Making It Special

An old friend recently remarked that, "If you don't make it special it won't be." We asked what the IT was that she was referring to?  She responded, "Usually it was just the day but now the IT is whatever you decide it to be."  We have started to share her thought with friends, family and clients and not surprisingly some said... "Why bother?"  We know 2020 has been an extremely difficult year. Living in the land of Covid has challenged us all. Doing something special for yourself is one way to hit the pause button and rethink what's important to you....really important....possibly even vital!

We challenged our friends and family to think differently and recently we have started to receive emails from some of them telling us what they're doing to make IT special. They ran the gamut from preparing a  good meal; to ordering in a very good meal; to buying a bottle of wine that is a notch better than the usual brand; to playing different music...instead of the usual playlist, they are switching to jazz, or classical or country and western.  One creative reader said he bought two poinsettias and put them in a prominent place in his home to make sure he realized it was the holidays. "Truth be told, I don't like poinsettias, but they are colorful and not very expensive. I think I made the right decision. I am changing my mind about them and proud that I got out of my comfort zone and did something that isn't me."

We were on a zoom call this week and many on the call were wearing reindeer antlers or elf hats. It made everyone smile. One of the people on the call said they had never done anything so foolish as putting on a Santa's elf  hat and was amazed at the response from others, "It was the most smiles I have seen on a call since Covid started. It was special and made me feel a sense of relief from all the madness I have been experiencing this year."

Rewirees have told us that part of their new regimen is doing new and special activities, reading different kinds of books, appreciating things of all sizes, "Not just the big things." Doing something special or at least different may benefit the doer, but may even have a very positive effect on others.  As we welcome in a hopeful 2021, try making or doing something special for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

The Circus as Inspiration

Howard Tibbals went to his first circus at age 3; by age 7 he was smitten with the circus and in 1948, at age 12, started building his own miniature circus. The result of his life long hobby has resided at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida since 2004. Howard  has created a complete circus with over 42,143 individual pieces. It is awesome. There are 152 circus wagons, 8 tents, 1500 performers,7000 miniature folding chairs and 500 carved animals.  Kids of every age love it. Our first thought upon seeing it was WOW and then we thought having a hobby or an interest from childhood is a gift. 

Howard Tibbals was lucky; he started working on his passion early in life. Others start later.  We have heard from numerous readers and clients that they retired and finally had the time to focus on the hobby or interest  that they've had since childhood. The current pandemic has made people put some dreams on hold. However a client of ours, who has always loved flowers, particularly roses, and once had aspirations of being an artist, has decided that during these challenging times that she would take sketching and painting classes on line. "Why not", she said, "I have the time and since I'm not traveling let me pursue something that I think might be my heart's delight! When we can travel again I'm off to visit beautiful English gardens! " We love her thinking!

Our belief is that it's never too late to explore ideas, whether they be old or new ideas, if they're important to you. Our advice is rewire some of your time, effort, energy and even money into them and see what you discover. 

We both have childhood interests, Tudor England and Civil War History, that manifest themselves more so in our lives today than ever before. You probably do, too.  While you can't go to events or travel to places you are interested in, you can still go online. Sign up for zoom presentations, listen to podcasts, etc.  If you find the subject interesting go deeper. Our Advice: you just need to get started.