2010 is almost over, but not yet

2010 is almost over. Soon we will start a new year. Try to come up with some resolutions. Dive head first in weight lost programs, muscles building training, cleaning your house, reading more, saving some money or whatever your resolution may be.

But, we're not there yet. 2010 is not over yet. And before it end is a great time to remember what are your 2010 resolutions. Did you met them? If you did, congratulate yourself! If not, will those be on your 2011 resolution list? How many years have you postponed that resolution?

Before 2010 is over is a great time to think about your past 365 days and find out all the things you are grateful for. List them all. On paper. And say thanks to the people who did actions you are grateful for.

A full year of gratefulness is a lot. There's a lot to think about. It's easy to forget some of the things that we're grateful for. My better half always tells me she likes to clean up right away (probably hoping I'd do the same) because if it piles up then we need to take a full day to do some cleaning and that's no fun.

The same can apply to anything. Don't wait for me to remind you again in 365 days to be grateful about your surrounding. Do it at the end of everyday. Even make this your new 2011 resolution if you want.

List all the things you are grateful for.

On paper.

Keep it.

My Favourite Time of Year by The Florin Street Band

Here is a great Christmas song I found recently. I love the Victorian theme and the snow falling, it's all just lovely. The video quality is excellent, put it full screen in HD if you can. (I'm not sure you can in the blog, if not go on Youtube)

May it bring a little magic in your hearth!

Quotes - Ghandi - Present, Past, Future and Speed

Last week was a very busy week for me. That could explain why I did not blog. But then again there is always a way to do things you want to do, so no excuses for me. I can't repair the past, the only thing I can do is decides what I can do now that's the best. So, lucky you will get two quotes in a single blog! Wicked!



Both quotes relates to the present, past and future. Not only about what you do now but how you are feeling now. Next to my kitchen table I have this little box full of Zen Cards, visitors pick a random one when they come to visit me. Once in a while I pick one too. Here's what one of them told me...

"The past is over. The future will never come. Now is the only moment that will ever exists. Therefore, live each second to the fullest"

Making the most out Now is key to a happy, blissful, life. Let's say it's raining right now. What point is there to think about yesterday's bright and sunny day? Or wait for tomorrow to make plans just because the weather network says it should be sunny? (We all know how reliable the weather people are!) Now, it's raining and what can you do to make the most out of it?

The next quote comes from Ghandi. I'm not sure the context in which he said it. When I first read it, I immediately had an interpretation for it and ever since its become one of my favorite quotes.

"There is more to life than increasing its speed."

- Ghandi

Have you ever heard somebody say: "Can't wait for the weekend, this week is never ending!" or anything like that? You know that if you always wish it was the weekend at the age of 50 you will have waited 34 years of your life for now to be the weekend? The point is, don't wait for something better to come. Life is meant to be lived now, not in a few days.

I hope you are all living a wonderful road to the holidays.

Traditions

Christmas is coming. There are a lot of traditions around this time of celebration. Traditions that comes from so long ago that we tend to forget the reason why they started or even why we still do them. In the weeks to come I may talk a little bit about those traditions but today I want to stick to why we keep doing traditions in general.

When you do something, ask yourself why you do it.

If the answer is something like "Because that's what people do", "Because it's the way it is" then you need to think a bit harder and find a reason for yourself. It doesn't need to be profound or historical or event related to the event itself. Sometimes simply "Because it brings me joy" is a much better reason for doing something than to do it because everyone else does it.

Think for yourself. See what birthdays, holidays, events or ceremonies brings you and only. Don't try to transpose your own reasons to others and others reasons to yourself. Some people may do something for historical reason, knowing their grandfather was part of some old ceremonies can be fulfilling to somebody. Someone else may simply like the social interaction that happens during a certain event without any historical attachments. There is no right or wrong reasons to enjoy traditional events, there is only your own reasons.

Quote - Age Is All About Stairs

This week, for my first quote after I officially launched my blog, I have a quote that I don't really like. Why post it then? Because, in my "About this blog" section I mention the surprising power of quotes. How just a few words can change someone's life. I absolutely don't remember where I read this one, and I'm not even sure of the wording but it goes something like this:

"You're age is not counted in years but in how many steps you take when going up the stairs. One or two at a time."

I get the point. Your age does not matter as long as you are healthy and do things to stay healthy. I still don't think it's the most profound quote out there.

But since I've read this quote, I go up the stairs two at a time. When I catch myself climbing one at a time there's a voice in my head saying "Come on, you're not that old already" and I pick myself up and go up two at a time.

My point is that you never know what's going to push you forward. You can read a book someone told you would change your life and not feel inspired. And you can be inspired by something a four year old says. To each their own signs. You don't have to look for inspiration. You only need to be opened to inspiration and it will come to you in a way you may not expect.

Welcome to my Blog

Hi! My name is Mat.

Welcome to the official launch of my Blog! I've been writing in it for a little over a month now but near to nobody knows of it's existence. Now that I tested my inspiration flow, I know I can write regularly. Since you all have a month of blog to catch up, I'll be short today. You can read my past entries for now. And I have an interesting quote this week so stay tuned!

Enjoy!

The following is a copy of the "About this Blog" section:

You'll notice the posts on this blog will be short. My goal is not to spread my point of view but rather to simply spread thoughts. Those thoughts, I hope, will be within the readers.

I'm not a writer. My first language is actually French. I'm not a believer in using complicated words and unbelievably long sentences to say simple things. So I will keep things simple.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts and quotes. I love quotes because they are short and powerful. It's amazing how just a few words can sometimes have the power to change people's lives.

Read and think. Look around you. Improve your world with actions!