Merry Christmas

Hello and Merry Christmas to everyone. I stayed home this year but did communicate with everyone in the family on Christmas day. I even did a web video with Kaitlin and Anna on their new Netbook computer. It was a lot of fun.

I wasn’t much for decorations this year. Here are a couple of pictures of my Christmas wreath and lights. Yes, I never put the wreath on the door and only 25 lights on the deck. It’s not that I don’t like Christmas but I guess I have become lazy!

Anyway, I do love Christmas and I believe Christmas is all about children. What a joyful time for them believing in the “Magic” of Christmas and anticipating all those wonderful gifts.

But I also believe Christmas has a much deeper meaning for us adults. Whether you are a Christian, Jew, Agnostic, Atheist or other belief, Christmas is about redemption and forgiveness. I never thought about Christmas this way before but recently I heard someone talk about it in these terms.

For the believers, Christ was put on earth to redeem and offer forgiveness for people. For the non-believers, you could still look at it in the same non-religious terms. To release, let go and forgive.

I thought about my life with all of the setbacks, knock-downs, hurts and challenges I had to face. How did I overcome them and move forward? After thinking about this for a while I realized a large part of it had to do with forgiveness. The other major part was removing negative thoughts and feelings from my thought processes.

No matter where a person is in life, each day offers a new beginning to move forward towards their dreams. But to take advantage of that new beginning, a person needs to do a few simple things.

First, you have to forgive others who did something to you that caused hurt or bad feelings. Do not give them the "PRIVILEGE" to continue the hurt, by you thinking about it on and on. It is like a sore that never heals. You have to release it so you can move on.

Next, forgive yourself of any hurt you have caused other people. Again you have to release it so you can move on.

Whether you think about these things consciously or not the thoughts and feelings are “burned” into your brain at a subconscious level. The human brain is a powerful “machine”, especially the subconscious part. It runs 24/7 and gives you instructions constantly. These instructions should always be positive and never negative. Negative thoughts hold you back. Negative thoughts can actually cause illness over time.

When my Florida children were young I would not let them use the word “Can’t”. Saying or thinking that you can’t do something programs the subconscious mind and prevents you from doing it. It’s that simple. So, always think positive. When you say or think of something negative such as “I can’t do that or I can’t change my life situation”, imagine yourself as a little person sitting on your shoulder and say “Is that what you want”? Then answer “No”. Then the little person will say, “Then don’t say it”! Remember, if you say or think something often enough whether it is positive or negative, your subconscious mind will program itself for that belief and keep providing those “instructions” to you. If the thoughts are negative, you will be kept in a place in life you don’t deserve to be at.

So, no matter what, if you don’t like your situation or where you are in life, you and only you have the power to change it. Start thinking differently tomorrow as it is a new day and new beginning for you.

Merry Christmas

Time to Catch Up

It's been quite a while since I updated the blog. I'm sure everyone has been waiting to see what's happening in my exciting life. NOT MUCH.

I did attend a Coast Guard Auxiliary Christmas social last Saturday and created a YouTube video of it with my new HD Camcorder. I think a few family members watched it but others have not responded about it.

Speaking of YouTube videos, my HD Camcorder review has had 438 views with 2 comments. I also received a 4 out of 5 Star rating. Not sure what that means.

Two other videos have received a 4 Star rating. Two Brothers Reunited with 178 views and Destroyed in Seconds with 168 views and one comment.

Interesting, is the Two Brothers Reunited has a YouTube warning that I am using copyrighted music (Yani). I guess I need to remove the video or redo it. Not sure what to do.

The next popular one is Deer Swimming in Lake Guntersville with 146 views. No star rating though.

Yesterday (Saturday) I was supposed to be in a Guntersville Parade representing the Coast Guard auxiliary with Buddy and Max but the Parade was cancelled due to weather.

I have finished all Christmas shopping and cards and everything will go out tomorrow (Monday).

Finally, my Micron Computer I bought in 2003 is on its last leg so I am replacing it with a new Dell Studio XPS 9000 with a 24 inch monitor. That ought to help with my eye site. I'm supposed to receive it the first week in January 2010.

Gosh, this year has gone by too fast.

Later Gator!