Accomplishments of 2008

My Aha Moment for New Years Eve suggests that you list your accomplishments for 2008, so I thought I'd better do it myself. Here goes.

• I did 14 Major presentations (9 local and 5 national)
• I lost 16 pounds
• I chaired the Rotary Wine Tasting fund raiser
• I helped my Mother die peacefully
• My songs comforted another dying woman
• I joined the Hauppauge Industrial Assoc.
• I placed 2nd in the "HIA's Got Talent" competition
• I edited Simple Happiness
• I finished remodelling two bathrooms at home
• I did Aha Moments every Wednesday
• I taught my weekly personal development class at the jail
• I did 2 tv interviews on cable channel 20
• I put Simple Happiness on an audio cd
• I vacationed in AZ
• I coached Beena
• I did a book signing in Chatham, MA
• I did a radio interview on WSBU
• I walked 2 miles most days
• I joined Speakermatch

I hope to expand that list in 2009. Now I have something concrete to expand upon in setting my goals for 2009. This year I'm also going to keep track of the books I read.

Aha Moment #7 Your Life is Like a Mansion

Your life is like a mansion. Are you living your life in the foyer of your mansion? It might seem easy and feel comfortable just to stay there, but why not try opening the doors to some rooms and peaking in. There’s no telling what might be in store for you.

Aha Moment #6 Is The Student Ready?

Everyone who comes into your life does so to teach you a lesson. Every life experience prepares us for what is to come. It’s all good. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

Aha Moment #5 Daily Awareness

It is in the daily awareness of making small positive steps that strong permanent changes occur. Your conscious progress toward happiness becomes a daily focus in your life.

Give PEACE for Christmas!

As Christmas comes upon us, all too often the hustle and bustle of the preparations keeps us from what we truly desire—PEACE. Sadly, many times we find ourselves stressed, not fully able to experience the Spirit of the Season with those closest to us—our families.

It seems easier to spread a joyful greeting to a friend or even a stranger than to a loved one.How do we embrace the Holiday Spirit? First, we must begin by allowing Peace in our hearts. It may be through forgiveness or acknowledging others or simply counting our Blessings. The Spirit of the Holiday season is Peace on Earth. And it begins with YOU.

So as you kickoff your celebration, make the effort to bringPeace to the family. Try by pulling folks aside quietlyand begin a heartfelt sentence with, "Do you know what I've always admired about you?"

When you appreciate people for who they are, you bring Peace to them, you feel Peace in you and you invite Peace on Earth.

Merry Christmas!

Aha Moment #4 A Thought Is Just a Thought

A thought is just a thought. Your thoughts are not your life. You fashion your life by the thoughts you choose. Simple happiness comes when you reach for thoughts that empower you, and let go of those that do not.

Aha Moment #3 Mindfulness and Observation Are Key

Your job, if you want simple happiness, is to notice when you are hanging onto disempowering thoughts. When you observe yourself feeling sad, hurt, or depressed, you can usually trace that feeling back to how you are thinking about things. Observing yourself is the first step; choosing a better feeling thought is the next step.

Aha Moment #2 Your Thoughts Determine Your Life

Your life is a manifestation of what you think about all day long. When you are able to step back and observe what thoughts you’re hanging on to, you’ll start to understand why your life is the way it is.

Aha Moment #1 Start Here

If you want things to change, you have to change something. Start by changing your thoughts.

This Christmas Season

As Christmas approaches be mindful of your spirit. Sure there are added pressures this time of year. We all feel the squeeze of getting everything ready for a Merry Christmas Day. Be mindful that we all face pretty much the same stresses. Be the one who exhibits the true spirit of the Season. We are celebrating the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Take care to spread that Joyful attitude to everyone you come in contact with. Let's make this a truly Joyful and very Merry Christmas.

Happy or Unhappy

The other day while prospecting for speaking opportunities at middle schools and high schools, my assistant came across the website of an upstate New York school district. On the home page was a section called Daily Announcements. I found the message quite appropriate, since my talks focus on how to live a happier and more fulfilling life. It said:
The main difference between happy and unhappy people is that happy people mostly evaluate their own behavior and constantly attempt to improve what they do.
Unhappy people, on the other hand, mostly evaluate the behavior of others and spend their time criticizing, complaining and judging in an attempt to coerce them into "improving " what they do.