Best Wishes in 2010!

A new year is, for many of us, somewhat of a new beginning. A time to reflect, take a look at where we've been, what we've done and accomplished and where we're going. As we face the choices and uncertainties ahead of us, to maintain a healthy mind, body, spirit and life - below are a few insights, inspirations and ways to manage stress.


Take breaks
Step back and observe
Review your purpose
Change your priorities
Leave five minutes earlier
Organize your space
Listen to your intuition
Visualize positive outcomes
Take care of your health
Don't forget, write it down
Simplify!
View problems as opportunities
Let go of "what ifs"
Go with your natural rhythms
Breathe deeply
Say no at times
Follow your passion
Stop the "shoulds"
Nurture good friendships
Respect your limits
Develop flexibility
Slow down and notice
Open your heart
Count your blessings

Will 2010 Be a New Decade?

Which Years Make Up a Decade?

Believe it or not, it's a contentious question. Most people think of the decade as the years ending '00 through '09 because we usually refer to a decade by those last two numbers--the nineties were 1990 through 1999, for example. The problem is that our calendar didn't start with year zero, and a decade is a 10-year period, so the first decade was years 1 through 10, and counting forward would make this decade 2001 through 2010.

The writers of the Chicago Manual of Style and Garner's Modern American Usage refuse to take a strong stand, but seem to lean toward starting decades with the year '00.

It's possible to make a strong argument that the decade is technically years '01 through '10. However, most people think of a decade as being the 10-year period that starts with the year ending in zero--so that is the best choice because it will convey what you mean to the largest percentage of your readers.







Sources: GG, CMS, GMAU

Christmas Blessings

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE!





Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
Norman Vincent Peale

Christmas - that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.
Augusta E. Rundel

Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.
Helen Steiner Rice

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.
Washington Irving

Christmas is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future.
Agnes M. Pharo

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
Burton Hillis








~ Blessings To You And Yours This Holiday ~

The Spirit of Christmas

Today being Christmas Eve Eve Eve, I'd like to share a heartwarming story of the true spirit of Christmas. This was written by Laurie Pines and featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul.


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"A Very Belated Thank You"

When my son, Mark, was in the third grade he saved all his allowance for over two months to buy holiday presents for those he loved. He had saved twenty dollars. Third Saturday in December Mark announced that he had made his list and had his money in his pocket.

I drove him to a local drug store, the modern version of what we used to call the "Five and Dime." Mark picked up a hand basket and went off on his own while I waited patiently reading a book at the front of the store. It took Mark over 45 minutes to pick out his presents. The smile on his face as he approached the checkout counter was truly joyful. The clerk rang up his purchases as I politely looked the other way. Mark kept within his budget and reached into his pocket for his money. It was not there. There was a hole in his pocket, but no money. Mark stood in the middle of the store holding his basket, tears rolling down his cheeks. His whole body was shaking with his sobs. Then an amazing thing happened. A customer in the store came up to Mark. She knelt down to his level and took him in her arms and said, "You would do me the greatest favor if you let me replace your money. It would be the most wonderful present you could ever give me. I only ask that one day, you pass it on. One day, when you are grown, I would like you to find someone you can help. When you help this other person, I know you will feel as good about it as I do now." Mark took the money, tried to dry his tears and ran to the checkout counter as fast as he could go. I think we all enjoyed our gifts that year almost as much as Mark enjoyed giving them to us.

I would like to say "thank you" to that incredible woman. I would like to tell her that four years later Mark went house to house collecting blankets and coats for people...and he thought of her. I would like to tell her that every time I give food to a homeless family, I think of her. And I want to promise her that Mark will never forget to keep passing it on.

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Vocabulary

Weird Word gives you an opportunity to grow your vocabulary with not-very-common and/or not-frequently-used words.

Today's Weird Word is: NEBULAPHOBIA, and its pronounciation is: neb-u-la-fo-be-ah.


Nebulaphobia is noun, meaning: fear of fog.

His business trip to London caused him to be anxious, because he suffered from nebulaphobia.


Ask people if they suffer from nebulaphobia. You're bound to get a few confused looks!





Note: The source for most of the words featured can be found at Luciferous Logolepsy. They are so obscure, I was actually unable to find some of them at a couple of common online dictionary references, such as The Free Dictionary.com.