There is one moment each year, where you can have one foot in the past and one foot in the future and not crap all over the present moment….And that moment is the countdown to New Year’s.

Here is to taking all the beauty, wonder, and love with us into 2010 and leaving all else in 2009, in the past where it belongs. From here on, may we all be present in each moment, not letting the past or the future interfere with what is happening in the now…for the now is all we have.

Love to all.  For love is all there is.

Happy New Year!

Kathleen

When I was a little girl, my mother would dramatically whisper a poem to us on windy days that simultaneously freaked me out and soothed me.  In reflection, I am not sure if it was the way she would dramatically recite it, the way the winds were blowing around us that prompted the poem, or the words to the poem itself.

Recently, I received a card from a dear friend during a particularly emotional experience.  The card* was simple and to the point.  The cover showed the back of a young girl whose pony tails were being blown about and it read:  “When the winds of change feel too strong….”  I immediately thought of the other poem and felt, again, simultaneously freaked out and soothed.  Yes, life brings many changes.   And sometimes I feel like I am being whipped about, blown in every direction.   Realizing that, for the most part, the change is phenomenally good, there still exists those few things, those sticky points that make me question it all, that I resist, that make me want to fight the change.

I realize now that I need to lean into the wind, to stop resisting it.  It is strong enough that it will hold me for a bit, but as it subsides, I will have to catch myself, lest I fall to the ground.  And at this point, landing on my ass and dealing with the resultant scrapes and bruises seems far less painful that trying to control or stop the wind that blows about me.   By leaning into it, I can feel it’s power, it’s strength.  The strong gusts take my breath away and I often feel as though that particular wind may be the end of me.  But then it cradles me once again, calming me down.  And the cycle continues.  Strong bursts and gusts of wind force me off balance, bringing me to my knees, followed by gentle caressing breezes that soothe, almost heal.

I am riding the winds of change, honoring and yes, often resisting each swell, but grateful for each settling, gentle breeze.  Finally realizing I have no control over the wind, I now know that I can only control how I choose to react to it, how I fight it or ride it, resist it or lean into it – like the trees in the poem my mom used to recite:

“Who has seen the wind?  Neither you nor I.  But when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by.”**

*card ©Elain Duigenan/Photonica
**excerpt from the poem, Who Has Seen The Wind, by Christina Rossetti

A favorite holiday tradition that started years ago involves everyone and anyone who is at our house on Christmas Eve grabbing an instrument, donning a Santa hat, and walking around the streets of our neighborhood caroling our neighbors.

This year was a particularly special year for many reasons. We have added to our family and are now a bigger group with more kids (and thus, more love!). Our next-door neighbors are celebrating their last Christmas in their house, as they are moving after 28 years. And, sigh, as Keith appeared dressed as Santa, not one kid batted an eye – not even a glimmer of “could it be?” crossed their faces.

As we made our way around the cul-de-sac and down the street, each door opened with a flurry of activity. Some little ones were afraid of Santa. Others mesmerized. Adults, young and old, clapped hands and sang along. Often, we were asked to pause, to wait to begin until family members could be assembled. We all sang from our hearts, and played our instruments with glee – it was like being a kid again!

This was our gift to our neighbors. Some were having large family gatherings so we got to sing to large crowds. Others were just two. Our kids were “rewarded” for their caroling at various houses with Chanukah gelt, solid milk chocolate Santa’s, a kitty Christmas ornament, and nearly some cash as one man started going through his wallet (which was odd, we weren’t singing for our supper, after all!). We even stayed and sang to the house that would not open the door and actually closed all the shutters on us. But we knew someone was in there, so we sang. I guess we all figured they needed Christmas Joy more than anyone.

Laughing, singing, banging on drums, jingling tambourines and shaking music sticks and maracas, we were not only giving the gift of neighborly love, but we were giving ourselves and our children the gift of a family tradition. Of a memory. Of an activity that they will have forever stored in their memory banks, that lets them know that they are part of a family, of something bigger and safer that will wrap them in love when they need it the most. And that is what this moment, this Christmas moment, is about.

Written in 1822 by Clement Moore, the poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is an American classic and one of my personal favorites.  Merry Christmas to you and yours.  May all the blessings of the season be yours.

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. more…

parenthesis  |pəˈrenθəsis|noun

The whole Tiger Woods debacle has, due to the time of year, denigrated into a zoo of Santa comparison jokes. And while I feel a deep compassion for his wife and children and the pain and humiliation they must be going through, I confess, I laughed at one or two at Tiger’s expense.

But I stopped laughing when I heard on the radio that the Swiss watchmaker company, Tag Heuer, who has Tiger Woods as one of their “brand partners” (aka spokespeople) doesn’t care about Tiger’s private life and is sticking by him. Mariam Sylla, the company spokeswoman, told the Associated Press, Woods’ personal life is “not our business”. Really? What is your business? Oooh, here, let me refresh your memory by using your own company’s statement:

From the Tag Heuer Website : “With his personality and his results, he is a perfect example of prestige and performance which are so important to TAG Heuer…. His personal obsession with results and perfection, his ability to withstand pressure, to meet expectations and exceed them, but also his love of discipline – all this makes him a natural partner for the brand.”

A natural partner for the brand? So your business partner’s personal prestige, which has been comprised, thus compromises your business. His discipline? Not so disciplined in areas that really matter at the end of the day. Ask his wife and children. His personality? Well, that would include all of the DEFECTS that have been so prominently on display and are now a part of YOUR brand – and thus your business. His obsession with results? Now we all know what else he obsesses on to get his desired results. And he obviously could not withstand his own ‘personal pressure.’ Does Tag Heuer obsess on that as well? Ewww. Wouldn’t want THAT on my arm. What a weird kind of loyalty Tag Heuer has…it makes me wonder, loyalty to what and to whom?

It wasn’t until I was sitting in my car, in one of those rare moments of quiet solitude, waiting, that I realized why this Tag Heuer issue has disturbed me so. I happened to pick up a little book, Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success Playbook, by Jay Carty and John Wooden, the Basketball Hall of Fame icon whose success, as both a player and a coach are legendary. The following quote immediately made me think of the Woods – Heuer situation:

“Loyalty, however, is more that emulating someone’s looks, wardrobe or music. That is attachment or identification. True loyalty comes into play when we add concepts such as devotion, duty, faithfulness and commitment.”

Woods had no loyalty to his wife or to his children. Or to any of the other women/ business partners/sponsors/etc in his life. He was acting on his own, playing a solo game, a partner to no one. His behavior defies this definition of loyalty on all counts. It, in fact, truly DEFILES it. And Tag Heuer’s loyalty to Woods completely misses the mark. Their loyalty should be to their consumer and to the damaging branding that this action creates of their corporate image. Will they be faithful, committed, and devoted to the family institution? To the good morals that we all hope and strive to raise our children with? Or will Woods’ continued face on their billboards laugh in all of OUR faces at that? Will they perpetuate the stereotype that if you are a sports star you are above reproach, celebrated even, for your bad behavior? It would be deduced then, that Tag Heuer wants their customer to attach and identify with that behavior, which their brand is now attached to and identified with.

So take note, Tag Heuer, Woods’ private life IS as much your business as his face, personality, performance, and obsessions are YOUR business. Bravo to Gillette and Accenture for cutting or censuring ties with Woods. Nike? Electronic Arts? Ah well, I always like the Addidas logo better anyway….