Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from IHC

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for your great support and your fascinating message board topics this year. I think it was IHC's most interesting year in terms of ideas and debate about the sport.

It's hard to believe IHC's SIXTH year will begin January 1. Thanks for being here for the ride. It has had its ups and downs, but it's ALWAYS been interesting /wtimages/icons/tongue.gif

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Found this in an e-mail I received... oddly enough, it was a pitch from a company trying to sell me something. Still, I think it's pretty spot-on. Have a great new year, everyone!

***

Deep down, we know Christmas isn't really about "things." And yet, we're determined to find that perfect gift. With hundreds of stores offering billions of wares, we can't bear the thought of going home empty-handed. We must find something unique to wrap. After all, 'tis the season.

Maybe over the passing years we have allowed ourselves to be programmed into thinking that to be a "real" gift it must be tangible and wrappable. Actually, the dictionary defines a gift as simply, "a thing given." It says nothing about cost, appropriateness, or presentation, only the condition of the mind and heart? simply, one person giving to another. That's it! So maybe the real answer to the season is that we should stop talking so much about "getting into the Christmas spirit," and concentrate more on merely giving it!

Let's take a little "time out" to stop and contemplate on the real needs of people around us. Now it may be that the best gift you could give someone is, in fact, tangible. Maybe a winter coat, food, or help paying the rent. But let's try to be open to seeing non-material needs as well. Consider the need for friendship, forgiveness, and appreciation, to name but a few. It's unfortunate that in our sometimes-chaotic lifestyles that we so seldom think to give these things away as our gifts to others. Instead, we hold them tightly, letting a sense of justice and fairness dictate who is worthy to receive them from us. How different the world would be if we simply gave, minus measurements, and not sparingly, but abundantly: not reluctantly, but eagerly.

Ponder the thought that we give when we release a grudge, are patient with a fool or speak kindly to a stranger. We give when we make time to keep a promise, seek out a forgotten friend or enter into another's sorrow. We can give in simple ways... and we give when we look out for others, not ourselves.

Maybe at one time or another we've all wished that we had the guts to do this -- to forget what anyone might say and just give people what they really need. That we could somehow overcome our desire just to exchange wrapped presents and instead bring true gifts of joy, peace, laughter and happiness.

The joy of the season and Christmas isn't just found in a shopping bag and the yuletide spirit isn't limited by the calendar. So give yourself away and see what happens. You may just get what you really want for Christmas.

Whatever your faith or belief? have yourself a wonderful holiday season!

***

Sincerely,

Richard Graham
Editor
Inline Hockey Central

[missionhockey21]

The message of that is very true Rich. I hope everyone enjoys their holidays too :)

[TeamBreakaway]

Rich your message is very true. Wish all a Very Merry Christmas.