“Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.”

That line gets me every time. And then Linus goes up onto the stage with his blue blanket and tells the Christmas story. It’s adorable. And it’s beautiful. That movie has so much more meaning now than it ever has. With all of the commercialism in the world and the ridiculous over-the-top aspects of Christmas in today’s world, it’s easy to forget what the holiday season is really about. 

If you’re a Christian and you celebrate Christmas, you hear every year in church how you can’t forget about the true meaning of Christmas. So you go home, refresh your heart and mind, then what? It’s not the action; it’s the thoughts and feelings that really matter. If you remember in your heart that Jesus is the reason for the season, the actions will follow. 

And if you’re not Christian? Maybe you celebrate Hanukkah. Growing up with a Jewish father, I know all about how Hanukkah is the most pointless holiday, but it has a meaning nonetheless. God protected the people, and kept the oil burning for 8 days and nights when it should have lasted for 2. He delivered the Jewish people. Keep that in mind when you’re indulging in fried potato pancakes and all of the other goodies.

And if you’re not religious at all? You probably exchange gifts in your family anyway, and for that reason, it is still incredibly easy to get caught up in the shiny wrapping paper and last-minute Christmas shopping sales. And not matter what religion you are, or if you’re not religious at all, it’s important to keep in mind things like love, peace, gratitude, forgiveness, the importance of family, and the joy and magic that comes with the season that seems to fade with age. Remember and be grateful for everything you’ve been given over the past year.

So the next time you’re watching A Charlie Brown Christmas, think about what Linus is saying. Really listen, and maybe you’ll think about the holidays a little differently.

Guest Post By:

-Melissa L.

We want it, but do we think and believe it…

We all have a wide array of personal and professional wants. For example: winning a championship, getting our dream job, kicking a bad habit, getting into college, making more money, having great friends and relationships, etc. Yes, we want them but do we do what it takes to get them? Think about the last big thing in your life that you wanted to achieve or you set a goal to accomplish. Did you achieve it? Many times we unfortunately don’t achieve these goals for two reasons: Thinking and believing.

The difference between the people who achieve their goals and get what they want and the ones that don’t is they possess something extremely powerful in mental discipline. What separates them from the other 90% is they continually train their mind to think and believe. If they don’t have that dream job yet, they tell themselves twenty times a day that they will get it by doing XYZ. They train themselves to think positively and never waiver on hard work, dedication, attitude, and giving. 

So if you have something you want in life, don’t just want it, think it and believe it everyday. The mind is the most powerful muscle in the body. If you train it to think success and greatness, it will achieve it. Your mind is what you feed it, so please feed it the healthy food and not the junk and you will be amazed at the heights you can reach!

-RD

The Act of Mentor Leadership

Lately, I have been getting into reading leadership books, especially ones that revolve around how coaches lead successful programs and teams. Being a coach myself, I am always interested in learning how other coaches build winning teams, cultures, and people. Recently, I just finished Tony Dungy’s book, “The Mentor Leader.” Tony Dungy has always intrigued me because of his unique style of leadership. Before I read his book, I knew that he was a man of strong character, values, humility, and faith. What I didn’t know was how he built his football teams into well respected, self-sustaining franchises.

The thesis of the book revolves around how to be a mentor leader and what that entails.  A mentor leader is someone who takes time to invest in the lives of others. The difference between leadership versus mentor leadership is that the “mentor leader looks at how he or she can benefit others-which ultimately benefits the individual and the organization.” The great thing about mentor leadership is that anyone can take time to mentor someone whether it is a sibling, friend, co-worker, etc.  Below are several excerpts from the book that I believe exemplify better what a mentor leader is:

*If we lose sight of people, we lose sight of the very purpose of leadership.

*Mentor leadership focuses on building people up and building leaders for the next generation.

*Building a life of significance, and creating a legacy of real value, means being willing to get your hands dirty.

*Mentor leaders look beyond themselves, focusing on the people they lead and where they should be going together.

*If you do it right, as a mentor leader you may make it all but impossible for other people to give you credit.

*Truly serving others requires putting ourselves and our desires aside while looking for ways and opportunities to do what is best for others.

*Mentor leaders produce mentor leaders. Their legacy is able to live on because of the investment they made in others.

We need more mentor leaders in our society. Many children, even adults need positive role models to learn and grow from. Anyone can be a mentor leader; all it takes is an investment in others. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed if you decide to mentor someone. Nothing in my opinion can be more full-filling than helping others grow and succeed.

As always, thanks for reading.

-RD

Quotes are taken from The Mentor Leader

Through Tough Waters

It is safe to say this winter/spring has been one of the most challenging times of my life. I would be lying if I didn’t question from time to time my decision to go through with this whole education degree. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just find a job in business? Many days I ask myself is it really worth it? Is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Will I ever reach my goal of having my own classroom and leading students? I flat out miss the comradery and team atmosphere I shared with my best friends at YCP. I miss coaching and seeing the energy from the  kids at football practice. I miss teaching and leading others. I haven’t had much of that this winter and spring and it has taken a tool on me. I thrive off of it! Overall, it has been a struggle to stay motivated and keep the eye on the prize. As I get ready to finish up classes before this  awesome summer ahead, there is one person that has been in my corner through thick and thin; my best friend Emily.

This year being a part from each other has taught me a lot about what it means to have a true, committed relationship. It has taught me about trust, loyalty, and sacrifice. I don’t think I could have made it through this program without her love and support. I don’t know many women that would support their man for over a year while he went on and tried to accomplish his dream. She has stuck by my side and giving me the support I needed every day from day one. Some people ask me, don’t you guys have a hard time trusting one another being so far away for so long? Actually, I believe it has made our trust for each other even stronger! When I do get a chance to spend time with her, it is time that is always shared with laughs and fun and I always look forward to the next time we see each other.

We have now been together for two years and counting! Just wanted to share some things I believe has made our relationship so strong:

·         Willingness to sacrifice for one another: If you aren’t willing to give and take in a relationship, it will never last.

·         Communicate thoughts: Communication and sharing thoughts about important things are critical in a successful relationship.

·         Being able to say sorry: Many people have a hard time saying sorry or admitting they are wrong. One thing I love about our relationship is that we are able to talk things out, admit when we are wrong, and learn from them

·         Shared vision and goals: Both people have to be on the same page when it comes to goals. If one is going in a different direction than the other, it won’t work.

·         Willingness to learn and improve: A relationship like anything takes time and work. If you aren’t willing to put the time in to improve parts of your relationship, it will never grow and blossom.

·         Change it up: All relationships cant consist of staying in and watching a movie all the time. I love that we are both adventurous and want to try new things and see new places.

·         Faith: Sometimes when we are down and having a difficult time with life, faith can get us through some tough times. Being on the same page with faith has helped a lot!

Every day I am thankful for all the support not only from Emily, but my family, friends, and role models that have showed me how to not look in the rear view mirror, but stay focused on the opportunity in front of me. Really looking forward to all the opportunity that is in front of me to continue to grow and learn as a person. If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary!

-RD