"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
The December holiday season is my favorite time of the year. As I write this, my wife is busily decorating the house. The Christmas trees and decorations are shimmering in multiple of the rooms. The New England winter village brings memories of the past. The nativity scene harks back to long established traditions of my native Italy. Throughout the day, my children and their mom are having whispering conversations on appropriate gifts for the family. Everyone becomes an arbiter in brokering gift lists that will make that Christmas Day very special.
The 31 days that make the month of December includes the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, after which the days get progressively longer. The end of the month is packed with celebrations such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve.
The etymology of the month December indicates that it is formed from the Latin root decem, which means ten. How does this make sense in our 12th month? The ancient Roman calendar originally only had 10 months, beginning with the month of March. "January and February were eventually added after December to the end of the year. But, by the time the Julian Calendar was established in 45 BCE, January and February appeared at the beginning of the year, which bumped all of the original months (and their originally assigned names) back by two."
Why is December my favorite time of the year? What one word comes to mind as the holidays approach? How can one word foreshadow a brighter future?
The Greatest Gifts in Life
"While there's life, there's hope." - Marcus Tullius Cicero
Ten years ago, I wrote these words. "The greatest gifts in life are not material, do not need batteries, and are not the latest gadgets. The greatest gifts in life and this holiday season are family, lasting friendships, a passion filled career, cultural sensitivity, and endless curiosity."
The holidays rightly should be about the family. Our celebrations are highly spirited, funny, and create memories that bring each member closer together. Family is the rock on which to build a fulfilling life and for close families it is a holiday gift that will keep on giving.
The longer you live, the more you realize that the people ecosystem that you build around you is what makes every single day special. The holidays are when I reflect on the many lasting friendships I have been lucky to build around the world. Special individuals who come into your life, create lasting bonds, a base to test and grow ideas, build character, and are a great validation of the human spirit.
Each of us has the capabilities within us to exceed our personal expectations every single day. If you are career oriented, don't ever settle. Keep searching for that position that fuels your passions. When you find it, time will move faster, the number of opportunities will increase, your sphere of influence will expand, and success will naturally follow.
It is great to hear that today 51% of Americans now have passports, up from 46% in 2023 and 30% in 2008. It's a big world out there. Experiencing it will build the very important muscle of cultural sensitivity. The more people you meet, the more you read, the more successful you will become. Knowledge is not power. The usage of the knowledge to fuel your passion is power. Endless curiosity is the weapon that will sleigh self-doubt and open new world of possibilities.
The One Word that Will Make All the Difference
"Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality." - Jonas Salk
Have you guessed yet the one word that inspired this December article? The word only has four letters, but in the right frame of mind, with dedicated hard work, endless curiosity for continuous improvement, leads to a life with no regrets.
The one word that makes all the difference is hope. Here are a few other inspirational quotes to help you understand the paramountcy of this word:
- "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness." - Desmond Tutu
- "Hope is a waking dream." - Aristotle
- "Hope is not a feeling of certainty that everything ends well. Hope is just a feeling that life and work have a meaning." - Vaclav Havel
- "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." - Helen Keller
The Winter Solstice is the darkest day in the middle of December, but 24 hours later, the light will shine longer. There is no perfect life. We all go through triumphs and struggles.
The holiday season and the end of the year should be a time of reflection. As December literally means ten, this might be the time to create your own top 10 list. It can be as simple as a list of reflective ideas to improve year-end festivities and create actions plans for an improved future. Consider:
- Getting closer to your family.
- Reaching out to friends close and far.
- Watching a child experience the magic of Christmas in opening gifts under the tree.
- Enjoying your favorite foods and drink.
- Focusing on improving your health.
- Contemplating the difficult times of the past year. What could you have done different?
- Reflecting on the blessings. What made you smile? What created the strongest positive memory that you know will be with you forever?
- Reviewing any goals you set for the current year. Which ones did you actually achieve? Why did you abandon the others?
- Assessing where you are in your life. What is working? How to define the next breakthrough?
- Revisiting your long-term life goals. Are they bold and audacious?
Hope is my favorite word this and every holiday season because it evokes the optimistic spirit to reflect on the past, and more importantly, leverage the lessons learned to improve the future.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do that the ones you did so. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." - Mark Twain
Enjoy the colors, the lights, the smiles, the anticipation in the eyes of every child, the musical tidings, family gatherings, the end of another year, and the possibilities of the new year. If you immerse yourself in the positive messages of this festive time of the year, HOPE for a brighter tomorrow naturally emerges, and that my friends and family, is the true spirit of the holiday season.
