Dreaming It All Up Again

5 days 'til the jolly old elf comes to visit, Beatdowners!  Are you doing your part to stay on the "Nice" list???

As I stated in my final blog, I need to step away and dream it all up again. 

It's a process.

And I think part of the process can be incorporated into 2012's New Year's Resolutions.

Here's a few things...

Don't rain on anyone's parade - we all have cruddy stuff we deal with daily.  Some of us tend to wear the negativity like a tacky Christmas sweater - loud and proud.  It's okay to seek advice and solace with friends, but don't make it a daily routine to pee in someone's Cheerios when the cards aren't falling the way you hope.  No need to send out invites to your own little pity party.  Revel in other's success.  I'm a firm believer that success - as well as negativity - is contagious.

Let's face it - opinions are like buttholes - we all got 'em, and they all stink.  Sure, if someone asks your opinion, give it.  But be mindful of sharing your opinion just for the sake of being a dissenting voice. 

As I mentioned before - stop always looking for the answers.  Stop always asking the heavy questions.  Just be.  Enjoy the here and now.  Live each day as if it's the best day ever.  Live each day as if it is your last, because one day it will be; afterall, we are never promised tomorrow.  Stop solely enjoying the "remember that time" stories.  Stop solely enjoying the anticipation of the trip, the party, the whatever.  Just take it all in as it's happening and live in that minute!

Say "Thank You" - to co-workers, to friends, to family.  Daily.  Let go of bitterness.  It ages you, way more than you realize.  Being thankful and grateful to those around you doesn't cost anything, and could start a trend of paying it forward - wouldn't it be awesome to brighten someone's day with 2 simple little words?

Don't straddle yourself with regret.

Forgive.  Let go of grudges.  And most importantly, forgive yourself.  Pause, acknowledge, turn the page and move forward.

Give unconditionally - thoughts, encouragement, prayers, time, patience, friendship, love, service.  Everyone can use one (or all) of the above, and again, none cost anything.  And any one of these simply things could be THE very spark that someone needs to prevent them from throwing in the proverbial towel.  Any one of these simple things could serve as the lighthouse in someone's storm.  Any one of these could be the crutch we all need to lean on from time to time.

And a common thread throughout all of this message is take the time to learn the lessons from the challenges we face.  Once the lesson is learned, we adapt...dare I say we evolve.  Once the lesson is learned, the challenge can't burden us again.  We simply move around it, plow through it, or act as if it simply doesn't exist.

And by all means - share those lessons.

5 days until Christmas.  11 days until we ring in 2012.  Take an inventory of everything you have to be thankful for, for every gift you receive daily.  Granted, some may be harder to find and recognize - but if you look hard enough, they are there, standing in front of us in broad daylight.

Until next time...