's society when people receive bonuses, from their employer, for a job well done. These gifts, given in boxes, gave the holiday it's name, "Boxing Day." The second theory is that Boxing Day comes from the tradition of the churches opening their alms boxes, which were used to collect money from wealthy church goers throughout the Christmas season. When opened, the money from the alms boxes was distributed to the poor, by the church clergy, the day after Christmas.

Sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century, under the reign of Queen Victoria, Boxing Day began. Thus Boxing Day, also known as St. Stephen's Day, became a way for the fortunate members of the upper class, to give gifts of goods or cash, to the less fortunate members of the lower class.

In my opinion, this is such a great extension, even if it is only one day, of the true meaning and spirit of Christmas. Why not celebrate Boxing Day with our own families, and make it a practice to celebrate a day when we give something back to help the less fortunate in our communities. Maybe you could identity a family in your church and volunteer to provide them with an offering of food or clothing. Or why not volunteer to buy a couple of toys for some children at a homeless shelter and deliver them the day after Christmas. The possibilities are endless.

It doesn't have to matter what county you live in on the planet. The simple principle of giving to others who are less fortunate than yourself can be put into practiced by us all.

Some Thoughts on Christmas Day

Every Christmas morning, my sisters and I would wait anxiously for my father to give the "You can open your presents now" command. I'm not sure we slept much at all after we went to bed on Christmas Eve, and we would lay in our beds for what seemed like hours, until we heard Dad's voice. I have such vivid memories of my childhood Christmas's, memories from our days celebrating the holidays in my parent's home.

Over the years, my parents have given me the boxes of our family's Christmas decorations. The big red stocking with my name written with glitter, my first ornaments and of course all the handmade Christmas tree decorations I made for them throughout the years. (I never knew that they saved all of the things that I had made for them!) And often, as I look at some of the real old-fashioned glass ornaments that belonged to my grandmother, I can't help but remember, some of my most cherished Christmas memories of all.

You know, it seems that as we grow older, there are many little things that change throughout the course of a year. But we never really stop and notice them, until as a family, we gather together at the dinner table for Christmas. With the exception of one or two years when my sisters had Christmas at their homes, our family has always gathered at my parent's home for Christmas dinner. For me, it is then, that it almost brings a pain to a little place in my heart where all my hidden feelings go. It was during the season of Christmas, those years ago, when my beloved Grandmother died after a battle with breast cancer. As I look around the table, I can't help but thinking back to when my Grandmother sat next to me at the very same table, helping me to "hide" the food left on my plate so I wouldn't get in trouble. Or when she would slip a five-dollar bill to me across her lap and softly say "This is for you." I miss my Grandmother nearly as much today as I did the day she died.

Yes, some things have changed over the years. Family members have died and son-in-laws have joined the mix. (And in a couple of cases, even a couple of son-in-laws have been replaced with newer models!)  There's even a granddaughter at the table now. But as I gaze around the dinner table, I can still remember those who occupied the same seats as when we were children. And if I think back hard enough, I can even remember bits and pieces of conversations that still linger in the child-part of my brain and the secret compartments of my heart. But as sure as I'm sitting here, there are things that haven't changed a bit, because my father still makes us girls wait anxiously for him to command  "You can open your presents now," before we are allowed to touch anything.  And I still get the same feelings in the pit of my stomach...the feelings of  love, and trust and of course, a feeling of family.

As you celebrate Christmas this year, take a moment and remember the past. Remember the friends and family who have helped you grow to be the person you are today, whether they are still here or have passed on. I know that for me, my Christmas spirit is born of the love of  family, both present and past.

Merry Christmas

Joann

Follow Santa Claus This Christmas Eve

The feast day of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century bishop from Asia Minor, was celebrated on December 6th. Known as the patron saint of children and sailors, he was famous for giving gifts to children. His feast became a children's holiday in Holland where he became known as Sint Nikolaas.

Because they couldn't pronounce the Dutch name, the English colonists in New York, (previously the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam,)  called him “Santa Claus,”  and began celebrating the feast day on Christmas.

Another name for Santa Claus, Kriss Kringle, developed in Germany around 1600. The Protestants in  Germany, gave gifts as they celebrated the birth of the Christ child, Christkindl, on December 25th. Over time, the name “Christkindl” evolved into “Kriss Kringle.”

In Germany as well as the Netherlands, the man known as Santa Claus, often rode accross the skies on a white horse. Often depicted as wearing the robes of a bishop, and sometimes accompanied by Black Peter, an elf who whipped naughty children, he delivered presents to all the children who had   been good.

Throughout the years, the tradition of gift giving evolved. The combination of the religious account of the three Wise Men who gave gifts to the baby Jesus, and the character of the gift giving Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus, combined to evolve into a strong tradition of the exchanging of gifts on Christmas.

Here is how the name of Santa Claus is said around the world.

Country Name Belgium Pere Noel Brazil Papai Noel Chile Viejo Pascuero (“Old Man Christmas”) China Dun Che Lao Ren (“Christmas Old Man”) Finland Joulupukki France Pere Noel Germany Weihnachtsmann (“Christmas Man”) Hawaii Kanakaloka Hungary Mikulas (St. Nicholas) Italy Babbo Natale Japan Hoteiosho (a god or priest who bears gifts) Netherlands Kerstman Norway Julenissen (“Christmas gnome”) Poland Swiety Mikolaj (St. Nicholas) Russia Ded Moroz (“Grandfather Frost”) Sweden Jultomten (“Christmas brownie”) United Kingdom Father Christmas

Did you know that you can track Santa around the world as he makes the annual trip to deliver the toys to all girls and boys. Well you can watch and get the updates in real time from NORAD's special Santa site.

And if you want to visit a magical website or two, this Christmas Eve, then take a minute and visit, Santa's Northpole and Christmas in Finland