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20

Dec

Life Lessons in Holiday Spirit

by Meredith Mullins on December 20, 2012

Life lessons on holiday spirit with the Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree

Galeries Lafayette Holiday Tree
© Meredith Mullins

Top 10 Quotes for the Holidays

It is hard to celebrate the holidays when so much seems to be going wrong. Flags are at half mast, politicians are acting their shoe size not their age, hurricane victims are still displaced, and missiles are flying over the Middle East, claiming the lives of innocents who just want to get on with their lives. The tragedy of Newtown, the fiscal cliff, hurricane devastation, and all out warfare in several countries have dimmed the sparkling lights.

But it is precisely these tumultuous events that make it important to revisit the spirit of the holidays and make life-affirming feelings a permanent part of our values.

Learning life lessons about holiday spirit with child staring in wonder at holiday window.

The Magic of Holiday Windows
© Meredith Mullins

As Agnes Pharo said, “What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.”

We know this to be true, but the OIC Moment comes with not letting these feelings slip away after the tree comes down or the menorah goes dark.

Here are my favorite top ten holiday quotes to remind us of what is important and how we might learn life lessons from tumult as well as strength of spirit.

1. Christmas! Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial fire of charity in the heart. (Washington Irving)

2. I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all year long. (Charles Dickens)

3. My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that? (Bob Hope)

4. He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. (Roy L. Smith)

5. May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all humankind. (Hanukkah Blessing)

Lit menorah, Israel

The Lights of Hanukkuh
© Thinkstock

6. Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. (Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

7. To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year. (E.B. White)

8. Next to a circus, there ain’t nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit. (Kin Hubbard)

9. Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.” (Eric Sevareid)

10. And wild and sweet, the words repeat of peace on earth, good will to men. (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

And a bonus from Dave Barry:

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it “Christmas” and went to church; the Jews called it “Hanukkah” and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy Hanukkah!” or (to the atheists) “Look out for the wall!”

We look forward to your favorite holiday quote or words of wisdom in the Comments section below.

Learning a life lesson about holiday spirit with Santa and children.

All I want for Christmas . . .
© Meredith Mullins

Happy holidays! May your hearts be full and the hope for peace not just a distant dream.

Quotes courtesy of Brainy Quote, All Great Quotes, and Goodreads

Inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

Life Lessons/Quotes of Note

10

Dec

Life Lessons Tied Up In a Bow

by Janine Boylan on December 10, 2012

sneakers, showing life lessons on how to tie your shoes

© Janine Boylan

What I Learned from Tying My Shoes

I absolutely would not watch.

I was only about four years old, but I remember it like it was yesterday. For months, my mom had been trying to teach me a basic life lesson: how to tie my shoes. I, however, absolutely DID NOT want to learn from her.

Whenever she tied my shoes, Mom would tell me to watch. Instead, I would twist my head as far around as possible and cover my ears while still strategically keeping my shoes where my mom could tie them. I was completely and utterly annoyed that she wanted to teach me to tie my shoes.

One day, tired of her persistent requests, I thought of a way to end it for once and all. I tied my own shoes. Then I announced that she could stop trying to teach me.

Fast forward many years to my own four-year-old daughter. Not wanting to force feed shoe-tying, I would encourage my daughter to try to tie her shoes, but I never told her to watch me. She seemed to be making no progress with this life lesson, but I was patient.

One day my mom and my daughter were laughing and chatting in the back seat of the car as I drove along. About five minutes into the ride, my daughter joyfully exclaimed, “Look, Grandma taught me to tie my shoes.”

That’s not how I remember learning.

But, fine, at least my daughter knew how to tie her shoes now.

Fast forward again to the present. My daughter and I were watching Ted Talks and came across a video by Terry Moore on the correct way to tie shoes.

If the video does not display, watch it here.

As the video ended, my daughter said, matter-of-factly, “That’s how Grandma taught me to tie shoes.”

Oh, I see. I guess I should have let my mom teach me after all.

 

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

Life Lessons

11

Oct

Life Lesson: Slowing Down at the Airport

by Janine Boylan October 11, 2012

If video does not display, watch it here.

Connecting with People Instead of a Flight

Like the planes in this video, I had been zooming in and out of airports all day long—from early in the morning until dark. In fact, I was at my fourth airport of the day. And I still wasn’t home.

The night before, my flight in Dallas had been cancelled. After just three hours of sleep, I negotiated a flight to Houston, and then rushed onto another plane to Nashville, where I stopped long enough to give a ten-minute presentation.

Then I caught a plane to Chicago, which was supposed to be the last stop before home.

Rushing to Be First in Line

I had taken possession of a seat near the boarding gate. I noticed that everyone on this flight seemed to have a carry-on bag. That meant lots of competition for overhead storage space.

But if I strategically jumped up to be first in line, I knew I could at least get my luggage in the bins. I double checked that my boarding pass was ready and that my bag was facing the right way for me to grab and go.

Once I knew everything was ready, I sat back in my seat and looked onto the pitch black runway. Knife cuts of lightning flashed in the sky. Rain drops snaked down the glass.

The Dreaded Delays Set In

The screen over the desk promised the scheduled departure time.  Then the time began to inch 10 minutes later, 20 minutes later . . .

People were filling the empty seats that other passengers had politely left between groups of travelers. Before long there wasn’t a column left to lean against, and teens in cut off jeans were starting to occupy the floor. The air was thick with frustration.

The speaker crackled, and a simultaneous groan came out of every seasoned business traveller who knew what was coming:

“The FAA has closed the airport until further notice due to the storm.”

“The plane that was scheduled to land here is now landing in Minneapolis.”

“The plane that was right behind it is on its way to Detroit.”

“We’re looking for another plane and will keep you informed as we receive news.”

I took the opportunity to download another book. I settled into my seat, raising my imaginary walls, retreating into my private world, refusing to even look at other passengers who might take valuable overhead storage space.

But the woman next to me leaned over and explained that she had been traveling from Europe. She was tired and wanted a bottle of water. Would I mind saving her seat while she went and bought one?

A Change in Strategy

As I raised my head to acknowledge her, I had an Oh, I see moment. Something was happening around me. The delay of the plane had broken down the barriers between strangers, and people were coming together.

A retired couple was making funny faces at a baby to keep her laughing.

A bearded, T-shirt-clad man was gesturing wildly to illustrate a story he was sharing with a smiling business man.

Parents with a stroller filled with suitcases sat back as their two toddlers charmed a group of teenage girls.

This inspired me to slide my suitcase over and save my new friend’s seat. When she returned, in between calls and texts to family members, we shared experiences and found we both loved learning languages.

She was moving to a place near my home, so I provided some tips for apartment hunting. I found her stories much more interesting than the book I had downloaded.

Several crackly announcements later, the voice promised that our plane had arrived, and we would be boarding. I rechecked my boarding pass, repositioned my bag, and prepared to get in the line.

But this time I wasn’t worried about being first. Did it really matter if I had to check my bag?

A tiny life challenge had become a life lesson. I was about to board with a big group of friends.

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

 

Art of Travel/Life Lessons

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