My Present

I hope you’re enjoying your holiday season. I hope the season has been kind to you. I personally know how holiday seasons can put anyone at odds with themselves. We are made to feel we need to do more than we can, spend more than we are able, and often extend ourselves to the point of breaking. And yet, it does not have to be and should not be that way.

I have promised myself this year to change my ways. Rather than spending a lot of money, I have tried to add something which I have spent time designing or making. It was not the big thing that I did this year, yet it said something personal that I had made with the belief that the person I was giving it to would enjoy it. Is it working out? I do not know. I still have some homemade gifts which I am still working to complete. These gifts will probably have to be delivered by the three wise men.

What did you give yourself this year? We often give to everyone else, and usually, do not consider anything for ourselves. I have broken with my usual tradition by giving myself a wonderful gift. Some people may feel that it is cheap, or flimsy, or made up. I believe that my present will turn out to be one of the best things I have ever received. My Christmas present to myself is a better me.

No one can give a present like that and just walk away. Much work is involved in making a gift like this valuable. First, I have to give myself permission to be genuine, to be me. That means rather than trying to be different things to other people, I am first true to myself and my beliefs. Therefore, the first question I ask when starting action is, “Is this who I am?”

The next questions I ask whenever I consider an action or a change is,” How will this help myself and others to be better?” And I also ask, “ Whom will these actions help or harm?” I believe that these are excellent questions to consider as we get ready to make changes in operations or directions.

There are some more questions I ask, and some more actions that I have to take before deciding. You may want to ask if this slows me down? How much more time does this add to my day? Does this make me feel better, or just send me on a constant guilt trip? I can’t tell you the answers yet. I just received this present, and I will have to work with it and report back to you.

I will report back to you from time to time. If you work with or intend on trying something like this, please let us know how you are doing with your present. And if you are attempting something like this, please don’t be too hard on yourself. After all, we are only human.

Thanks for being with me today. I hope to be with you again soon.

Author: Mike Balof

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Mike used to lay in bed at night and worry about what would happen if his plant closed or found himself without a job. One day his plant closed. Rather than panic and hysteria (OK, maybe a little) Mike found himself carried away on the adventure of his life. Mike started with the best job he ever had working at Home Depot. He spent 8 years working with job seekers at a local workforce center, helping them to find employment. He then started his own company developing courses, writing books and urging others to follow their own paths into the future. Mike holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education and Training and a Bachelor of Business Management, earned through the University of Phoenix and an AAS degree in Electronics Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force. Mike is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. View all posts by Mike Balof