“While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is about.” 

— Angela Schwindt

Many years ago, my oldest son was one of the three kings in the Christmas play.  He came on the stage, fearless, with one of the other kings.  They both looked around to see that there was still only two kings.  The audience was amused as the two looked for their missing classmate.  The two kings continued on with their lines as a teacher coaxed the third king onto the stage.  The audience laughed but the two kings didn’t care; the show just went on.  I watched on with pride and tears in my eyes (I always cry at my kids’ school performances); the kings did not care what others thought, they were proudly reciting their lines.  It was Christmas and they loved everything about it!

Children excitedly wave to their parents from the stage.  They dress up in colorful, cute costumes.  (I remember one year my son had to wear construction paper elf ears.  He is now 31 and it is still a great memory we enjoy.) The children happily sing at the top of their lungs.  Then only a few short years later, you are dragging them to their school concert and they are begging you to call and tell the school they are sick.

The enthusiasm and excitement of young children at Christmas!  When did WE lose it?  Why did we lose it?

Have you lost your holiday spirit?  Get out and watch some children today, we can learn a lot about how to enjoy life!! 

Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LGSW, LADC

“The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”   —  Lao Tzu

Are you overwhelmed?  Does your world or the rest of the world seem out of control?  Do you feel like there is nothing you can do to make a difference? 

STOP!  DO NOT give way to fear and old excuses!  Your past experiences are to be used for learning, not for making up excuses.  Get out of the future and stop getting overwhelmed by the amount of work needed to get there.  You only have the present.  Focus!  Start by just taking one step; one step at a time. 

That project you have been avoiding??  Do just one thing on it, right now. 

The world problems that you have been complaining about??  Help just one person, right now.

Stop giving in to fear that allows you to procrastinate.  Start by moving one step and then figure out the next step.  You can only live moment by moment so stop wasting time, get excited, and see where those steps will take you. 

‘’”When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”    —  Victor Frankl

When the situation around us seems challenging and we don’t know what to do; maybe we should look within ourselves. 

We cannot change others, they must change themselves.  Forcing them to think or do what we want will only cause later anger and resentment. 

We CAN change ourselves.  What can we do to help the situation?  Are we just adding to the conflict or are we part of the solution?  Are we just complaining or are we helping?  Are we just handing out empty words and no positive action?

Showing unconditional love, kindness, empathy, forgiveness, respect, and acceptance can go a long way to positively changing yourself.  This change will have a positive impact on others around you and will spread.

Martin Luther King wrote about not trying to defeat or humiliate the opponent, but to win his friendship and understanding.  He believed that at the center of action must be love.

This holiday season, lets all work on making our own change to impact our world!  Make a change, be the change!