Reflections

                 A Reflection

A reflection from a flickering candle

Casts its silhouette upon the wall

As the Christmas carol fades

And the bell’s jingle grows still

Lifeless stockings now hang empty of anticipation

While garbage bags are bursting full

Only stale cookie crumbs left to decorate the plastic trays

Most earthly joys of Christmas now gone

What’s left is soon to be packed safely away……… Karen Spencer

.............

It seems to be a natural response to quickly round up the leftovers of Christmas and move on with break neck speed, diving into the New Year.   But this year let’s not do that, instead let’s pause and use it for a time of reflection …. Not racing, but strolling across the bridge connecting the past and future.      

 

As you know from my last week’s blog, I’ll be counting my blessings as they come along in the next year, but first I've decided I want to reflect on 2011. I’m going to take a day or two and write down the special moments, and blessings I received this last year.

 

 

I suspect it will be a wonderful exercise to replay and reflect on the moments of peace and joy I have received this year. It is such a reminder of God’s miracles; both large and small.  We Dare not forget to stop and give thanks to our Father in Heaven. 

 

 

Once I’ve written down the blessings, I’m also going to write down challenges that I faced (hopefully that list will be a lot shorter than my first).  I suspect this activity will also give me plenty of seeds for thought and reflection. 

This quote from Oprah leads me to my final step;“I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it….”   So after pondering over the blessings and the challenges that came with last year, I’m going to write down the lessons I’ve learned in 2011.   I’m hoping you’ll do the same. I'd love it if you would share some of your wisdom gained through your experiences.

Small step: Take time for reflection by writing down my blessings, my challenges and my lessons learned from 2011. 

Blessings Each and Every Day

"We need deliberately to call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world."   George A. Buttric

Week 21

Well the week has finally arrived, and the countdown until Christmas has begun.  But, in the midst of all the anticipation there is this back drop of so many problems out there in our world; it just feels like there is a lot of turmoil in lives today, despite the excitement of the season.  But even, and perhaps because of these uncertain times, we must dare not forget to pause and give thanks for our many blessings. 

I must sadly admit that I don’t spend near enough time thinking about and giving thanks for the blessings I receive.  Oh, I occasionally stop and give pause for all the wonderful gifts that have been bestowed on me and no doubt if I did begin to make a list of the joys in my life, I would find the paper overflowing.  I would like to improve in that area of my life.  The truth is that the more I think about my blessings, the more blessed I feel…  Kind of like eating healthy food, the more I do it…the healthier I feel and the more of it I want to do.

I have thought about keeping a blessing’s journal.  I even attempted it a time or two and then found myself forgetting or making excuses.  Sometimes it was just a disappointing day and I didn’t feel the motivation or the joy within me to pick up the pen.   But Joseph Addison, British essayists in the 1700’s, reminds us... “Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.”

Have you ever noticed that there are some things in this world that seem like if we do them, they can only bring good results, and there is just not a down side to it.  I think giving thought to and writing down the blessings that I receive might just be one of those things.  And like other areas in my life, if I want to see real change, I must begin it by making it a habit in my ordinary day.

Although we can’t know what the Lord has in store for us in the coming year, let's pay heed to George Buttrick’s words and ‘deliberately call to mind the joys of our journey’.

May you have a blessed Christmas!

Small step: At least four times a week, make note of at least 4 blessings I am thankful for. 

Success Comes From Action

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” Conrad Hilton

 

Week 20

These last two weeks have found me backsliding on some of my goals and wandering off my path to success. I’d be happy to list all my genuinely great reasons why that has happened, but I don’t find much purpose in slogging you through the mud. Suffice it to say I’ve been really busy and unorganized!

So, I think this week, I need to get myself motivated to take action and keep moving.

I Found some great words of advice from Brian Tracy, a management guru, writer and motivational speaker. He says....

“The key to motivation is 'motive'.For you to develop sufficient desire to develop time management and organizational skills, you must be intensely motivated by the benefits you feel you will enjoy. You must want the results badly enough to overcome the natural inertia that keeps you doing things the same old way.”

He goes on to say…
“If everyone agrees that excellent time management is a desirable skill, why is it that so few people can be described as 'well organized, effective and efficient?' … It turns out that the better organized you are, the more time and opportunity you have to be truly relaxed, truly spontaneous, and truly happy."

Hmmmm...certainly something to ponder...

In a conversation with my sister this weekend we were discussing our ‘to do’s’ for this week and we began talking about list making. The truth is, I am a ‘on again’’ off again’ list maker; admittedly, not all that well organized and efficient. It seems the busier I am, the less time I feel I have to make lists. Well that’s silly, isn’t it!

So I think that in order to overcome my natural inertia of doing things the same old way, I’m going to have to take action. I’ll begin to develop the daily habit of making a list, with the knowledge that it will be a big payoff for me… who doesn't want to be relaxed, spontaneous, and happy?

I’ll remember to add in my small steps goals to my lists, as well as my daily tasks. Ohhhh, and then at the end of the day I'll do what I love to do... cross things off my list.

It seems like a great example of a small step for a big result in my life. I feel myself getting motivated already!

Ok… I’m back!

Small step: Make a daily ‘to do’ list