Get scrooged!

It is 11pm on Christmas Eve as I sit down and write this blog. I am back in Michigan at my parents home - and 14 of us are are all in the same house celebrating the holidays together. I can look outside and see about a foot of snow on the ground, and although the house is crowded, most everyone has gone to bed - so there is a rare quiet stillness to appreciate. There are gifts arranged under the tree, including the couple of toys I decided to assemble tonight so that the kids can come down to see Santa's handy work. It's a pretty awesome time to have Christmas when the kids are this young. My wife put our 4-year old boy to bed tonight, and she told me that he was so excited he was even giggling as he fell asleep.

When is the last time you giggled when you fell asleep?

This time of year I love catching one of the versions of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." The last few years I have been able to perform in the play in a minor role, and I have so enjoyed watching the life changing transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge unfold throughout the night. It is such a classic. It has been told and retold, and remade in countless ways, yet the message is always powerful and inspiring. If you could see where you messed up in the past, how your are effecting others right now, as well as see what lies ahead for you in the future - how might you change your ways?

Scrooge is so overwhelmingly changed by this enlightenment that he has a total rebirth of character. My favorite moment is seeing him run down to the street, buy the giant Christmas goose, and then dance around like a fool as he wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. His excitement is so overwhelming that it literally can't be contained, leaving everyone else to think that old man Scrooge must have gone crazy.

When is the last time you were that crazy?

Most us can see a story like that and feel inspired by the total transformation of character Scrooge has from beginning to end. To go from such an angry old man to a compassionate dancing fool in one night seems pretty remarkable. Yet, I think to myself, shouldn't we all be waking up with the same sense of joy, rebirth, and gratitude that Scrooge wakes up with?

Does it take an earth shattering event to remind us of all the good in our life, or can you connect with it right now?

This year has been a challenging year - but I can think of a few instances right now where I was overcome with such joy and gratitude. On one occasion, where I was the recipient of an extremely generous gift, I remember feeling as if I were glowing with gratitude. So much so that when I got home pretty late into the cold evening I decided to go for a 3 mile run because I was so filled with energy. It was the easiest 3 mile run of my life.

One of my favorite movies in recent years is Jerry Maguire. The movie begins with you seeing Jerry as a greedy sports agent, and how he too has the painful insight to see what he is becoming - and he doesn't like it. Waking up in almost a panic attack in the middle of the night, he spends the next few hours typing up a manifesto of what his company should be about. He is so inspired he heads to Kinko's, prints copies for everyone in the company, and then puts a copy in everyone's mail slot. He is scared to death, but awakened - and then he is promptly fired.

When you wake up - you can't go back to sleep.

How many of you have had those nights? What did you decide to change or do better - and were you able to follow through? If not, odds are that inspiration is still there - waiting to be let out - waiting to be acted on. It's true, once you wake up - you can't go back to sleep. You might hit the snooze, but you're just delaying the inevitable. Like Neo in the Matrix, once you take the blue pill - everything changes forever.

If we got to see Scrooge II - The sequel (and pray we don't) - odds are you would see a man newly inspired, but not quite sure what to do. Like Jerry Maguire, waking up is step 1, but waking up isn't always a picnic. The awakening is just the beginning. What happens after that can be pretty messy and scary - but the rewards are much more meaningful, and besides - going back to sleep is not an option.

So, my gift to you this holiday season is the gift of support. Buy the giant Christmas goose, dance around like a fool in joy, write your own manifesto, and start down on the road of adventure and rebirth. If you need some practical support, I am always here to coach you. I can be your ghost of Christmas present, or your Renee Zellweger (whatever you need).

No matter what you do - be grateful! Be grateful for all the good in your life, smile, and do a little dance. Remember, it's good to be crazy!

Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Travis
561.676.4583

PS - I know it has been a tough year - which means we all need a coach now more than ever. I want to be your coach. So, as a special offer - I am offering 3 coaching sessions a month for $150. Each session lasts roughly 60 minutes. It is a great way to get your new year started, and at a rate that is pretty accessible. If you are interested - be in touch!