Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Everything Comes In Threes...

...or in my case twelves.

So much is happening these days. But what I have been thinking about most these last couple of days is a phrase. Why do we fall down?

Answer: So we can pick ourselves up again.

Life is full of hardships because in our lives we have to learn everything that we can. And the only way to do that is through experience. If we never experience sadness, heartbreak, financial hardships, things of that sort then we will never know. We will never know how to deal with such events in the future and we will never know how strong we actually are.

Our bodies may seem weak, nothing but flesh and breakable bones, but our will is strong. To continue to have courage to stand back up when everything seems to be pushing you down.

Courage to face the challenges that lay ahead even when you know they are going to be difficult and when you know that things can't be the same comforting ideas that they were yesterday.

Courage to do what you know in your heart is right, even if that means eating a little more Top Ramen than is necessary for the human body so that you can pay your tithing and your bills and live free of financial debt.

Courage to stand beside a family member even if you feel like you are watching them walk down a rocky path to the future. And courage take responsibility for faults that you didn't know you made.

Every day is about waking up and standing up to those things in life that we are afraid of. To be frightened of things and still wake up to face them is a test of our strength and will every day we live. It is never easy, but it is worth it for those moments of time when the fear and the challenges subside and we are left with only peace in our hearts and minds.

So I ask you, why do we fall down?

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Halloween Madness Done, Just Need To Take Down The Decorations

It is true, I was going to take down the decorations from Halloween last night, but somehow I have received a nice present of a cold from someone, somewhere and decided that I was so tired when I got home from work that I was just going to sleep through the night and that is what I did. I now feel bad because I missed hanging out with some great people, but since I am not feeling as terribly sick right now I think that I will get over it... eventually. I hate missing out on fun things to do (especially the World Series).

Anyways, after 14 hours of sleep last night I am feeling a lot better and hopefully will be able to get out and about tonight and do something fun, but who knows at this point. What I really want to talk about is the change I have felt in the air these last couple of days. Every morning I get up and walk my dog before work, and for the last couple of days I can feel a crispness in the air that just wasn't there last week.

The cool air has a real bite to it, I can see my breath already. The leaves are falling like crazy (yes the leaves do fall off the trees in California), and soon I expect to see the Christmas decorations and lights getting put up. This is by far my favorite couple of months every year. There is a rushed feeling that can be quite stressful but also there is a change in everyone's attitude that always amazes me. A kindness towards others that only this time of the year seems to bring out of people. That reminds me I really need to make plans to take a trip to the mall and do some holiday people watching, it is the best.

But most of all I love knowing that I get time off this year to spend with my family. It is going to be a difficult holiday season for my family with the death of my Grandfather this last May. Our first holiday season without him, but by being together I think that we will all make it through.

I was talking with a friend Skyler last year about what we liked most about Christmas and he summed it up perfectly.  He said to me, it is the one day a year that nothing else matters, you don't worry about finances, you don't worry about work, all you think about is the moment and the other things that trouble you come back the next day, but just for that day they don't exist. That day does not feel like it is going to come soon enough this year.