Monthly Archives: December 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

As we prepare to Celebrate the New Year,

Take time for friends,

They are the source of happiness.

Take time for work,

It is the price of success.

Take time to think,

It is the source of power.

Take time to read,

It is the foundation of knowledge.

Take time to laugh,

It is laughter that helps with life’s loads.

Take time to play,

It is the secret of youth.

Take time to say hello to a stranger,

It broadens your circle of friends.

Take time to love,

It is the one sacrament of life.

Take time to dream,

It hitches the soul to the stars.

Celebrate safely,

Enjoy your holiday.

Looking forward to a Fantastic 2011!

Happy New Year!

John

I Wish You Enough

Enough Joy, that any sadness you experience will be brief.

Enough Friends, that you will always have someone to lean on.

Enough Health, that any illness you have will be slight.

Enough Family, that you will never be alone.

Enough confidence, that you will always stand up for yourself.

Enough Love, that you will always have inner happiness.

Enough Faith, that you will always believe.

Enough Food, to nourish yourself, your family, your friends and someone who is less fortunate.

Enough Sense of Fairness, that you would not prejudice.

Enough Money, to buy what you need, enough left to buy a few things you want, enough to save a little and enough to give away.

Enough Sense of Pride, to accept whom you are.

Enough Compassion, to comfort someone who is suffering.

Enough Inner Strength, to stand up for what you believe.

Enough Work Ethic, to do the best job you can.

Enough Inner Child, to find the joy in play.

Enough Time, to share with an old person.

Enough Forgiveness, of self and others.

Enough of Seeing Yourself in others, that hatred is eliminated.

Enough Patience, to listen.

Enough Warmth, that you are never cold.

Enough Sympathy, to support someone in need.

Enough Self-Respect, that you would not compromise integrity.

Enough Empathy, to feel another’s pain and suffering.

Enough Music, to make your soul dance.

Enough Teacher, to educate a child.

Enough Inspiration, to create a new masterpiece.

Enough Risk, to discover new passions.

Enough Determination, to complete your mission.

Enough Knowledge, to know that you can always learn more.

Enough Kindness, to befriend the friendless.

Enough Heart, to make an impact.

Enough Gifts, to make a positive, lasting impression on someone’s life.

Enough Dreams, to dream.

Enough Wisdom, to see the beauty in Everything and Everyone.

I Wish You Enough.

John Slimp- Author

Can the Season be 52 Weeks?

Isabel Van Heerden posted this on Facebook: What we are today is result of our own past actions. Whatever we wish to be in future depends on our present actions; decide how you have to act now. We are responsible for what we are, whatever we wish ourselves to be. We have the power to make ourselves.

This statement ties in with the movie I watched last night for about the 30th time, Scrooge.

If you were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, would you be proud of what he showed you or embarrassed? Would you openly claim your past actions or try to deny them?

If you were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present would you say ‘that’s me and I am a fair, accepting and honest person’?

If you were visited by the Ghost of Christmas to come, would you look with joy upon what you were shown? Would you be happy with the person you are yet to become?

We cannot change what has been, we can only work on what will be.

I wonder what it is about this time of year that makes people seem, well, nicer.

Maybe it’s a resurrection in people’s religious beliefs, maybe it’s a belief in Santa or maybe it’s the cold and all the snow. Whatever it is, I must say I like it.  People really do seem to be nicer. They smile at strangers on the street, they send cards to friends, family and almost lost relationships, they put change in a bucket outside of stores, and they have parties and sing songs, make charitable donations and buy gifts for a lot of various people. They put aside their differences and just seem more accepting.

But why, why now, why this time of the year and why ONLY this time of the year? I am happy and grateful but I have to ask “Why just these two weeks? What about the other 50 weeks in the year?”  What do we have to do as a ‘people’ to get this magical Season to last all year?

Perhaps everyone has seen Scrooge this time of year and it serves as a wakeup call to us. Maybe we don’t want to arrive at the place we are currently headed. Maybe we want to change our behaviors so that our future reflects what we want it to be.

Perhaps we should watch the movie Scrooge more often.

A Letter to Santa Claus

We’ll start with “A Letter to Santa Claus” originally intended for a girl to give as a school recitation at a Christmas programme.  It is taken from The American Speaker and Writer, circa 1908.  We find it both charming and thought-provoking, and hope you will, too.


A Letter to Santa Claus

Blessed old Santa Claus! King of delights!
What are you doing these long winter nights?
Filling your budgets with trinkets and toys -
Wonderful gifts for the girls and the boys?
While you are planning for everything nice,
Pray let me give you a bit of advice.

Don’t take it hard, if I say in your ear,
Santa, I think you were partial last year;
Loading the rich folks with everything gay,
Snubbing the poor ones who came in your way:
Now, of all times in the year, I am sure,
This is the time to remember the poor.

Little red hands that are aching with cold,
You should have mittens your fingers to hold;
Poor little feet, with your frost-bitten toes,
You should be clothed in the warmest of hose.
On the dark hearth I would kindle a light,
Till the sad faces were happy and bright.

Don’t you think, Santa, if all your life through,
Some one had always been caring for you,
Watching to guard you by night and by day,
Giving you gifts you could never repay,
Sometimes, at least, you would sigh to recall
How many children have nothing at all?

Safe in your own quiet chamber at night,
Cozy and warm in your blankets so white,
Wouldn’t you think of the shivering forms
Out in the cold and the wind and the storms?
Wouldn’t you think of the babies who cry,
Pining in hunger and cold till they die?

Blessed old Nick!  I was sure, if you knew it,
You would remember, and certainly do it;
This year, at least, when you open your pack,
Pray give a portion to all who may lack;
Then if you chance to have anything over,
Bring a small gift to your friend – Kitty Clover.