Testing Testing 124: Wrapping up 2011 and ringing in 2012!

Christmas was definitely "merry" during our six different celebrations with family and the multiple Christmas gatherings with friends and co-workers.

Volunteering to take photos of kids with Santa...that was no easy volunteer task!

While the holidays can be stressful with crowds, busy schedules and travel...it always seems to be rejuvenating for the year to come.

My boss sent out the below inspiration for 2012. I had to share...

"In 2012, the world population will surpass 7 billion people. In the United States, a child is born every 8 seconds. When we pause and reflect on the world around us, it is not hard to feel insignificant at times. We read success stories in our media. Talent is idolized on TV. Personal struggles that seem insurmountable are surpassed in our films. And we wake up some mornings wondering if we have the strength, the conviction and the courage to make it through the day.

On most occasions, we muster the energy within to rise up and face the day head on. We attend to our family obligations, we check ourselves in and out of meetings with colleagues and clients, we meet deadlines and we return home prepared for the routine to begin again the next morning. We often leave ourselves little time to nourish our well being – physically, mentally, spiritually—and to reflect upon all that we have accomplished in the last 24 hours. Some of us become victims to the routine that takes us out of alignment with our passion and that leaves us questioning ourselves: what am I doing…where am I going…who am I?

Many people today lose sight of the fact that they matter. Children go to schools that are under-resourced and inadequately staffed…schools that resemble and feel more like detention centers than learning institutions. Students are shuffled from one class to the next in hopes that they will retain some of the knowledge being poured into their minds and with the expectation that they will regurgitate that information on standardized tests. There is a limited focus on inspiring children through fostering their imaginations, developing their critical thinking and problem solving skills, and challenging them to set and achieve goals and dreams.

We, as a society, often choose to play the blame game, pointing our fingers at teachers, emphasizing what they are not doing instead of acknowledging their progress, supporting their mission, and partnering with them to nurture the whole child. We blame parents for not providing for their children their basic needs, yet many parents are struggling to obtain a living wage across multiple jobs. Their loyalty is expected but not reciprocated. Respect is demanded but not earned. Fear festers, and hope waivers.

Hardship can fall upon anyone at any time. Some share their stories with others in hopes of finding support or an open door. Some remain silent and choose to quietly seek a solution. I believe it is important for us to remember this in our interactions with each other. Our stories are complex but what we all need is simple.

We need our basic needs met. We need compassion to feel connected. We need reminded of our purpose and impact. We need the truth to make grounded decisions. We need hope to remain committed to our dreams. We need respect to feel valued. We need time to reflect on where we are going, what we are doing and who we are.

We need to accept and appreciate our significance."

Cheers to a new year, creating lasting memories and making a positive impact on society by sharing our gifts, time and talent with others.