Appreciation is a simple thing. It doesn’t take more time. The key is to have it be a way of living, not merely a tool to pull out when convenient and, secondly, communicate it in a way that is heard.

So get out there, on the phone or send a card to show your appreciation today. Not only will you make someones day by telling them how much you appreciate them, but, it will also make it an awesome day for you too.

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. ‘Really?’ she heard whispered. ‘I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!’ and, ‘I didn’t know others liked me so much,’ were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.
Several years later, one of the students was killed in and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her.

‘Were you Mark’s math teacher?’ he asked. She nodded: ‘yes.’  Then he said: ‘Mark talked about you a lot.’

After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. ‘We want to show you something,’ his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket “They found this on Mark when he was killed”. ‘We thought you might recognize it.’ Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. ‘Thank you so much for doing that,’ Mark’s mother said. ‘As you can see, Mark treasured it.’ All of Mark’s former classmates started to gather around.

Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, ‘I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.’

Chuck’s wife said, ‘Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.’

‘I have mine too,’ Marilyn said. ‘It’s in my diary’

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. ‘I carry this with me at all times,’ Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: ‘I think we all saved our lists’

That’s when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don’t know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important.. Tell them, before it is too late.

And One Way To Accomplish This Is:

With SendOutCards.com Send an unexpected card to someone you care about today. and remember ~ People will forget what you say and they will forget what you do, but, they will NEVER forget how you made them feel.
Merry Christmas to all.

School let out yesterday for the next two weeks and yes, of course, the shops are packed with both happy and grumpy holiday shoppers. Arriving home this afternoon to the smell of gingerbread. My oldest son had made a very cute gingerbread house, but, he wont let me take a bite out of it.. LOL Now my little guys making his very own gingerbread house. Maybe he’ll let me take a bite.

Christmas music on the radio and Christmas movies on TV. It sure does feel like Christmas. To think in only 5 days the boys are going to come running down the stairs making as much noise as possible to wake us. The smiles and big eyes, oh what a sight. And then it will be gone. Count down to New Years Eve (the boys like to stay up late) begins.

But, lets not forget at this festive time of the year — with family and friends getting together, gift giving, and heartfelt sharing — it is, in the deepest sense, a time of prayer and reflection. A time to give to your neighbour and be kind to strangers. A time to reach out and say hello to everyone you see and meet. Don’t forget the true meaning of Christmas that God so loved the world that he gave us his only son – the birth of Christ.

Whatever your Winter Solstice celebrations: a.k.a Christmas, Saturnalia, Yule, the Long Night, Hanukkah etc. I wish you all a joyous, safe and happy holiday from my family to yours.

Merry Christmas!

As I look around I see old and young. Tall and short. Heavy and skinny. There are all types of people here. Some may be here for the exact same reason and some may be totally opposite. Some may be here by choice while others didn’t have a choice.
They read magazines and books, ruffle through papers and purses. Whisper to one another and sometime look up and around, catching my glance perhaps.

These people are all different, with different problems. Some know each other, but, most are strangers. These people all share one thing in common….

No one is smiling!

People will forget what you say and people will forget what you do, but, will never forget how you made them feel.

Folks, I really want to tell you about this amazing service Tina and I use. SendOutCards.com. There is really nothing like it. Fun, easy and affordable way to stay connected, reminded of events and date and on top of your card giving, birthday wishing, showing appreciation life. Simply, making people feel good. Check it out at www.cardsendercanada.com or sendoutcards.com

Why am I telling you about this???? Because it’s amazing and awesome and your going to hear about it sooner or later. Why not sooner and from some one you know?

If I don’t tell you, about it Someone else will. Send me a card ~ PO Box 17 Charing Cross, ON N0P1G0 ~ Christmas is coming and my Birthday is February 13. Email or Facebook message me your info and I’ll put you on my card list.

Cheers

Mike