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Health & Fitness

A Master In the Art of Giving

Here it is, your one chance, just imagine you get to be Santa, the REAL Santa, you can give your loved ones anything at all, what would you give them? What would you desire and value most?

If, this year you could be Santa to those you love, you know the magical can grant any wish, kinda Santa, what would you give them? I know if I possessed that special ability, I would give everyone in my family the same precious gift of another day/Christmas with our Mom. 

Emerson said it well, "Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts, the only true gift is a portion of thyself." My mom, Maureen passed away more than six years ago.  Life without her in it is definitely not the same for any of us that were loved by her. She was truly an amazing woman, selfless, thoughtful, kind and oh so giving.

She constantly showered all in her path with her unconditional love and poured every ounce of energy she had providing and caring for others. Throughout her lifetime she touched many lives, making a lasting, loving and positive impression and impact on each and everyone who crossed her path. Her presence in our life was truly one of the greatest and most valuable gifts any of us has ever been fortunate enough to receive, blessed to have and experience.

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My father still flatly declines any mention of changing the message on their house answering machine. The initial sound of my Mother's voice takes the unaware caller by surprise. However, for the rest of us, I suspect, including myself, intentionally call at times when we know for sure my dad is not going to be home, just to be greeted by that familiar although dearly missed, sweet and softly spoken Irish lilt of hers, allowing for just a brief moment to imagine her still here with us. 

Personally, I wish I could go back and erase those times that I was hurtful towards her and ungrateful. I should have spent less time focusing and allowing our minor differences to irritate me and more time celebrating and acknowledging her too- many-to-mention, positive and unique attributes including even the few that some claim I myself  have gratefully inherited from her.  

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The lyrics in David Gates song titled, “Everything I Own" expresses that bitter sweetly stated passage, "Is there someone you know, your loving them so but taking them all for granted, you may lose them someday, someone takes them away, and they won't hear the words you long to say." 

This festive holiday season is the perfect time and a please don't miss opportunity to demonstrate your appreciation to those that love you and who by their helpful deeds and kind words add to your life making it more meaningful, happier and manageable.

Take the time to tell and and show those closest to you how much you value them and appreciate how they continually contribute to your life. If by chance, there is an area in a relationship that needs mending, try to understand that none of us are perfect especially those that some of us expect to be, like; our parents, spouses, and children.

Sometimes we have such idealistic, high and unreasonable expectations of our loved ones, allowing them no room for even the slightest imperfections or human errors, sadly for some this seems to hold true especially to our Moms.   

If you happen to be one of those fortunate enough to still have your mom and/or other caring family members in your life and on your side, be grateful, be understanding, tolerant and if necessary, forgiving. Say now what you want to remember saying to them, when they are gone.

Our lives are our most precious gift, our own and those of our loved ones; gifts that can expire at any given moment, and too often do without warning. So be sure to enjoy, embrace and treasure each day, every hour and moment that you get...and share as much of it with your cherished family and friends.  

Genuine love, affection and friendships cannot be bought or stolen. They are the truly magical and most valuable gifts any of us can offer to or accept from each other. 

Lets all play Santa this holiday season, and then throughout the year and sprinkle our own personal magic on our loved ones by giving to them the most valuable gifts, those we can share everyday, simply by following the wise words in this poem of Wilfred A. Petereson's, "The Art of Living" "We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the heart:Love, kindness, joy, understanding, sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness.

We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the mind:Ideas, dreams, purposes, ideals, principles, plans, projects, poetry. We give of ourselves when we give gifts of the spirit:Prayer, vision, beauty, aspiration, peace, faith. We give of ourselves when we give the gift of words:Encouragement, inspiration, guidance."

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