And to All a Good Night…

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

Today, on Christmas day, I wish you love and peace and joy.  May your life be filled with beauty and generosity and all the happiness your heart can hold.  And above all, I wish that you never stop believing. 

So many years ago, sitting on Santa’s lap, I believed that everything was possible.  I never doubted that whatever I asked for would find its way under my Christmas tree.  Now, more than 60 years later, I still believe.  I trust that no matter what life throws my way, I will have friends and family who will reach out, hold my hand and tell me everything will be ok.

So that’s my wish for you.  It’s not a gift you will find under the tree, but one that is buried deep within you.  It’s the greatest gift of all: To Believe!  From the bottom of my heart, I wish you a magical and joyful Holiday.  And in the words of Journey “Never Stop Believing.”

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A Date with my Dad

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

Miracle on 34th Street.  That’s my favorite Christmas movie.

Why?

It could be any one of these reasons:

  • Natalie Wood is as cute as a button
  • The person who played Kris Kringle is a perfect Santa look-alike
  • The courtroom scene is quite clever to prove that there really IS a Santa Claus

Yes, it could be any one of those reasons, along with a dozen more.  But the real reason is because it was my Dad’s favorite.  Every year we would sit down in front of the TV, just the two of us, and watch it.  And if you think about it, that wasn’t so easy to plan.  This was before the days of DVDs, Netflix and On Demand.  So we actually had to scour the TV Guide, find the time the movie was playing and make a date of it.

Every single year my Dad would laugh out loud at the part where Santa bopped the psychiatrist on the head with his cane.  That was his favorite part.  I can still hear his laughter as though he was sitting right next to me.

So, I guess you could say that my favorite movie has nothing to do with the story at all.  It’s my favorite because of all the memories it brings back to me.  It makes me feel warm and snuggly and reminds me of a love that I am so lucky to have known.  A love of a father for his daughter.  Every year I try to capture that feeling.  I make a “date” with my Dad to watch the movie together.  And every year I swear I can hear him laughing out loud and feel his love surround me.

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Superstitions & Traditions

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

Superstitions!  Whether my parents really believed in the superstitions they passed down to us or not, I’ll never know. But what I DO know is that they still stick with me today – more than sixty years later.

To this day I can still hear my Mom saying: “Nancy, if you put your shoes on the table they will pinch your feet.”  So, the other day, after returning from DSW Shoe Warehouse, my husband didn’t understand my yelp as he placed that box of shoes on our dining room table.  Yes, some superstitions from my childhood still follow me today even though I am well aware they can’t possibly be true.

Along with that comes the traditions I grew up with.  You see, I am 100% Polish and was raised in a VERY ethnic neighborhood.  Polish customs were part of my everyday life, especially at this time of year.  One of the traditions I remember very clearly is the oplatek.  It’s a Christmas wafer with a religious scene imprinted on it.  Every Christmas Eve we would sit at the table, break off a small piece, hand it to the person next to us and offer them health, good luck and great fortune for the upcoming year.  It was a sweet gesture filled with smiles and friendship and love. 

Do you have any customs that have been passed down from generation to generation?  Are you creating new ones of your own?  What do you hope your family and friends will remember in the years to come?  Now that I’ve asked you those questions, I need to take a look at my own holiday celebrations.  What can I create so that sixty years from now my friends and family will remember me – just like I remember my family sharing the oplatek.  Thanks Mom and Dad.

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You Want Me to Do What???

Professional Speaker-Personal Development-Positive Attitude

As I already mentioned last week – I LOVE the holiday season!

Cooking!  Decorating!!  Shopping!!!  I enjoy every single part of it.  At times, it feels like you can barely catch your breath.  So, what I’m about to tell you next may not make any sense…

Find some time this holiday season and try something new!

Yes, that’s right.  I’m challenging you to STOP, take a break, don’t worry about everything and everyone else, and find some time for a little fun.  Carve out a few minutes to enjoy a little laughter. 

Every year I promise myself that I will try one new thing during the holidays.  This year, it was Caroling at the Cave in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin.  It’s an actual cavern that you can tour year-round, and during the holidays they feature a women’s acapella group.  With the cave glowing with candlelight and the beautiful voices echoing holiday tunes, I felt like I had been transported to Europe.  It was quite magical.  There was even an appearance by Santa Claus at the close of the program.

It appears as though Caroling at the Cave is quite popular and you can find these events in a number of different places.  Check it out – Google it – and see if there is a Cave Caroling close to you.  And if this doesn’t tickle your fancy, find something else that does.  The point is to take a “time out” from all the holiday craziness and find something that makes your heart smile.

And please, share your experience with us.  We just may be able to add a few new things to our list for next year’s season.

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