**I heard news reports of all the “door buster” sales where stores opened at 6 or 5 or even 4 a.m. the morning after Thanksgiving, so-called Black Friday. My sister works for a major retail clothing chain but it was a particular mall that was opening at 1 a.m. and staying open until 11 p.m. that had her, a District Manager, working from 5 until 1 in the afternoon. The store had to have people working from midnight to midnight. Maybe I am a too lazy or too much of a Scrooge, but I have yet to see a sale that would get me out that early. The news channel reported people camping out since 3 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning to be first in line.
Would I ever do this? What?!? And miss Thanksgiving football? That is heresy in my world.
**People that are not college football fans miss one of the true pleasures of life. Rivalry games. The build up, excitement, and energy that comes from your team playing their arch rivals. If you want to see the best rivalry, visit the state of Alabama the week before Auburn and Alabama play each other. When I lived there, there were 2 major religious influences, Southern Baptists and Auburn/Alabama football. They talk about the game 364 days a year and play the game on the 365th. Not being one to take sides… Ah, who am I kidding? WAR EAGLE! BEAT BAMA!
**Some of the most sour and depressing people I have ever met are vegetarians. I think one of the reasons they are so lacking happiness in their lives is that they miss out on the joy of an over-the-top Thanksgiving Day turkey dinner and leftover turkey sandwiches.
**Once again, we enter the Christmas shopping season, and economic experts are predicting doom and gloom. Excepting those with a political agenda, can anyone remember when a true economist had a positive outlook? We have entered the shopping season and the “end is near” forecasts are making headlines again. I wonder how much stronger the shopping season would be if we weren’t being bombarded with all of the dire outlook reports.
**Speaking of gloom and doom economic forecasts, why do store and retailers cut workers and sacrifice customer service when it looks like business might be a little slower than hoped. In my truly non-expert opinion, I believe stores lose more business during difficult times, not before of a slower economy, but because they forget to take care of their customers. Then they say, “Gee, I sure was smart to cut payroll. Business was terrible this year.”
**I heard a news report several years ago that said that the average American gains 8 pounds during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holiday season. My goal is to lose 5 pounds during the month of December. Call me Don Quixote and continue to check back as to the status of my battle with the windmill dragon.
**NOW you can start playing the Christmas music!
Keep Smilin’!!
Have you heard the story of the monkey trap? Are you caught in one? “Caught in the Monkey Trap” is one of the programs I present to businesses and groups. If you and your company or group would like more information on this program, one of my other programs, or a specifically tailored program, contact me at lifelessonsbyeddy@yahoo.com.
As I mentioned earlier, I have a goal to lose weight at a time of the when most people are packing on the pounds. Check out my web page with some of the products that I will be using to assist me in my quest. An important part of losing weight is to maintain your overall good health. A strong immune system is vital. Read the Transfer Factor story and learn about the entire family of Transfer Factor® products. Be sure to bookmark the page for future visits. Click_Here
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Reaping What is Sewn, An Important life Lesson
There is a passage in the Bible that tells us that we reap what we sew. A common cliché that gives a similar message goes something like, “you’ve made your bed, now you have to lie in it.” A message that I have been giving as part of my speaking programs, business presentations, and advice given in general is also along the same vein. “Choices that we make now will always have some kind of consequences in the future, both good and bad.” There is an excellent book on this topic called “Choices” by Shad Helmstetter. Hypnotist and motivational speaker Marshall Sylver puts it another way; in five years (or ten, twenty, etc.), we are going to have either regrets or rewards based on our actions and decisions that we make today.
This past Sunday, I was given a sad and very personal example of the truth behind the concept mentioned above. Sometime around 8:15 in the evening of November 16, 2007, at a nursing home in Florida, my grandmother passed away. Except for a hospice worker who arrived about 20 minutes before she died, my grandmother died alone. Sadly, her being alone was expected and predicted by many in the family, especially by her daughter, my mom.
To say it in a nice way, my grandmother was not a very nice person. In honor of her memory, I will not go into the specific details of why. After all, she still was my grandmother. And in her defense, from what I understand, she was very much like her own mother.
Mom Mom as we called her, spent her adult life treating others as she had been treated. She hurt many people. She lied and cheated. She was a con artist with truth and rumor eventually merging together so the reality of many of the things that she did has been blurred. That being said, I personally witnessed many of the hateful things she did. Slowly but surely, she pushed everyone away from her. Many of us cut contact for our own protection. We were protecting our sanity and well-being, if not our physical well-being. Again, some of the stories did lead a few to believe that your physical health could be threatened if you remained involved with Mom Mom for any length of time.
Sometime around the middle of the 1990’s, my grandmother’s mind began to fade. She slowly had to rely on family to take care of her. Many of these people took advantage of her. Most of her personal possessions have long since gone missing. Much of the generosity that was shown to her was because of the belief that she had hidden wealth and items of value. If it had ever been there, most if it was gone by the time she was finally placed in the nursing home where she would spend her final 11 years. Many of the relatives that remained close to her have died. Others have moved on once they realized that there was no longer any money to be taken from her. Until my mom stepped in, I honestly believe that the previous relative taking care of her affairs was stealing whatever wasn’t taken for her nursing home costs from her social security checks. Even though Mom had been estranged from her for many years, when she heard of the treatment, Mom stepped in to at least see that Mom Mom was taken care of in her final years.
It has been just over 20 years since I last spoke with my grandmother. She was trying to con, and I emphasize con, me out of a rifle given to me when my grandfather died. From the time of my birth, my grandfather had said that he wanted me to have that rifle and I still have it. But she had other ideas and knew how much it meant to me. For me, that was the final straw. It has been even long since I had seen her.
Some distanced themselves before me and some distanced themselves after me. But eventually, my grandmother spent her final years, months, days, and hours alone.
I feel bad that I don’t feel bad, but with her passing I see directly, the truth behind the message in my first paragraph. My grandmother did indeed, reap what she had sown. I thank the nursing home workers that took care of her. I thank the hospice worker that was there with her during the final 20 minutes. However, she spent her final days with the harvest of the seeds she had sown so many years before.
Mom Mom, I thank you for a valuable lesson. Taught in the wrong way, but a valuable lesson, none the less. I loved you as a child, and even though you pushed me away like every one else, I loved you to the end. May you find peace in death that you never seemed to find in life.
If you are interested in a speaker for your company or group meeting, email me at lifelessonsbyeddy@yahoo.com. I can tailor a presentation for your group or I have several existing programs that remain popular. In the Houston and southeast Texas area, pending previous commitments, I might be available on fairly short notice. Outside of the Houston area, longer notice would be appreciated.
If you want to improve the quality of your life, check out my web site for some of the best herbal, vitamin, and mineral products available. Check out Transfer Factor with the Tri-Factor Formula(r) to improve your immune system and be able to fight off all of the so called super bugs and viruses that are used to scare us. These products are not available in stores, so click on the link. While you are there, read about the products, the company, and the Transfer Factor(r) story. Click_Here
This past Sunday, I was given a sad and very personal example of the truth behind the concept mentioned above. Sometime around 8:15 in the evening of November 16, 2007, at a nursing home in Florida, my grandmother passed away. Except for a hospice worker who arrived about 20 minutes before she died, my grandmother died alone. Sadly, her being alone was expected and predicted by many in the family, especially by her daughter, my mom.
To say it in a nice way, my grandmother was not a very nice person. In honor of her memory, I will not go into the specific details of why. After all, she still was my grandmother. And in her defense, from what I understand, she was very much like her own mother.
Mom Mom as we called her, spent her adult life treating others as she had been treated. She hurt many people. She lied and cheated. She was a con artist with truth and rumor eventually merging together so the reality of many of the things that she did has been blurred. That being said, I personally witnessed many of the hateful things she did. Slowly but surely, she pushed everyone away from her. Many of us cut contact for our own protection. We were protecting our sanity and well-being, if not our physical well-being. Again, some of the stories did lead a few to believe that your physical health could be threatened if you remained involved with Mom Mom for any length of time.
Sometime around the middle of the 1990’s, my grandmother’s mind began to fade. She slowly had to rely on family to take care of her. Many of these people took advantage of her. Most of her personal possessions have long since gone missing. Much of the generosity that was shown to her was because of the belief that she had hidden wealth and items of value. If it had ever been there, most if it was gone by the time she was finally placed in the nursing home where she would spend her final 11 years. Many of the relatives that remained close to her have died. Others have moved on once they realized that there was no longer any money to be taken from her. Until my mom stepped in, I honestly believe that the previous relative taking care of her affairs was stealing whatever wasn’t taken for her nursing home costs from her social security checks. Even though Mom had been estranged from her for many years, when she heard of the treatment, Mom stepped in to at least see that Mom Mom was taken care of in her final years.
It has been just over 20 years since I last spoke with my grandmother. She was trying to con, and I emphasize con, me out of a rifle given to me when my grandfather died. From the time of my birth, my grandfather had said that he wanted me to have that rifle and I still have it. But she had other ideas and knew how much it meant to me. For me, that was the final straw. It has been even long since I had seen her.
Some distanced themselves before me and some distanced themselves after me. But eventually, my grandmother spent her final years, months, days, and hours alone.
I feel bad that I don’t feel bad, but with her passing I see directly, the truth behind the message in my first paragraph. My grandmother did indeed, reap what she had sown. I thank the nursing home workers that took care of her. I thank the hospice worker that was there with her during the final 20 minutes. However, she spent her final days with the harvest of the seeds she had sown so many years before.
Mom Mom, I thank you for a valuable lesson. Taught in the wrong way, but a valuable lesson, none the less. I loved you as a child, and even though you pushed me away like every one else, I loved you to the end. May you find peace in death that you never seemed to find in life.
If you are interested in a speaker for your company or group meeting, email me at lifelessonsbyeddy@yahoo.com. I can tailor a presentation for your group or I have several existing programs that remain popular. In the Houston and southeast Texas area, pending previous commitments, I might be available on fairly short notice. Outside of the Houston area, longer notice would be appreciated.
If you want to improve the quality of your life, check out my web site for some of the best herbal, vitamin, and mineral products available. Check out Transfer Factor with the Tri-Factor Formula(r) to improve your immune system and be able to fight off all of the so called super bugs and viruses that are used to scare us. These products are not available in stores, so click on the link. While you are there, read about the products, the company, and the Transfer Factor(r) story. Click_Here
Monday, November 5, 2007
Christmas Music at Wal-Mart
Yesterday (Sunday), I went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things I had missed on my shopping adventure the day before. Maybe I did not notice it on Saturday but I am usually fairly observant when it comes to this type of thing. It was November 4th and the Christmas music was playing over the speakers in the store. It just seemed sooooo out of place even though the store was probably 90% decorated for Christmas already anyway.
Now I do have to put a little disclaimer in right here. Yes, I am known for singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Winter Wonderland throughout the summer. I do it mostly for the silliness of it. When people as me about Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I respond that I never said when he is coming, just that he is coming. And as for Winter Wonderland, it is a great way to take my mind off of the heat and humidity of a Houston, Texas summer. Like I said, I do it for laughs and to see people's reactions to things that are out of place. I have a pastor friend that likes to preach an Easter sermon during the Christmas season and a Christmas sermon during the Easter season. It makes people sit up and think a little more.
Now back to the music at Wal-Mart. I am a Capitalist. I believe in making a profit and I do my best to never deny any man, woman, or corporation from earning a profit, as long as it is earned honestly and morally. When the unions protest Wal-Mart, I make a concerted effort to do a larger percentage of my everyday purchases there. Wal-Mart may have its faults, who doesn't, but I will support a capitalistic venture over socialistic unions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
To my dear departed grandfather, who was a devoted member of the Meat Cutter's Union, I am sorry for the last sentence of that previous paragraph. Sorry Pop Pop. However, that is what unions have become. I will save any further rants on unions for another time.
So now that I have pledged my loyalty to anyone out to make money, I finally get back to Wal-Mart playing Christmas music. The reasoning behind it is simple. Expectations are for a slow holiday shopping season so to encourage shoppers to buy more, stores are starting sales earlier and breaking out the decorations and mood music early. While I am neither an economist nor a marketing expert, I feel that their thinking is off. I think it may give them a bit of a head start on the holiday purchases but it will hurt later in the season. As heard at the store, children are pushing for anything "Christmas-y" now, it is my gut instinct and consumer-based point of view that people will be burned out on the holiday festiveness by the early part of December and people will start avoiding the stores and malls except for necessity.
Another point that I will delve into deeper at another time is that I feel that Wal-Mart, other major retailers, and malls are reacting out of fear. Fear does not lead to good, solid business decisions.
Oh, well. Like I said, I am not a marketing expert. I love Christmas music and, although my Christmas music collection will not come out until the Friday after Thanksgiving, I will enjoy listening when shopping. Even if it is almost 3 weeks too soon.
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."
Keep Smiling!!
Don't forget to check out the best herbal and alternative supplements I have found. Click the link! Click_Here
(c) Copyright 2007 Eddy Seegers
Now I do have to put a little disclaimer in right here. Yes, I am known for singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Winter Wonderland throughout the summer. I do it mostly for the silliness of it. When people as me about Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I respond that I never said when he is coming, just that he is coming. And as for Winter Wonderland, it is a great way to take my mind off of the heat and humidity of a Houston, Texas summer. Like I said, I do it for laughs and to see people's reactions to things that are out of place. I have a pastor friend that likes to preach an Easter sermon during the Christmas season and a Christmas sermon during the Easter season. It makes people sit up and think a little more.
Now back to the music at Wal-Mart. I am a Capitalist. I believe in making a profit and I do my best to never deny any man, woman, or corporation from earning a profit, as long as it is earned honestly and morally. When the unions protest Wal-Mart, I make a concerted effort to do a larger percentage of my everyday purchases there. Wal-Mart may have its faults, who doesn't, but I will support a capitalistic venture over socialistic unions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
To my dear departed grandfather, who was a devoted member of the Meat Cutter's Union, I am sorry for the last sentence of that previous paragraph. Sorry Pop Pop. However, that is what unions have become. I will save any further rants on unions for another time.
So now that I have pledged my loyalty to anyone out to make money, I finally get back to Wal-Mart playing Christmas music. The reasoning behind it is simple. Expectations are for a slow holiday shopping season so to encourage shoppers to buy more, stores are starting sales earlier and breaking out the decorations and mood music early. While I am neither an economist nor a marketing expert, I feel that their thinking is off. I think it may give them a bit of a head start on the holiday purchases but it will hurt later in the season. As heard at the store, children are pushing for anything "Christmas-y" now, it is my gut instinct and consumer-based point of view that people will be burned out on the holiday festiveness by the early part of December and people will start avoiding the stores and malls except for necessity.
Another point that I will delve into deeper at another time is that I feel that Wal-Mart, other major retailers, and malls are reacting out of fear. Fear does not lead to good, solid business decisions.
Oh, well. Like I said, I am not a marketing expert. I love Christmas music and, although my Christmas music collection will not come out until the Friday after Thanksgiving, I will enjoy listening when shopping. Even if it is almost 3 weeks too soon.
"Oh, the weather outside is frightful..."
Keep Smiling!!
Don't forget to check out the best herbal and alternative supplements I have found. Click the link! Click_Here
(c) Copyright 2007 Eddy Seegers
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