Enliven Daily

“It's Christmas Eve. It's-it's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we-we-we smile a little easier, we-w-w-we-we-we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year we are the people that we always hoped we would be.”

I am always reflective this time of year as it was 7 years ago tomorrow, Christmas Eve 2002 when I got one of the greatest presents of my life even though I was not awake to enjoy it.  It was on that day when my battle with cancer turned in my favor and doctors declared my leukemia in remission.  I was 34 years old and got a 2^nd chance at life and like to think that I am making the most of it.  I am still far from perfect but show me someone who is and I will show you someone who has nothing left to do.

I just had lunch with my friend Mike who used to coach with me over the past 3 years.  I think about how we first met and it was about 3 or 4 years ago this time and it was pure luck.  Kathy from our Parks and Recreation department paired us up as coaches in the basketball league and we hit it off instantly.  Our families have since become friends and I wonder if we would have connected had it not be for Kathy.  Funny how things work out sometimes.

I hope everyone enjoys the next few days and the New Year to come.  The past is behind us and the future ahead of us but the best gift of all is staring us right in our faces; which is why it is called the “present”.  Some ideas to consider over the next few days in no particular order:

·         Reach out to an old friend or family member.

·         Tell your loved ones how grateful you are to have them in your life.

·         Make a small donation to a charity.

·         Mend a fence or bury a hatchet (never knew where this expression came from).

·         Don’t dwell on the past, look forward to the future.

·         Laugh a lot.

·         Thank people more.

·         Sit back and reflect on how blessed we truly are.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  Enjoy and be safe.  I had a lot of opening quotes to consider but I went with Bill Murray in the movie “Scrooged”.