LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal." Johnny, Home Alone 2

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been on a journey this year, learning, listening and digging in and now as we come into December let's just PAUSE a little and catch our breath. As the year winds down, it doesn't mean we just stop all that we're doing, but let's change up the pace.

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

I'm going to simply share some Christmas Time Quotes this month, and encourage you to reflect, recharge, restore, reconnect, and then restart to the best of your ability!

The Home Alone Movies have always been a Christmas staple, and when I saw this quote, I laughed out loud. The quote was made famous from Home Alone 2, but as I read about it, it's actually from a made-up gangster movie that Kevin used to prank his enemies. The line has been quoted and used over and over in our home and probably in some of yours.

Last week I talked about ways to RECHARGE. Today I want to talk about ways to RESTORE.

When I talk about RECHARGING, I'm talking about "filling you up" or "refueling". I shared some ideas around The Replenishment Cycle and ways to qualify and quantify activities that actually help us to regain strength after being depleted.

The act of RESTORING is the idea of bringing something back to it's original state, or bringing something back to health.

Really different words when you break them out.

For me, RECHARGING is identifying things that give me energy. This week, that involved a 1-year old birthday party for my grand daughter Reese. It involved a 90th birthday party with my extended family for my aunt. It involved a visit from some good friends. Those things all gave me life and energized me.

As I've been thinking about RESTORATIVE actions these past weeks, I've focused on some simple habits and practices that I've ignored for too long:

• 2 Weeks ago, I began a stretching routine in the morning... again. Talk about the need to restore, but at 61 years of age, I need to take care of my body and one way is to just work on mobility and my muscles. It's amazing how this simple practice, 10 minutes each morning, has been loosening up my body and I believe "restoring" muscle & flexibility. I have a ways to go.

• 3 Weeks ago I returned to a simple PAUSE moment in the morning... reflection, lectio, scripture and gratitude. If "restoring" means to get back to health, this is huge!

• This week I'm doing a 3-day detox for my body, just pausing to reset, cleanse and bring some health back into my life.

I don't know what needs to be RESTORED in your life, but maybe this week is an opportunity and a reminder to identify some things that need to be mended.

Restore is about repairing, renewing and addressing things that have been diminished, damaged or lost.

What restoration needs to take place in your life today?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"You have such a pretty face, you should be on a Christmas card." Buddy (the Elf)

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been on a journey this year, learning, listening and digging in and now as we come into December let's just PAUSE a little and catch our breath. As the year winds down, it doesn't mean we just stop all that we're doing, but let's change up the pace.

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

I'm going to simply share some Christmas Time Quotes this month, and encourage you to reflect, recharge, restore, reconnect, and then restart to the best of your ability!

Continuing in our Christmas Quote Theme, I laughed when I found this quote from Buddy the Elf.

Every Christmas, there are some movies that I just need to watch, but I usually don't watch them in one setting, I catch glimpses of them throughout the month... movies like Elf, Christmas Vacation, White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life. Lately there have been a lot of Hallmark Christmas Movies showing, but I can't really tell where one ends and the other begins.

Remember this month, we're just pausing a little bit.

Last week we talked about REFLECTION. In fact, I came across this quote from Winston Churchill the other day that summed up the thought well:

"Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection."

I hope that you've found some ways to add REFLECTION to your daily rhythm during these days.

The next word I want to look at is the word RECHARGE.

I don't know about you, but it's been a FULL year. I hit December, and I'm just worn out. The idea of finding time to RECHARGE is really appealing to me this year, so I need to get creative to think of ways to do that.

I've learned that I can RECHARGE lot's of different ways...

• Wrestling on the floor with my grandson, while it's exhausting, I love it!

• The other night, trying to get my 1 year-old grand daughter to fall asleep was a challenge, but it was also such a joy to be sitting with her in the dark.

While these involve small people in my life, they help me find perspective, purpose and real joy.

This weekend Gina and I did a long walk at the coast... the weather was beautiful, the company was wonderful and it was a time of RECHARGING.

Also, grabbing a moment early in the morning to focus on a passage of scripture, listen to lectio or ponder a question is a time of RECHARGING.

Here's the secret: You need to define what RECHARGES you! You might be able to steal my items, but it's much more about what fuels you. I'll talk a little more about that below.

This month I'll share a few quotes, and then will spend some time on each of these words: reflect, recharge, restore, reconnnect & restart.

How are you able to RECHARGE in the midst of being busy, of running through the holiday, or of simply being exhausted? What works for you?

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." The Grinch/Dr. Seuss

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

We've been on a journey this year, learning, listening and digging in and now as we come into December let's just PAUSE a little and catch our breath. As the year winds down, it doesn't mean we just stop all that we're doing, but let's change up the pace.

To read past quotes & thoughts.... CLICK HERE.

I'm going to simply share some Christmas Time Quotes this month, and encourage you to reflect, recharge, restore, reconnect, and then restart to the best of your ability!

The other day I was flipping through the channels after watching the Lakers play and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas was on. I watched about 3 minutes of the show (The Original) and it brought back so many memories.

That thought from The Grinch above is so true... "Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

I don't know what it is about the Christmas Season, but it's always a time of reflection. Memories from years and years ago, reminders of traditions that we return to each year and then some time to simply think about what's happened in my life over the past 11 months.

I was on a call with my brother, sister and parents the other day, and it's always interesting how quickly we slide back into our childhood roles. We quickly flash back to 50 years ago, and assume the same roles we played then.

I think the Christmas Season does that as well. Traditions, experiences, memories, relationships... everything comes back as we contemplate the days and weeks before us and as we reflect on every Christmas from our past.

This month I'll share a few quotes, and then will spend some time on each of these words: reflect, recharge, restore, reconnnect & restart.

What does the Christmas Season mean to you today? What has it always meant to you?