It's A "Wonder"ful Time Of The Year

Every so often, I become very conscious of how easily I fall into the commercialism that surrounds the Christmas season. I love giving and receiving gifts as much as the next guy (perhaps even more so). I just don't want to lose sight of what's most important and what's most significant about the holiday season.

As I was reading through some of the posts that have already been written this month on Joyful Jubilant Learning, my eyes caught the left hand margin - The Seven Wonders of JJL.

I remember when we created that list. We were looking for a unique way to share our learning when the calendar struck 7-7-07. Each of those seven "L" words helped us organize our ideas and thoughts.

As I looked over the list, I thought, "They'd make a great Christmas list!"

So in your quest to find the most meaningful of gifts this year, I offer the following:

LISTEN — Listening is so much harder than talking. If you listen, REALLY listen to others, you are offering them a gift that will communicate just how much you value them. Give someone your attention.

LAUGH — Laughter is so much fun. It has a way of healing the soul. Learning to laugh at yourself lightens your spirit. Give someone a moment to laugh so hard it brings tears to their eyes.

LEARN — Learning expands your world. Help others become the people they are meant to be by not remaining the people that they are - grow their minds. Give someone a chance to grow in a new direction.

LINK — My network grows as when I connect to the network of another. My own experience and connections might be a tremendous resource for someone else. Give someone an opportunity he or she might not be able to get on their own.

LOVE — The holidays have a way of magnifying the level of intensity we feel in our relationships. Make sure the ones you love know it. Give your love away. It's much more effective when it's shared.

LIVE — I once heard it said that the life you live, just might be your very own. With that in mind, come alongside others and find ways for them to get the absolute most out of life. Give someone a way to appreciate the best gift that each of us have...TODAY.

LEAP — Sometimes, the hardest step in a new direction is the first one. You can be an en"courage"r in the life of someone else. You can help them believe in themselves and to believe in their dream. The most exiting changes in the right direction happen when one jumps in with both feet. Give someone the courage to jump.

Do you remember what you got last year for Christmas? I'm struggling to do it even as I write this.

If you give gifts that flow from the spirit of the list above, you'll be giving something memorable and meaningful. They'll be gifts that last.
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Tim Milburn approaches life a lot like he approaches presents, enthusiastically moving past the surface of things so that he can get to the heart of the matter. He dedicates much of his time to developing student leaders through his blog and resources at www.studentlinc.net.

Comments

[Joanna Young]

Tim, thanks for this powerful reminder of the 7 wonders. I particularly enjoyed your en"courage"r point - I wonder if that is the secret ingredient that brings us JJLers together?

In my own work I try to give people courage, belief and confidence in the power of their own words. I picture it as trying to breathe fire or life into them, so that they in turn will live and breathe more fully. Which in turn connects in mind to what Rosa has taught us about aloha - and that somehow that's what we're protecting or bringing to life through our en"courage"ment of others.

Thanks for the gift of thought, reflection and learning this frosty December morning :-)

Joanna

[tim]

Hi Joanna:

Thank you for your comments. I think it is a tremendous gift whenever one can breathe life into someone and give them the courage to be all they can be.

[Rosa Say]

Love this Tim! You are right about the 7 Wonders being a fabulous Christmas list, and you have my mind going now on how I can give them to my family and friends too.

Mahalo for the gift you give with writing this: I receive it most gratefully!

[tim]

Thanks Rosa:

I knew you'd appreciate this type of gift giving. It always comes naturally to you.