December Doings
December 7, 2009 
Believe it or not, December is Bingo month. I don’t know how I’ve lived as long as I have and not known that. And I kinda like Bingo.
Notable weeks in December include Human Rights Week (end of the first, beginning of the second week) and Tell Someone They’re Doing a Good Job Week (second full week). What great weeks to celebrate. Where have I been all of my life? Have I just not been paying attention? I never heard of either of those.
No, I just think the “famous” December holidays crowd out the lesser observances in the same way that they overshadow late December birthdays. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, the big three, get all the attention. Christmas is helped by the post-Halloween blitz that begins in earnest on television and in malls. And it can’t ever hurt to have a celebration go on for 7 or 8 days.
The first day of winter and the shortest day of the year are on Monday the 21st, Christmas Eve is 3 days later and one week later is the last day of the year—and a full moon. Hmmmm, maybe I’ll stay in this New Years Eve; it’ll be one less one on the road.
Enjoy, enjoy!
Hello!
November 21, 2009 
Today has been designated World Hello Day. The goal is to promote personal communication by encouraging people to say hello to at least 10 other people.
In this economic epoch, investing in Impressionist art might be like Monet in the bank.
November 14, 2009 
French Impressionist painter (Claude) born this day in 1840, two days after and in the same year as French sculptor August Rodin (12th). Famed Wisconsin-born painter Georgia O’Keeffe also shares this month (15th/1887).
Happy Birthday Sesame Street!
Sunny day – Sweepin’ the clouds away,
On my way to where the air is sweet.
Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street.
Come and play, everything’s A-OK
Friendly neighbors there that’s where we meet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street
It’s a magic carpet ride. Every door will open wide.
Happy people like you. Happy people who.
Like a beautiful sunny day sweepin’ the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get,
How to get to Sesame street, how to get to Sesame Street, How to get to . . .
*************************************************************
How do you get to any place that makes you feel like that?
Beginning Again–November 2009
Happy All Saints’ Day.
November is the month when we traditionally think of Thanksgiving, but there are many other special days, weeks, and month-long commemorations.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, American Diabetes Month, Lung Cancer Awareness Month, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and Crohn’s & Ulcerative Colitis Awareness Month. As you can tell, this is a month particularly given to the awareness of several serious diseases. However, it is also National Family Caregivers Month. Many times the spouses and family of those with serious conditions are forgotten in the equation.
From their material: “NFC Month is organized annually by the National Family Caregivers Association as a time each year to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. “This year we are encouraging people to speak up during National Family Caregivers Month,”said Suzanne Mintz, NFCA president and CEO. “One of the most important attributes of being an advocate for your loved one is the willingness and the ability to speak up and keep your eye on the ultimate goal, protecting not only the health and safety of your loved ones, but your own as well.”
Remember to keep an eye on those who are keeping an eye on others.
Lastly, for those other budding writers out there, November is National Novel Writing Month. Only 29 more days to go. We can do it. This is our year.
Pore over it and pour it on.
What are we doing to our children?
This past week:
I looked into the eyes of sadness when I saw Somer Thompson’s mother plea for the return of her second grade daughter early yesterday morning and then later that same evening thank those who searched for that same daughter. The twin girl had been abducted, killed, and left in a landfill–while she was on her way home from school.
I looked into the eyes of madness when I saw Richard Heene plea for the return of his son who I (and many others) thought was on a sure flight to his ultimate demise. A son, whom he had co-opted along with his other two sons (you too, Mayumi) into perpetrating this canard.
In both instances, innocence and childhood have been lost.
“Don’t forget to stretch”
On my way out of the gym at zero dark thirty this morning, the sadistic personal trainer I had worked with for almost 60 minutes said (almost mockingly– I’m pretty sure) “don’t forget to stretch.” I’ve heard this before so it really didn’t mean much—until later. I’ve actually started a new workout routine, so I’d worked out harder and differently that I had in the past. It was good and awful at the same time. It wasn’t much later in the day that I began to feel the effects of the early morning, so stretch I did and continue to do. It really does help and it feels great.
I’d like to consider applying that advise to other areas. Body, soul, spirit, emotions, experiences, etc. Don’t forget to stretch. It seems that I (we) are being routinely asked to choose favorites. Favorite team? Ice Cream? Movie? Place to go? Automobile? Etc. The applications in many networking sites are bevy of quizzes and tests that can unintentionally narrow me, my world, and my thinking. They are fun and to be taken for what they are, but for me, I’m beginning to feel that I have to frequently choose between sometimes two (or more) desirable and equally valid choices. Why can’t I like all 32 flavors? Or want a different one each day of the month? Don’t forget to stretch.
Consider this quote:
“Each day do something outrageous to stretch
your mind and broaden your horizons, to
change the present and help someone become
something more than they were before-
and that someone might be you.”
Source: Harry Quadracci
The race to be the best worst.
What is it with us these days? And by us I mean humans. Is it my imagination or do we continue to exhibit and/or revel in bad behavior? Have manners and civility gone out of fashion? Last night I watched one recording artist “diss” another recording artist live and on stage for no apparent reason other than a personal one.[ I guess waiting until later to express that opinion was not an option.] Last week a member of the government committed a severe breech of U.S. protocol by shouting down the president during a speech to Congress. First time ever.
Television is becoming fuller of people who will shout down, spit on, punch, slap, betray, double-time, and misuse others for…money? ratings? fame? That’s a helluva price to pay for 15 minutes. But, are we as a society buying what they are selling or are they selling what we’re buying? Who begats what? Aren’t there some things that are too expensive to sell and trade for? Like peace and kindness and goodness.
Words Mean Things
Speaking of watching what you say…
Someone forwarded this to me a few years ago and I found it in “the archives” recently. I am not sure whom to attribute it to, but I think it is worth passing on. Here it is in its entirety:
THE TONGUE CAN BE YOUR WORST
ENEMY!
Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your job, you might lose your job.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your body, your body can become sick.
If you keep saying you can’t stand your car, your car could be stolen or
just stop operating.
If you keep saying you’re broke, guess what? You’ll always be broke.
If you keep saying you can’t trust a man or trust a woman, you will always
find someone in your life to hurt and betray you.
If you keep saying you can’t find a job, you will remain unemployed.
If you keep saying you can’t find someone to love you or believe in you,
your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs.
If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship,
then you might end up with it.
Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power packed with faith, hope, love and action.
Don’t be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.
Watch your Thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your Habits, they become character.
Watch your Character, for it becomes your Destiny
The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you
settle for.
Thought I would share this with you. “In the search for me, I discovered
truth. In the search for truth, I discovered love. In the search for love,
I discovered God. And in God, I have found everything.”
