My husband called his Dad later in the day to see how he was faring. We were happy to hear that one of Dad’s neighbors came over with a snowblower and cleared his sidewalk and driveway.  At the age of 79 and suffering from emphysema, clearing snow from a corner property is not what Dad should be doing on his own.

Dad’s neighborly “snow angel” reminded me that being of service doesn’t have to be through a non-profit organization,  or a community group, or any other coordinated effort.  Each of us can be of service to our fellow human being, if we open our eyes to see the need and open our hearts to fill it.

Here are simple ways we can all be snow angels.

Shovel a neigbor’s sidewalk, clear their steps, chip away any ice build-up.  If you have children, make it a family affair.  Think of the important lessons you will teach them kindness and compassion through your actions and enthusiasm.

If you are going to the grocery store, check if your neighbor needs anything. While you are talking to them, ask if their heat is working and if they have hot water, especially if your neighbor is elderly or in poor health.  Leave your phone number with them, just in case.

If you see someone struggling to push a shoppping cart through a slushy parking lot, give them a hand.  When you are done shopping, or perhaps when leaving work at the end of the day, you might have to brush or scrape your windshield before driving.  Take a moment to do the same for the car next to you.  It only takes two minutes to make someone’s day.

Imagine the possibilities if there were more snow angels, like my father-in-law’s neighbor.

What is even more impressive than what Dr. King preached, was how he lived.  He did not just talk about his ideals; his every action was rooted in them. Dr. King was not all talk.  He was action.  Peaceful action, but definite action.

Today, I am thankful for everyday people who demonstrate these same convictions through their daily lives. 

Chances are, we all know someone who, every day, stands in integrity, acts out of compassionate conviction, and lives to serve others.  Most of them are not famous. They are teachers, mail carriers, and truck drivers.   They are stay-at-home parents, entrepreneurs, and artists.  They are white collar and blue collar; light-skinned and dark-skinned.  They can be wealthy, they can be homeless.  Young or old, male or female, conservative or liberal; we can all choose to stand up for the right thing.

None of us will be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  However, we can strive to live our lives in the same way.  We can choose to act with the courage of our convictions.  We can lead change peacefully.  We can serve.  We can have a dream.  We can make a difference.

We must, now.

This past weekend, thanks to a great last minute airfare deal, my husband and I traveled to spend New Year’s with our families.  Included in our weekend was a visit with Mom. 

Today, I am thankful that for nearly our entire visit, Mom sang a happy song!

One of these days, I know that my last visit with Mom will truly end up being my last visit ever with her.

Each time is difficult, and this one was no different.  She does not recognize me.  She doesn’t recognize my husband.  She occasionally mutters something in her native German, but any realistic communication is long past.  She spends her time in  her own world, lost to the rest of us; sitting in a wheelchair or laying in bed.  In several of our more recent visits, she didn’t even seem to see us.  This time though, she clearly made eye contact with my husband and I.  She did not know who we were, but she at least knew we were there.

And, how she sang!

My husband thought she was singing “hallelujah, hallelujah.”  It did sound a lot like that.  Perhaps influenced by recent Christmas carolers?  Maybe she was recalling the carols that she sang so joyously years ago?  I do not know.

What I do know, however, is that whatever prompted it, she was definitely singing a happy song!  I left with tears rolling down my cheeks, but grateful that somewhere deep inside, she still has a song in her heart and was sharing it with those around her.

That’s actually a lot like the Mom I remember.

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time.

Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution.

Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

And, I would add…mix well and share generously.  Happy new year!

Time for New Beginnings - by Taylor Addison

This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.

As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,

Remember each experience for the good that has come of it and for the knowledge you have gained.

Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.

Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.

Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.

And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.

Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings and the celebration of life.

I have the great gifts of an amazing family and a small, but mighty, circle of friends.  I have a network of professionals I respect and admire and an unending network of fabulous people I’ve only met in cyberspace.  I’ve been blessed with overall good health, as have my husband and children.  I have a job I enjoy, co-workers I adore, and a hobby I love. 

I seem to have a gift for helping people find peace in the most trying situations, and for that I am humbly filled with gratitude.  I’ve been told on more than one occasion that my willingness to simply listen, my compassion for the suffering, and my sometimes peculiar way of looking at the world has helped another through a dark time.

I love learning and have been blessed with many opportnites to do so.  I’ve had wonderful teachers, coaches and informal mentors.  I am thankful for the lessons taught to me by the words and example of the people I work with.  I love, love, love books and am fortunate to own many of them supporting my learning; my leadership library is one of my prized possessions.

Of course, not all is perfect.  But, by standing firmly in gratitude I am able to embrace challenges and see opportunity ahead, accept pain as temporary and seek possibility through healing.  Sadness comes and goes, but I always strive to get through it to the joy that I know waits on the other side.

I can’t possibly quantify all that I have to be thankful for.  I just hope that I honored those blessings enough in the past year, and that I never, ever take them for granted.

I hope all of us have a happy 2012; even, perhaps, a year filled with nothing less than joy and gratitude.  Happy New Year!

I took this photo last night after midnight mass at St. Mary Church, Columbus, Ohio. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Why wait until a gift is given to be thankful? In the spirit of “Thanks-living,” I am filled with gratitude for gifts already present in my life. These gifts don’t come with ribbons and bows, are not wrapped in silver and gold, silver and gold, and they are not shared only on December 25.

Stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but I don’t have to wait for friends to be there. I encounter them everyday at work, online, or at various gatherings throughout the year.

It’s not the reindeer up on the housetop that I need to wait for, it’s being thankful that I even have a roof over my head. I have a wonderful home in a very nice house in a great neighborhood and know that many others do not have even the most basic shelter.

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh, but it is also fun to drive to my daughter’s nearby home or hop on a plane to visit our son farther away. It’s wonderful to spend time with our daughter and son-in-law; we are lucky they are close by. We are fortunate that we can afford to travel to see our son and his family. Many others can’t – either due to finances or poor health – leave home.

We may sing praises of a long ago baby away in a manger, but technology helps me enjoy the new baby in our lives; our first grandson, just born last month. There is nothing like getting a quick snapshop in a text from my son. Our daughter-in-law sent a video last week of the baby cooing and smiling. We can skype or facetime with the entire family.

If we are lucky enough to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, I am blessed with a great husband who will go walkin’ in the winter wonderland with me. He may not be quite as excited about some of the small wonders and joys of life as I am, but he indulges me! I think, in his own secret way, he has learned to appreciate them, too.

There are many reasons to be a jolly, happy soul – every day of the year. Don’t wait to find the presents underneath the Christmas tree; look around you for the gifts you already have.

What gifts do you have today? What are you thanks-living for? Please add a comment and share your joy!

Success

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.

What would you add to the above definition of success? 

Tuesday Tidbits are weekly messages I send to my leadership team. They are generally short & sweet, often focused on leadership or teamwork, always positive and, hopefully, motivational. I hope you also find some meaning in them.

On her website, Emily Post offers some great tips on everyday manners.  What I like best is this line:

It’s not just about knowing these manners,  it’s about being intentional in their use.

As she also says, no one wakes up deciding, “Today is the day I’m going to be rude to everyone I meet.”  Yet, in all the hustle and bustle, bargains and giftwrap, menus and garland,  it’s easy to forget the love and generosity at the center of the season.

What can you do?

Smile at people you meet.  Let the woman with the restless kids go ahead of you in line.  Hold the door for the person behind you.  Let someone else park closest to the store.  Be patient with seasonal help at the mall.  Say Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas as you checkout.

You can serve others simply by intentionally sharing common courtesy.  Make this last week before Christmas a merry one!