Make a Change for 2011

The Homestretch is within your view! There is a rainbow before me… Skies above can be stormy but what a difference a day makes….. And the difference is you……

Don’t you just love this time of year?  Is it the glitz, the glam, the family, the presents, the food, the celebration of our Lord’s birth or is it something else that it signifies to you? All of this and the fact that we get to start over every 365 days… such a gift… Our guaranteed Christmas gift…

Truth is, you can start over every day if you wish. You have the choice to reinvent yourself every fresh new day, so why is it that many of us keep going on the path we are on simply because we think we must….  You know the old saying “you made your bed, now lie in it…”  Has that saying become part of your unconscious makeup? Do you repeat it to yourself, either knowingly or unconsciously like a mantra?

Could this explain why many of us stay on a path that we really don’t want to be on anymore or one that feels comfortable… hmmm is it the devil we know vs. the devil we don’t…..  Why do we stay in relationships that don’t work for us believing that if we just work harder at it things will be rosy? Why do we continue to work at a job that makes us sick… yes sick… stress kills… When you force yourself to go to a place for 8 hours a day and do a job you dislike, whether you know it or not you are stressing yourself out!  So why will we take our health for granted and believe that one day when we retire all the stress we piled on will just disappear and we will be 100% again?

Holiday Shopping for the Four Personality Styles

I know there are some of you who have not yet completed your shopping, and may be completely stumped about what to give your loved ones. Here’s some great advice – make it all about them! Really watching and listening to the person you are buying for and making the gift something that is meaningful for them. We tend to choose gifts that we think may be meaningful to others –  hence the new tradition of ‘re-gifting’. Each of the four personality styles has preferences.

Check out the FUN tips below for giving the right gift.

Our very knowledgeable Green Personality Style will love any gift that furthers their knowledge and competence. Greens are not into possessions or ‘things’. Avoid fluffy slippers, kitschy Christmas sweaters and gaudy jewellery. Knick knacks will find themselves in the next garage sale. Greens have a unique sense of humour, so tickets to a comedy show would work, as would a trip to an interesting place with lots of history. A magazine subscription to something that interests them, such as science, nature, how to go ‘green’. Avoid packaging; it’s likely that our Greens are totally serious about going ‘Green’. Greens love ideas and concepts, a trip to the museum would be most welcome.

The core need for our Gold Personality Style is belonging, tradition and responsibility. Think about practicality and how the gift will help the Gold personality type carry out their responsibilities or honour a family tradition. Do not be extravagant and ensure that the gift is of high quality they love trusted brand names. Some gift ideas – a planner for the New Year, a new briefcase to replace the old worn one, a labeller – Golds are very organized, or an alarm clock to ensure that the Gold is always on time. Gold personality types will appreciate that you put some thought behind the gift. As long as you are happy they are happy.

Woo Hoo! The Orange Personality Style is motivated by freedom and impact. Don’t fence me in! Just like Tigger – Oranges bounce. Orange Personality types are all about the senses. Think about gifts that relate to the senses, perfume, music, art work, fine wine or chocolate, a soft sweater. Oranges also like variety and fun, so look for something they can use in their leisure time. Plan a spa day and go with them – make sure there is lots of variety and choice. How about an adventure weekend like white water rafting or horseback riding? Even if you get it wrong, oranges won’t care, they get over it easily – they’ll just bounce back.

Meaning and Significance – that’s the key to a Blue Personality Style’s heart. The Blue temperament has a core need for unique identity, meaning and significance. Their talents are as caregivers, facilitators and mentors. They value harmony and cooperation. People of the blue temperament will not really care about material things. You will really impress a blue if you wrote a poem about them, or, knit something special for them (even if it does look a bit wonky). Blues are often found in the Self Help section of the book store – careful though – they may already have all of them! Try a wall plaque that has a motivational saying, or a day out that pampers them, blues so often are caring for others. No matter what you give a blue, it will be treasured and appreciated. Blues are relationship centred; any gift that treasures your relationship with them will be welcomed.

By Irene Anderson

Pre-Planning for Every Season

Every time I look at my daughters wedding photos I am reminded of how significant the color purple is for me. I chose this colour for my dress, “mother of the bride”. This deep, vibrant color symbolizes strength to me and on my daughters wedding day I felt I needed the strength that this colour afforded me. And anyone who knows me understands that this is one of my favorite colors. I find it has a peaceful and calming effect on me.

I plan so many details around this majestic color and hues of it.

If you have experienced a wedding or a large social event, the planning that goes into a Celebration such a this, can go on for months. I was honoured and had the pleasure to assist my daughter with many details, such as reception location, menu, guest list, her flower arrangements, and the bridesmaid’s dresses and not to forget the expenses. (My husband still frowns at our over indulgence)

Planning.

We do it for the holidays, birthdays, anniversaries and yes, weddings. Our life goes from one plan to the next and yet, despite the fact we know it’s inevitable, so many of us are reluctant to plan for our Cemetery and funeral arrangements.

Although I have heard people say, “Oh I’ll leave that for my kids to do”, “My children can do that for me, I have done enough things for them, they can look after this detail” or “We don’t want to discuss that just now, were going to wait, It depresses me”.

Leaving this responsibility to loved ones is a huge financial and emotional burden, which can be eliminated for them, and on the worse day of their lives they won’t have to make these important decisions for you.

Making a decision in regards to Cemetery and funeral arrangements on the day that a death occurs, can be avoided by taking a few moments now to discuss this with family, loved ones and close friends.

In some cases an illness is diagnosed or a death occurs and the family sadly will call me to meet with them, with no knowledge of your “final wishes”, which often occurs.

I believe that Pre Planning is a Gift; a Final Gift that your family will be forever grateful for; A gift that say’s that you care enough about them to do this, leaving a lasting loving memory.

If you have experienced a recent death of a loved one or a close friend, draw upon some of your fondest memories during this holiday season. I find they bring comfort to me, they never leave me, and they are forever etched in our hearts.

Often the holidays are a difficult time sometimes the whole season, I find comfort in my “happy” and “fun” memories of my loved ones. I take advantage of memorial services and candlelight service that honor our loved ones and they offer much solace and friendship.

During this Holiday Season celebrate and create some wonderful new memories with your family and friends.

 

Deborah VanPelt