“Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.” Francis C. Farley

I admit it...I’m a sentimental guy. I love that the holidays give me the opportunity to let that shine through a bit more without need for explanation. This is the season when you can be as sappy as you please without fear of raising any eyebrows.

This is also a time when we reflect on the year that was - and set our sites on the year that will be. We’ve all heard the relentless news of our troubled economy and uncertain future. But during the holidays I see people changing that picture, literally working and willing the world around them to change. Perhaps its short lived holiday thinking - but I don’t think it needs to be.

Albert Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." It’s time dust off our minds and hearts and work toward a future that we can be proud of. I’m not suggesting you must the change THE world...you just need to change YOUR world.

I was inspired recently by a video from an organization called Skip1, and it encouraged me to issue this challenge:

Pick out one trick you planned on buying at Elmwood Magic - and skip it.
Use the money towards doing some good for someone else.

Do what you can from where you are with what you have.

It’s that simple.

Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year from Elmwood Magic!