Christmas is filled with Joy. Do you exchange gifts this time of year? How about for birthdays?
There are many who think gifts are only physical items, usually bought, but sometime handmade, items.
The real gift at mid life is a cumulative book of wisdom. People at mid life have varying degrees of self-confidence in the value of their “wisdom book”.
All mid life adults have something to offer. And most of us have a unique chapter we could add to Life’s Wisdom Book.
Take for example, all these confident, famous people – click here to be inspired and to perhaps grow a bit more confident in your own mid life wisdom.
“….that’s fit to give a King, pa-rump-a-bum-bum….”
While thinking about what to write on a day like today, it’s incredibly humbling, and immensely joyful and glorifying to know that “I got nothin” on a day like today.
Mid Life holiday stress can rob us of the joy we could be experiencing, if only we could focus.
But how are we supposed to focus when this time of year is so hectic?
And it occurred to me that this time of year has always been hectic. Ever see “A Miracle on 34th Street“?
It was inspired on Christmas eve, 1944, when Valentine Davies, a screenwriter, went gift shopping for his wife. It was hectic, crazy, and lacked the spirit of Christmas we all know in our hearts, but often fail to make time for.
Valentine set out to create a movie that would help remind everyone that the spirit of Christmas and Santa Claus, is real. Very real.
Considered a “B” movie, it was released during the summer, and never advertised as a Christmas movie.
The American public embraced the movie so much that it ran in theaters straight through the end of the year.
It is one of the all-time great Christmas movies and one that my family and I watch every holiday season, when we can find the time.
November was dedicated to Thankfulness, and now December is dedicated, mostly, to Joy.
There are several types of Joy.
There’s Joy in your Spirit, in knowing you have a Creator that loves you beyond measure.
Joy in daily living, perhaps the “fun factor”, sort of like happiness, and laughter.
And also Joy in being unselfish, in serving others.
Finally, I believe there is Joy in knowing you are living your best life, with a moral integrity that leaves you humbled by what you’ve overcome.
It’s a Joy, to dedicate December to the concept of Joy. You may have a different perspective on Joy. The fact that we are free to express, and think for, ourselves should bring us Joy.
One thing for sure, I’m especially thankful for Mid Life Joy! :)
Central Florida volunteers gather at a local High School every Thanksgiving Day morning to pick up and deliver boxes of food to needy Families.
Tomorrow will be our tenth year of this Thanksgiving Day family tradition.
A decade ago, and even before Cheryl was pregnant, I suggested to her that we find a way to show our children that we are here to serve and not to be served.
This is a simple, and seemingly insignificant act of kindness influences our thinking, and our actions, all year long.
A Publix Grocery Store Produce manager started Food For Families many years ago. With help from Central Florida Churches, Schools, and community members, needy Families are identified.
The Central Florida Community also delivers Food for Families on Christmas morning and Easter morning, providing us opportunities to put others first on three special days where we traditionally didn’t.
