America: Secrets Underneath The Christmas Tree

In absolute brilliance, the American public does not disappoint. With grateful hearts and overflowing bellies filled with Grandmas Cakes, Mom's pies, Turkey and all of the dressings, America departs from the table of Thanksgiving....and goes shopping.

Oh, don't worry - it's "selfless" shopping: For others!  Looking for the best deals on the best items, Americans kiss the family good bye, and wait for the sun to rise on their nomadic fortress built outside of shopping malls and in plazas (ps..not too long ago, people were trying to kick the homeless out for sleeping outside of buildings, but I guess its ok if you are waiting on a sale - #justsaying)

But then...something happens and Americans loose their minds! I think of the Christmas trees on the December 25th. Underneath them are not only the presents neatly wrapped with a bow, but inside the gift lies a secret:

• This gift was taken out of the hands of a pregnant mother.
• The gift beside it used to belong to a grandmother who was too weak to fight off the thief who cleverly snatched it from her car, wrapped it and gave it to his son.
• The gift on top has the dent in the box from where the lady smashed the head of the retail employee whom she thought was aggressive towards her, but just wanted to let her know that there was an open register on aisle two.
• The gift under the other side of the tree took a journey in the jacket of the Uncle who thought it would be better to just steal the present than to wait in the treacherous line which wrapped around the store like you were awaiting a ride at Disney Land.

But it doesn't matter.  They were a deal and now the children have things to open on Christmas and all is right with the world. !!? 

I will spare us all the understood story of this all not being ok.  I will spare us all the explanation for the original reasons for the seasons to be thankful and to give. I will spare us all my further opinion of the learning lesson that we teach others, not to mention our children regarding behavior and priorities.

There is a song made popular by Lee Greenwood, and one of the most powerful and repeated lyrics in the song says, "...And I'm proud to be an American...."  It seems that the stability of those lyrics seem now to be fading.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM_tDB8OZok

If you are looking to really make a difference this year, join a non-profit which helps people find freedom from addiction. It seeks to provide each student with one Christmas Present this year. Share Hope. Redeem the Holidays. (Click Image Below)

The Hardest Thing to say EVER!!! -Watch the Video

What is the hardest thing to say in the English language? Not phonetically. Not grammatically. Not in a speech-pathology way.  Not in ebonix. Not in suburbian. Not in…(Ok. You get it!) In every day, HUMAN language.

So what is it? The hardest thing to say…..is……Super-cali---LOL No-not that either.  The most difficult and the hardest thing to say is, “I was wrong.”  Are you surprised that it is not the words “I’m sorry?”  Let’s examine.  How easy is it to use the common cliché of an apology to admit that something that you said or did was not right?  With the turn of the head (some turn so hard that it almost breaks), to the sigh that precedes the o-so-seemingly-difficult heartfelt moment. Then there it is…”I’m sorry.”  There is a scramble in the brain like a bad football play, that leaves you mildly retarded and stubborn and inside you are scream.

“I’m not saying it, and you can’t make me!”

The recipient is left with a formality to heal a wound that may or may not be fatal, but a wound none the less.  And the cure is a flimsy Band-Aid of an exclamation that culture has popularized to be the holy-grail of solutions.

NOPE! That was not difficult to say at all.  But why?  Simple.  It took no thought. We are programmed to respond like robots. “I broke your vase. I’m sorry.”  “I’m late. I’m sorry.”  “I punched you in the face. I’m sorry.”  “I ruined your life. I’m sorry.” –You see.  It’s all the same. But something is missing.

I’d like to draw your attention to the left side of your chest.  There is this thing inside of you that often is left out of apologies. It is totally absent from the foundation of resolve in most cases. I’m speaking of the heart.

The next time that you want to apologize…REALLY apologize – STOP.  Think. Now, instead of murmuring the first line of the script that we have been issued to recite time and time again, place your hand on the left side of your chest, take a deep breath and say, “I was wrong!”

Ok…your turn. Try it out and let me know if you live through it. By your response I will take that as a yes!

To help jump-start your heart muscles, meet MICK!  When it's time to say those ever so hard words, let the story of this triumphant pup be your inspiration.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-KYUAHTwTo

To see how Mick is doing now, visit The Mia Foundation