We often talk about making our world a better place one bit at a time, what do we do about it? We do acts of kindness, we volunteer, we donate and we become those people who do nice things for others. How do we encourage others to do the same? We ask them to pay it forward. Every time someone does something nice for you, do something nice for someone else. I think this is the answer to spreading the word.
Until next week, work hard and have fun

I woke up this morning and realized that it was Thursday and I hadn't written my blog yet. So here I am.
The bully at work seems to have had the wind taken out of his sails by other people confronting him about his behavior. I am also being assertive and not allowing him to push me around (not literally). I am still kind of nervous when dealing with the situation but it is getting better.
I am not usually at work at this time of year, I am usually on holidays. I find it heart wrenching to be around my clients at this time of year. They are so sad about their station in life and there is not much that can be done about it. We ( the staffing group) try really hard to share traditions and do extra special things so that they don't feel so bad. We know that we can't replace the love of a family but we do try quite hard. I think that they appreciate our efforts.
I am very blessed to have a loving family of my own to come home to at the end of the day. If it wasn't for their love and support, I am not sure that I would be able to do the work that I love. I hope that I can give a little bit back to them this holiday season and show them how much I appreciate them.
I have been thinking and working on my UBBT 8 goals for most of this month and I think that I am nearly done. I still have a couple of goals that I am not sure how to write but I am confident that I will complete them by the end of next week (some of you may have heard they would be done this week but that was a typo).
I have a challenge for my teammates, I will do the black belt fitness test 30 times in 2011, anyone interested in joining me?
Until next week, work hard and have fun (and don't eat too much!)

Opportunities for growth, they are everywhere!

Someone I know is trying to bully me. This is not an easy thing to handle. It doesn't matter how well trained you are, how many workshops that you attend or how strong you think you are, they will still try. They take small amounts of information about you and use it to cast doubt, inflict pain, and prove that they are better than you are. I know all the reasons why he is doing it, but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. It has been a month of continual conflict with this person and it is getting old. I know that when you stand up to a bully, they try harder to win and it is difficult at first, but if you persevere they will eventually stop. I think that I am at the part where they are trying harder and have been for the last month, at each level they just keep pushing and pushing. It is difficult to stand strong but that is what I am doing, that is what I have been trained to do.
I was going to wait to write about this when it was over but that is what I always do. Then I write a nice blog about how it turned out great and I grew tons and tons. Well, I am growing and it hurts and it is not very much fun. I have to concentrate really hard when I am training so that it doesn't interfere, and once I get going I totally forget about everything except what I am doing (Too cool!). I have to measure all my words so that nothing can be used against me. This is also good for me because I have a tendency to speak now and think later, it is very challenging but I am getting there. I know that good will come from this, I am on a steep growing curve. Since Oct.23rd, everything has meaning and every moment is an opportunity to grow, learn and succeed.
Until next week, work hard and have fun.

The Christmas Present

by Billy M. Smallwood

I heard a knock on my door one Christmas Eve,
As I looked out my window a man I could see,
he was cold and seemed so lonely and upon a bended knee
he asked can you spare anything for me to eat...
I opened up the door and as I helped him in,
he looked up at me with such a peaceful grin,
As he drank down some coffee and had a bite to eat,
I put more wood on the fire so he could warm his feet...
Over there by the fireplace he warmed his tired hands,
I wonder where did he come from, this quiet white haired man,
but I wasn't at all afraid of his peaceful ways you see,
this man dressed in poor, almost as poor as me...
As he left he turned and thanked me for all I had done,
but he forgot to take his gloves, so out the door I run,
He was gone in the blizzard and I couldn't hardly see,
so I took his ole glove's back to the house with me...
Just a little after midnight I awoke in the dark,
there wasn't a bit of fire just glowing cinders in the dark,
and where I'd placed his gloves by my little christmas tree,
there laid a brand new pair, and a Christmas Card for me...
and it read....
You gave me shelter and food to keep me warm,
you even tried to bring me my gloves in the storm,
so here's you a new pair,... the finest ever seen...
as an angel of the Lord
I'll be sure to tell the King....Merry Christmas
.......