December | 2012 | Tracks In The Dust

Archive for the month “December, 2012”

30 Dec 2012

Our New Year’s Resolve

The new year is just around the corner. Every year it seems, it serves as a chance for people around the world mark a milestone on the path of their lives.

In reality the day after December 31st is just like any other day, but as the calendar changes to a new set of 365 days, it gives us pause to recall what we personally have accomplished with the year since the last calendar change. Some big victories perhaps. some big disappointments. It’s really about what we’ve done with them both that makes up where we are now.

When we were down, did we have the fortitude to plow though the adversity and make a difference in our lives? When things were going well, did we make efforts to grow and become better from it?

I tell my kids that even the small accomplishments could help lead to more. Never take for granted what you have and make sure you appreciate it – but take the next step to make the best of those. Accumulating small victories can truly be a richer experience than getting the bigger ones’.

So as the calendar turns, some will celebrate… but let’s hope we can all be accountable for what was good and what could have been better. Make sure you see the difference, reflect on it and build on what you can. Disappointment and sadness is surely ahead, but what you do when that happens will tell-the-tale on your new year.

“Resolutions” are the traditional thing to do at the beginning of each year… but resolve is stronger than “resolutions”. Resolve to be the genuine person you can be, fight adversity and take each moment as a milestone (not just midnight on December 31). Resolve to stay accountable to your values, resolve to stay strong through the tough times and build on the victories when they happen. Look for the opportunities to celebrate the new year each day as it comes.

Related Tracks-in-the-dust

Celebrate Milestones

Levels of Accountability

Finding a Purpose

Control Your State of Mind

Posted in Learning Lessons Along the Journey Of Life and tagged Change, Love, Memories, moments, New Year, New Year's Day, New Year's resolution, Reality Check, tracks in the dust, Who Are You

27 Dec 2012

1 Comment

My Soundtracks

Posting answers from my last post where I asked what your answers would be- here’s mine (if it matters).

Music draws a lot into the motions of life, surrounding you with feelings and memories that are indelible.

Liberally borrowing from a recent Entertainment Weekly magazine I challenge each of you (if music is part of your life at all like it is for me ) to answer the following & post it back on comments or on your site and “share”.

What are the songs that make up the Soundtrack of Your Life?

The first song I was ever obsessed with: I Want To Hold Your Hand- The Beatles
The first album I ever bought with my own money: Introducing the Beatles ( on Vee Jay label)
The song that reminds me of my first love: Sunshine Superman by Donovan
The first song I ever sang in front of people: Away in a Manger (Christmas concert)
The artist people don’t know I am a fan of: Dixie Chicks
My go-to karaoke jam: Babe by Styx
The album that reminds me of home: Sweet Baby James by James Taylor
The album that I will never get tired of, no matter how often I hear it: In Transit by Jack’s Mannequin
The song(s) I listen to to get pumped up: Currently: Madness by Muse
The song that I wish I had written (and would have been famous for): Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who
The album I want played at my funeral: Deja Vu by CSNY
My #1 favorite holiday song: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

You can explain yourself if you want to as to why you chose it. Just play along! Their are NO wrong answers.

Go ahead. But be sure to share on your site or in the comments for others to see… and provide a LINK.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Album, Beatles, Dixie Chicks, Music, Sunshine Superman, Sweet Baby James

18 Dec 2012

Soundtrack of Your Life

Hey- I got stuck on this the other day. So many of my friends (both bloggy and non-bloggy) talk about how music is such a part of their lives.

I think music draws a lot into the motions of life, surrounding you with feelings and memories that are indelible.

What are the songs that make up the Soundtrack of Your Life?

The first song I was ever obsessed with:
The first album I ever bought with my own money:
The song that reminds me of my first love:
The first song I ever sang in front of people:
The artist people don’t know I am a fan of:
My go-to karaoke jam:
The album that reminds me of home:
The album that I will never get tired of, no matter how often I hear it:
The song(s) I listen to to get pumped up:
The song that I wish I had written (and would have been famous for):
The album I want played at my funeral:
My #1 favorite holiday song:

You can explain yourself if you want to as to why you chose it. Just play along! Their are NO wrong answers.

Go ahead. But be sure to share on your site or in the comments for others to see… and provide a LINK.

Posted in Life's Sound Track (Music) and tagged Christmas music, holiday song, Memories, moments, Music, Opinion, Postive Thinking, Rock music, Self-Awareness, Who Are You

10 Dec 2012

3 Comments

Waiting for the End of the World

Okay, It will happen. Someday.

Waiting for it seems a waste of time. There are many who seem to be searching for it. They work to interpret the “signs” and decide that the Mayan’s calendar has it right, or some tea-leaves, crystal balls, Nostradamus, alien codes written in farmers fields, zombies coming to walk the earth or some religious faction incited by a self-declared prophet.

With the coming of the latest Mayan forecast looking like this December 21st, the fascination begins again.

For some they look at things so seriously that they are out buying provisions, digging shelters. Grab your family, food and ammunition. You are going to need it in the world ahead (I thought it was the end- maybe just a new chapter?)
For others there is a planned party to watch the event front-row center and lift a glass (or something else I suppose)
Yet others take on some interest like it is the next blockbuster disaster movie that is going to produce world-wide earth moving events destined to make the environment itself be the course of our demise… in full surround sound.

All of it is kind of ironic. Our “individual” worlds are so fragile. The end of the world may happen at any time for us, like a personal journey that has already been written. Step off a curb, slip on a rock, let that pain you have ignored take you away from the human fold as quickly as you arrived.

IF we choose to wait for it to happen, looking for it behind every news story or internet article, it kind of makes us all victims… victims of our human need for knowing our destiny. We cannot really know that “next” moment in our lives, any more than we can predict the moment that will become “the end of the world”.

So I choose to look at it this way. The world will come to an end in my lifetime. It will more than likely be my personal demise. But it may be that the aliens, planets, earth itself or our own foolish nuclear destruction take the course. Living for today, making the best of my time on this Earth to help others, share the Word, provide sound advice to my children, love my spouse and “embrace God’s grace” is still the best way to celebrate the end of the world. The world as we know it has exciting possibilities if you believe that the alternative will be all that much more glorious.

Get off your cloud and get living while you can!

Posted in Before and After Things Change and tagged being remembered, December 21st, Definitions, End of the World, Eternity, life is precious, Maya calendar, Maya civilization, Sprituality

03 Dec 2012

2 Comments

“Happy” Holidays

Every time about this time of year I kind of think about what’s left for the year before it’s over.

There is so much to be thankful for, and so much to reflect on. There are 2 holidays here in the US before it is all done, and it is such a great time to catch up with friends and family and celebrate life together. A time to be “happy”

No matter what you think you did this year, you can always do more. But no matter what you have you can always be thankful – Be thankful for the opportunity to be here on this Earth, reading things on the Internet, with food and water and sharing your love with your family, friends.

This time of year also means people have high expectations of what the holiday’s should bring. The idea Thanksgiving ( in the US can be a house full of food, family and football) and the picture perfect Merry Christmas. Often that ends up putting people in the most depressed sorts- when the simplest reasons to be HAPPY are just those things that “are” simple… Sometimes alone feeling abandoned, sometimes without much or anything to eat. It takes time to remember what happiness really is. It’s not about “things” or possessions, it is about something much simpler than that. It’s about being recognized for being a human-being on this Earth who, just like everyone else, is trying to make the best of the world as it has been dealt.

So as we are spending time looking for things to be thankful for… as we wander by and wish people a “happy” holiday season. Looks like we should be aware that for some it may be hard to see it, hard to feel it, or know where happiness is. They need to know your wish is sincere, you need to know you mean it.

Happy Holiday all!