I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me it seems like time is passing by faster and faster. I used to think that was such a cliché, but now I understand the reality of it all. This reality, by the way, does not scare me, but instead reminds me of the wonderful opportunities to create memories, and grow in wisdom.

What is it about the holidays that we treasure so much? As a child, in addition to getting “stuff” on Christmas morning, I used to love seeing cousins, Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents as we’d get together for a turkey or baked ham dinner. For me they are memories filled with warmth and happiness, and they’ve played an important role in my hopeful outlook on life. I was raised in a devout Christian home; hence, the story of Christ’s birth was always at the helm of both Thanksgiving and Christmas. My dad would always read the Nativity story to us on Christmas Eve and then ask us questions about it and quiz us on our basic understanding of its importance. Thanksgiving was always a time to articulate sincere felt thanks and gratitude for life and the gifts we had. Despite the fact that things were far from perfect and consistent in my family, I never felt that the holidays were commercial or phony in the way we observed them.

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There was a span of time when I was growing up in which my brother and I got very little in the way of presents. My father was a minister for a number of years and we just couldn’t afford much for Christmas, but I was always grateful to have a stocking stuffed with brownies and candy. Putting it in context, that was a great deal more than many other kids got for Christmas. I was always taught to be grateful for anything I had received. My mom told me a story, not long ago, about how she and her cousins used to celebrate Christmas back during the Great Depression. They were poor folks from east Tennessee and typically received only an orange and a couple of candy sticks in a worn out old winter stocking. These poor mountain kids had nothing to compare their Christmas stocking to since all the other families in their community were in the same boat. There simply was no abundance by which to compare. Mom said that the greatest value during the holidays she remembers was the love and commitment her family had for each other. What they lacked in physical abundance, they made up for with a great deal of love.

It wasn’t until many years later that I actually wrote in a journal about the holidays. I wanted to make sure that I included the holidays in my journals since they were, and are, times during the year when we stop what we’re doing to focus on things that are most important to us like faith, family, and our hopes and dreams.

Not everyone takes the time to reflect, however, and in fact the holidays are times of great strife and turmoil for many families. Instead of slowing down and ignoring the clock, many of us find ourselves even more exhausted and pressed for time. When I journal about the holidays I like to reflect on the differences between what I really need and what I only want. These are qualities and areas of reflection I want for my children. I journal about the holidays to remind myself about what is most important, and to record the insights and lessons learned during those set aside times for reflection. I have a tendency, unfortunately, to sometimes limit my journaling to deep, philosophical reflections, and I have to often remind myself to lighten up. Sometimes the greatest (even deepest) insights we can find are right in front of us in the simple things life has to offer.

One of my favorite memories of the holidays (which I did journal about at length) was the Christmas of 1989, one I will never forget. I was working as an administrator at a small private college, and this year there was a particular student that had experienced and number of tragic events including the death of a child, by-pass surgery, and the break-in and theft of property that included all of the family Christmas presents. On top of it all he had been laid off of a job he had held for twenty years. Bills were piling up, and creditors were hounding him with threats and all. The college secretly raised not only enough funds to cover a few remaining medical costs, but also the bills for his little boy’s funeral, and to get caught up on his other bills. The frosting on the cake was that one of the members on the College Board, who owned a company, gave him a job. When this gift was presented to the student, I remember watching him fall down on his knees and weep like a little child. I was the only one to witness this moment besides the administrator who presented it to him in the privacy of his office. I think for a moment I actually got a glimpse of divine grace.

I reread my journal entry about this event every Christmas season because it’s a wonderful reminder to keep out in front of me what matters most, namely, other people. That is why holiday journaling is important. The holidays, particularly Christmas, is a time of year where we are all reminded of the reality of those who have, and those who have not. It should give us opportunities to act upon our better natures and to show our gratitude by showing compassion to those who are not as fortunate. These are the memories worth recording. These are the memories worth passing on to our children and family. That being said, I think it’s important to reflect and act upon these things all year long, not just on Christmas.

This holiday season take the time to record your thoughts about the events around you. Sometimes the mere smile a little child is enough to convince of what matters most. We all have particular things we value about the holidays. What do you value and why? These are a couple of things to ponder during the holidays. Here are some ideas that you can use to start some holiday journaling.

What is you favorite holiday and why?

Do you have a particular holiday event that stands out in your mind?

How do you spend the pre- holiday time?

What are your children’s thoughts (if you have kids) on the holidays

What are your Christmas Eve traditions (or holiday traditions in general)?

Do you have any special decorating?

These are just a few prompts to help encourage you to think about holiday journaling. We encourage you to create wonderful memories and traditions with you family and friends. To remember them in the years to come is a way
to live joyously and in continued hope for a better tomorrow. 
Check out my journaling site at:   www.journalinglife.com

1. Complete Self-Assessment

What’s really important to me in my first job? What are my interests, skills and values?

What strengths and qualifications do I possess that would interest prospective employers?

2. Research and Identify~ Career Opportunities

Where are the job opportunities that fit my qualifications and goals?

3. Develop Job Goals

How do my qualifications and interests relate to available employment opportunities?

What’s really important to me in my first job?

4. Build Your Job Search Network

Who do I know that can help me with my job search? Am I consistently contacting them

for help in my job search?

5. Target Specific Opportunities

For which positions am I most qualified and possess a distinct advantage in acquiring? At

which companies can I reach my goals?

6. Conduct First Interview

How should I present myself in each interview? Do I remember to analyze each interview

to identify areas for improvement?

7. Prepare for Interviews

How should I prepare to best convey my strengths and qualifications for the position?

In what areas do I need more practice?

8. Prepare Resume/Credentials, etc.

How can I best present an accurate, appealing picture of myself in writing?

9. Refine Job Goals

What have I learned in my job search so far that might change my goals or approach to

prospective employers?

10. Site Visits and Second Interviews

What adjustments on my interview skills do I need to make based on my initial interviews?

How can I build on the success of my initial interviews?

11. Interview Follow-up

How should I track and follow through on interview activity?

12. Evaluate Job Offers

How does each offer compare with and meet my goals? What “trade-offs’ can I accept?

13. Accept a Job Offer

Notify your career center and other employers.

14. Congratulations!

Enjoy your job!

* By the way, should you want to read more of my writings, please check out these two websites:

http://www.triond.com/users/catherine+shimozono

This one you may have to cut and paste.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/449451/catherine_shimozono.html

1. Organization: If one doesn’t give an organized approach to the venture ahead. There is a great chance that he/she will not succeed in that venture. Because unorganized and uncoordinated approach on a subject will lead partial knowledge on the subject that will, in turn, affect the application of that acquired knowledge negatively.
2. Assessment of the situation and oneself is very crucial for success. One must have precise understanding of the requirements for the given task, his/her capabilities, and must be clear that whether he/she is befitted for this job. The situation is also needed to be assessed from time to time to take care of any unwanted problem popping out. It also assures one about that he/she has given in his/her best according to the demand of the situation. An under or over estimated effort may only lead to partial success and may even backfire upon oneself.
3. Inspiration and motivation A dispirited effort will only lead to failure. One must not get dispirited due to repeated failures. An unmotivated mind cannot exploit ones’ knowledge fully, hence dampens his/her ability to successfully complete their venture. One must always be motivated and draw inspiration from their past successes and others success on similar ventures. We gain confidence when we are thorough with the situation and we have a definite plan about how to tackle with this specific situation.
4. Determination is another important contributing factor to success. One must not be ready to give up at any cost.

How Do You Increase the Rate of Success in a Venture?

• Motivate yourself: Remind yourself about your past successes in such ventures and your capability in handling such a situation. Think about the rewards you will gain on successful completion of the task ahead of you. Precisely, start counting your chickens before they hatch.
• Start organizing yourself, putting in effort to understand the situation completely. Keep no blind spots so that you can perfectly apply your knowledge and expertise on this field. Break the task into several small blocks so that you can complete them one by one without any hassle. Prepare a proper framework for implementing your plans to complete the venture within the given deadline. You are now ready to get started.
• Work hard and stick to the game-plan you haveprepared earlier. Work sincerely with full commitment to flawlessly complete the tasks ahead of you. Assess your proceedings from time to time so that you don’t have to face any unwanted problems later. Try completing the task with the same vigour that you started with.
• After completion of your task recapitulate it over and over to make sure you have done your best in each and every field.

We see the world in a special way, something I call mono-vision, looking out for number one. We are so consumed in ourselves we actually laugh at other’s pain, not because it’s funny but because it didn’t happen to us! The thing is though, this selfishness also composes the best times of our life, so the sooner we come to terms with this own dark part of ourselves, the sooner we can listen to the symphony of time. Back to my original premise; the time of your life is a single event, sometimes simple, sometimes extravagant, but always changing in some way. The time of your life is rooted in selfishness and though I will not tell you how to live your life I will point out where we all are the same. There are three questions you need to ask yourself and answer truthfully before you know you’re really at terms with this disposition, which is key if you are to enjoy life.

1. Have you ever caused harm to someone else (even if it wasn’t apparent at the time) to better your situation, even if “the ends justified the means”?
2. Have you ever lied to someone under the guise of sparing them, when you just don’t want to take the time to deal with those feelings you’re “sparing”?
3. Have you ever laughed at the situation of others, even though it was unfavorable, without even considering for once that you could easily be in that same position?

If you answered no to any of those you’re lying. I know it and you know it. Even at the age of 10 I had accomplished all of these without any effort. It’s not something you consciously do, most of the time, it’s just something that comes natural to people. We decide that others can be sacrificed as long as we are preserved without thinking for a second what we would like in that same situation. It’s only once we’ve come to terms with our selfish nature that we can truly enjoy our situation. Some call this revelation salvation, in which they pronounce their faith to a god and repent for their sins or wrongdoings (which in almost every religion are just selfish actions in their purest forms), some call it transcendentation, in which they “transcend” to a new plane of living where they’re “free” from this nature. Whatever you call it, and however you paint it, it all comes down to the fact that you feel lighter when you give up the facade and it shows. Life comes at you fast, and if you are unable to deal with it, because you can’t accept simple truths, how can you enjoy it? This is what I ask you; when the time comes, are you ready to handle it?

If you can’t then what is the point of waiting for it? Many people wait their entire lives for this one moment, amassing funds, going on vacations, doing things they think will spark the inevitable. Unfortunately for those blind to their own actions, death is the time of their life, when they are finally released from the troubles of the world. Those of us who’ve opened their eyes, however, will find that their time has passed. Think back to the worst time in your life, and imagine things without operating under that facade we all act/acted in. Even the worst time can seem better, because we know that if we were aware of our nature and better equipped to handle it, the situation could have been changed or altogether avoided. Which brings me to my next point. How can we deal with our own nature?

Our nature cannot be defeated or changed, this is the only fact we need to know for this whole process to work. Even after coping with all your tendencies, they’re still there, enduring the ravages of time, and waiting for their chance. As an old preacher friend of mine used to say, “I still know every word that I learned when I was a kid, and some of them aren’t exactly friendly. And even I get the urge to use them sometimes.” The problem is, most of us don’t have that filter that man had. We don’t know, or don’t care how to stop our tendencies from emerging in society. If we learn just a couple of steps we can do better, feel better, and be better.

1. Don’t do things without thinking. (Although this one should be a no brainer, we do all sorts of things without thinking on a regular basis. When we get up, we get coffee, when we go to sleep we let our mind wander, when we go to the store…. The point is if you think before you act you stop a lot of selfish things from happening and causing harm to others)
2. Walk “the Mile” (Which is of course referring to the infamous mile in the other’s shoes that we always heard of as a child and never quite cared enough to do. Well think of it this way, if you walk the mile before you act against someone, they will notice, and probably do the same to you when they’re getting ready to strike)
3. Don’t spit in the wind (Metaphorically and physically. Don’t do something that will have adverse consequences for you or the person behind you. Realize that everything you do has a consequence and process the first two steps. When you come to a crossroads just think, “What will happen to this person AND me?” This even enables your selfish side to see reason towards showing compassion)

As stated before, you cannot defeat or change your nature. It’s given to you at birth, developed throughout your life, and taken at death. It is a simple and unchanging factor throughout all your decisions. However, you can alter how much you pay attention to it. The greatest minds in history all “thought outside the box”. Well human nature is to think within the box because outside is where nobody else is. They didn’t always listen to that nature and because of this simple fact they are acclaimed as brilliant minds. Well if you are able to curb your desire to listen to your selfish nature, then that makes you a saint. Now don’t let the motivational tidbit distract you, we are flawed, every one of us, and even though none of us are identical, we all share the same dark desires. Yet, one thing we all find different within is our proficiency with dealing with them. The time of your life is waiting, can you get a hold of yourself before it comes? I hope you can, and wish you the best of luck in doing so.