2012 In Review

What follows is a post that I put up on facebook on December 20th. I decided today that I wanted to share it on here:

"Welp, here we are at the end of another year. It's been a tough one, that's for sure. There've been some incredible ups and some of the lowest lows. As we come upon Christmas and New Years (my how the time as flown) I'm looking back and becoming quite reflective.

Years down the line, when I'm looking back on 2012, I think it's going to be called the Year of Many Lessons. I've learned a lot about myself, life, the world, and humanity on the whole. I thought I'd take some time to mount my high horse and share those lessons with you all, because what else is Facebook for but sharing stuff for all to see?

First, I've learned the importance of caring. We are in a world full of so much self importance, and in the course of 2012 I've encountered a lot of people who are out for the sole purpose of benefitting themselves. This doesn't make these people evil, but I think it's easy to forget that there are other people, and that, when you stop focusing on only yourself for long enough to see these other people you can actually give your life a lot more fullfilment. As I watched all of the selfishness around me, I began to sink lower and lower, and I became a very angry person for a while - worried about the fate of humanity if everyone is only caring about what THEY get out of others instead of focusing on what they can GIVE to others.

So lesson one: a life of integrity, honesty, philanthropy and stewardship really is its own reward. When you treat people the right way it comes back to you tenfold and in a backwards way giving gives BACK to you. You are generally happier and have greater self respect because you know you've done right by your fellow man. But when you only focus on yourself - on what you can take and get out of everyone else - you end up with just that - yourself. And that is a sad and incredibly lonely existence. Every bad or selfish deed has repercussions that will influence the rest of your life, even if you don't see it right away. But the same goes with good deeds - and the repercussions of good deeds tend to be rather a lot huger.

Second, I learned the value of respect. Respect for yourself, for elders, for bosses. Once again, with respect, the world becomes a more beautiful place. When it comes to bosses, this is vital because, of course, your bosses hold the fate of your work life on the palm of their hands. Self-respect, however, is the MOST important on this list of respects. You need to be able to stand up for yourself, and for what you know is RIGHT. And when it's easier to stand up for yourself, it becomes easier to stand up for other people.

Third, I learned the importance of love. Not just love for nice people - love for everyone. If I can respect and love even people who are difficult to get along with or with whom I have little patience (another virtue I learned), then I know that I and my soul, are going to be okay.

Finding a balance between the love of others and self-respect helps you know the people who you may be better off not being involved with, without being mean, rude or selfish about that.

Fourth, focus on the good. It is VERY easy for humans, as nature's drama queens, to get caught up in the dark and stressful things about life. When you do that it becomes easy to give up without even trying, and that's sad too. As Bob Kelso says: "Nothing in this life worth having comes easy." So, even when you are feeling miserable and struggling with hardship, allow yourself that chance to sit back and think about everything good big or small, because even the SMALL stuff adds up.

Finally, and most importantly, I learned to reject the statement: "Live every day like it is your last." This is a negative statement that teaches us to think of what we haven't gotten out of the world and life yet. Instead I've learned to live every. single. day. as a blessing. Because that is what each day, each moment, each HEARTBEAT, is. A blessing. I am blessed to be alive today and to be writing this message right now. And with each day that passes, I am more blessed. I am blessed with further opportunity to bring good, light and positivity into others' lives. I think that's a darn good way to live life. Every day is the best day of my life. Today is the best day of my life. And tomorrow will be too. And the day after that. And so on and so forth. And with each blessing I get from God (or whateveryou believe in), I will share that joy with everyone in my life.

Live every day as the blessing that it is, and love each day you get.

Okay, well, it's time to dismount that high horse of mine and go eat dinner with Amanda and her family (except Mr. Rivet, who we miss with fondness). This was a lengthy Christmas/Hannukkah/other holiday note, and kind of pompous, but to those of you who have read to the end: I hope that this message helps lift someone's day. Have an incredible Holiday season. I love you all. There is so much to celebrate! Love your family, tell the people you love that you love them, and know that they all love you - always.

Happy Christmas!

See you all very soon, provided the world doesn't end tomorrow. If it does end tomorrow, then happy travels and see you on the other side!

Love,

Thermos McGermos"