christmas message

Last weekend the Facilities Managers group that I'm the president of held our annual Holiday Party. I was asked to say a few words and I'd like to share my presentation here.

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This Holiday season I would challenge everyone to do these simple things:

Give Thanks, Care, Share, Give of your time.

We live in a great country at an incredible time in the history of our nation. I believe that we have seen more change in our lifetime than any other period in the history of this country.

We have seen racial barriers come down.
We’ve experienced wars in places we knew little about – Korea, Vietnam, Iraq the first time - Desert storm, then Iraq again.
We’ve see the Baby boomers advance into retirement. As Dennis Hopper said “Your generation is definitely not headed for bingo night!”
The birth of Generation Xers , followed by Generation “Y” or Millennial.
Now we are experiencing the birth of Generation “Z’s” or sometimes referred to the “Internet Generation”.
We have seen technological advances far beyond anything the creators of Star Wars could dream up in the seventies.
We have seen record breaking profits and devastating losses.
Wow that wears me out just listing those things.

Bottom line is “we still live in a country where we are free to go where we want, do as we please, whenever it pleases us. We can choose to work wherever we want to work. Live where we want to live. We can be friends with anyone regardless of race, politics or religion. We can choose to worship how ever we want to.

That is not true in many parts of the world.

So I challenge you to give “Thanks” that we live in a country where we can have very successful businesses, and were we can have great careers in an industry that makes a difference. Give thanks that you have great families, together with them you can experience the Freedoms we have.

Out of the thankfulness comes “Caring”. Look around you and see those who are less fortunate. Don’t turn away, but get involved. Look for places to make a difference. Maybe it’s in your neighborhood with someone who has lost their job. Maybe it’s in your community where you can volunteer in a food pantry or work with less the fortunate. Perhaps it’s reaching out to an old friend who you have not seen for a long time.

Start small and watch the momentum build.

Through the many toys we collected at our Holiday Party, we will be touching the lives of many children. That’s a great start and I thank you for that!

If you take time to “Care” you will make time to “Share”. Share the financial resources you have been blessed with. Share the talents you have developed - teach others. Share the energy and the optimism you create - infect others. Motivate those around you to make a difference and improve the communities you live in.

Finally - Invest time. Invest time in yourself, you can’t help anyone when you are burned out! Invest time in family and friends. Slow down the pace long enough to relax and enjoy each other. Never loose focus on how bless we are. The time and energy you invest in others will bring you greater Joy than anything you can acquire for yourself. When all the dust clears and the chaos has ended - it’s family and friends that remain.

For me personally this season is a time to celebrate a miracle that happened 2000 years ago. But that is a whole other discussion that I’d be happy to have that discussion off line with you.

I don’t know this season means to you or how you will celebrate it. Do slow down and give thanks, care about those around you, share what you can and invest time wisely.