Is it really better to give than to receive?

Just a few nice words.....go a long way.

I decided that since I can't get all of my social media friends a gift this holiday season, I would leave them a comment on their facebook wall instead. I dubbed it "Drive-By Facebooking". I wasn't sure if it was a good idea then realize, uh hello, I'm pretty cool so why wouldn't this be a good idea? =)

I have a few friends in there. Once I started I realized, geez this could take a while. So I'm spacing it out over the course of the weekend. I haven't had time to write on everyone's wall yet. But the response so far? Exactly what I expected. People love to hear kind words written about them. Of course they do. Why wouldn't it make ones day to discover an unexpected, kind message in Facebook?

I've told friends before that kind words go a long way. I know it sounds cliche, but I don't care. If you take just a few minutes, seconds even, to say something nice to someone, it has the potential to totally change their day. Words are powerful, if you think otherwise you're kidding yourself. This of course can go both ways. Negative comments go just as far as positive comments. Those that know me well know which side I live on.

Here's the deal. None of us know what each other is going through. A total stranger might appear to be the happiest person on the planet, when, in reality, they are sad over some unfortunate circumstance in their life. If we begin to understand this, would it help at all to have us start to be kind? It's not like it's hard work. It just takes a few words. "You're awesome" "I love what you're wearing" "I think you do that amazingly well" "it's going to get better"....I can go on.

I'm going to continue with my quest until it's complete.

And I'm starting to think it makes me feel better than the recipient. Is it really better to give than to receive?

You decide.

I'll see you soon!
Tiffany

PS My mom is visiting. Translation: I have my own personal chef, everything in my apartment is in order, and I get to take her to all of my favorite Dallas places. It's pretty fabulous. Especially the awesome Breakfast venues. Breakfast at Tiffanys isn't always at Tiffanys. It's just.....wherever I happen to be.

The thing is, I don't need anything

I was talking with a coworker (who also happens to be a friend) today about the holidays. This time of year....and what it means to different people. He told me that he really doesn't want to call himself a scrooge per se, but he doesn't fall into anything "traditional" very easily. His tradition is to break tradition and do his own thing. Nothing wrong with that.
This led to us discussing our childhood, what Christmas meant back then and what it has become for us now.

"When I was a kid, I didn't understand the 'Overhead' that comes with this time of year. I just knew that Santa came and brought me toys and everyone was happy and there was a ton of food around, including all kinds of sugary things, available for my grabbing. Now that I'm an adult, I see the 'Overhead' as if it's a flashing neon sign above the word December. And I don't care for it. All of the hustle and bustle, the expectations needing to be met, creating a schedule not unlike a hurried frenzy where you feel like you're going to drop dead after racing through stores on the weekend"

I understood exactly what he meant. I have a different view of the holidays than I did as a kid growing up. It's not a negative view necessarily, just a different one. I was lucky in that, I have a Mom, who I think handled telling me about who Santa really is in an eloquent way. She said Santa is the magic of Christmas. The wonderful, we can't see it but we know it's there, awesome feeling that adds sparkle to the idea of the holiday. Deep down I knew that she was gently telling me that Santa wasn't real in the physical form, but the idea of him would always be with me. She told the truth, but very gently, and kept it intriguing for me. I was nine years old, I believe, when I asked her about it.

We talked about what we like to call "foo foo" dinners that people host for the holidays, the clink of beautiful china, sparkling wine goblets, lit taper candles, everyone at the table dressed in their best.....this can be an awesome thing. We both said if our families do this sort of thing, we enjoy it and thank them. And mean it.

But what we would really like to do is have a table filled with hot wings and appetizers and buckets of cold beer, and wine, and have our friends/family over for game night. I have to tell you, that this is my favorite. I'm liking things to be simple more and more these days. I still love to decorate a gorgeous, twinkly Christmas tree. And then sit and look at the lights. This quiet time is a must. For me anyway.


What do I want for Christmas, besides the cure for cancer, and other yucky diseases, and excellent health and happiness for my family and friends, and love for those who are hurting, and paid off bills for those that are struggling.....?

I told my friend a glass of wine or cold beer would be fine. We laughed, but both felt the intended simpleness of the statement. The thing is, I don't need anything. Oh sure, I would love to have new things, maybe a new outfit, new furniture for my living room, a new mahogany desk for my room, a new stereo. I really should list the stereo first because mine needs replaced in a bad way, trust me.

I love December. The frosty air, snow if I'm lucky, the sound of bells in the stores, and people coming together to help donate things to those less fortunate. The holidays can be a hard time of year for some people. I can only hope that on Christmas Eve/Day, no matter where they are or what the circumstances are, that warmth that comes from happy, fills them up when they didn't think it would, pleasantly surprising them.

And they are at peace.

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season so far. We have seven shopping days left, can you believe that?

See you soon,
Tiffany

PS Yes Virginia......there really is

Peace

Peace.....

I'm filled with it today. I've had a cold that's lingered longer than I wanted it to. Well okay I don't want it to visit at ALL but since it did, I wanted it to go away as soon as possible.
I'm feeling much better today, and with that brings just silliness. I woke up knowing that my coworkers were more than likely in for it, when I get in this mood one never knows what the day will bring at work. I love to laugh, when I can make someone else laugh, especially if they aren't in the greatest of moods, it makes my day. And since I know I can sing so well, I do that out loud for their enjoyment. *ahem*

My happies for the day so far:

My cousin, who is beating cancer again, got released from the hospital yesterday. I'm very much at peace with this, after the chemo rounds are finished, she can get back to her life as she knew it before, nothing short of fabulous.

We have a toy drive going on at work, so I got to meet the new and improved Mr.Potato Head this morning. Sounds lame doesn't it? It's NOT I tell you, he's awesome! But he got a lot bigger over the years. I had to tweet the handsome new Mr.Potato Head because he's so cute.
See?

I realized that my holiday social calendar is filling up rather quickly, so I had to do a quick check balance to make sure I wasn't over-extending, I'm not a fan of that. I've talked about down time being necessary before, but I find it especially necessary during the holidays. All this "hustle and bustle" as they call it, the mad rush, the frantic shopping and whatnot can take away from what this month is supposed to celebrate. Peace. But I will say, I'm very much looking forward to all of the upcoming events.

Realizing how long I've been friends with someone and then seeing a comment from them on my blog? yeah, that's pretty much the coolest thing ever.

I've decided that I'm going to start running. Since I don't consider myself a runner now, this may be a slow process at first. I really want to do the Jingle Bell run in Dallas this month, I don't know how far I would "run" and I hear that walking is fine too, that it's just fun to participate. I'll be checking into this more soon.

Knowing that my Christmas Tree is up, decorated, and waiting for me to get home and turn the lights on. I love sitting quietly and looking at it. I want to watch a Christmas movie tonight, not sure which one I will choose. Stay tuned.

Sharing my life with two of my favorite people on the planet in email most of the day today.....thoroughly enjoyable. We call it the Girls Club.

This is playing in the background as I wrap this post up.....I told you, I'm at peace today.



I hope your December is going well, and there will be a lot of celebration in it. But also a lot of, peace. Reflection. Get-togethers. Family. Love. Wine. (hey it's Wine Wednesday, it has to be mentioned). And wishes coming true.

Thank you for visiting my online home, I care about you.
Tiffany

PS What do you have for breakfast Christmas morning? My mom is coming to Dallas this year for the holidays. It's going to be a great ending to 2010.

Keep the aloe handy, just in case

I have this faded scar on my left hand about a half inch below my knuckle. When I glanced at it earlier today I realized that when this incident occurred, I thought "This is never going to go away" and I wasn't happy. It's not very big, but I still didn't like the thought of being scarred for life. If I didn't tell you it was there you probably wouldn't even notice it now.
I was taking cornish hens out of the oven on New Years Day, 2010. Instead of using an oven mit on my left hand I grabbed a hot pad instead. I accidentally grazed the top of the oven as I was pulling out the heavy pan they were baking in. It hurt like hell, but I immediately put aloe on it, hoping for the best, and that my fridge had a cold beer in it for medicinal purposes. It didn't sadly, but I had a glass of wine. (It's a miracle drink you know).

I'm pretty sure the fading that it has done over the months following, all the way to this last month of the year, has finished its course. Leaving me with an "I can barely see it" reminder of what I was doing on New Years Day.

I think that as we go through life there are often scars left that we can't see. There is the physical kind, like the one on my hand. But there are emotional kinds as well. Every situation we encounter can be a lesson, if we're paying attention. I've been taught by decisions, ones I have made and decisions made by others. I've been taught by people in general. Maybe living vicariously through them, for an example. The lesson learned may be an easy one, or one that was difficult, but either way I still learned.

My scar healed, and reminds me once in a while, oh yeah, I forgot to use an oven mit that one time. Have I made that same choice since then? I have not. I use one every time now.

If you are hurting over something, let it start to heal now. Yes, you may end up with a scar. But.....you learned something didn't you?

Keep the aloe handy, just in case. Literally, it can save your skin. Figuratively, it may come in the form of a good friend who listens well. Or a parent. Maybe even your pet. Hey, they listen and love you unconditionally! A sibling.....a spouse.....the list goes on.

See you soon friend,
Tiffany

PS Starbucks is doing a "12 Days of Sharing" promotion during this month of "giving". If you have text capability you can text 12DAYS to 29943 to see what the deal is for each day. Want to meet for coffee tomorrow at my place of nirvana? =)