They say that Christmas is for the children. I have to agree. But there’s a second statement to that. All of us are children. Thus, Christmas is for all of us.
During this Christmas season, it is a good time to take the stance of being child again. Consider these –
First, you can take this time to revisit your childhood dreams. What were your childhood dreams? Have you achieved them? If yes, how can you take it further? If not, how else can you make it a reality – perhaps in a different form or different way?
As a child, I dreamt of becoming a priest. Later, I wanted to become a military or police officer. At some point, I considered to become a lawyer and then a teacher.
How about you? What were the professions you wanted to pursue?
Before I entered college, I took and passed the written exams for the seminary and that of the Philippine National Police Academy. But I did not enter either of the two. I enrolled as a political science student which I took pleasure in for a trimester and then shifted to accountancy which I finished and then notched its professional certification.
For the past five years, I endured and enjoyed being in the accounting practice with companies in Makati City. Today, I still am an accountant but I am more of a writer, speaker, and trainer. I realized that while these were not clear when I was a child, the essence of the professions that I knew then are somehow part of the core of what I do today – communicating a compelling message to empower young minds is also like being a priest, protector (military/police/lawyer), or teacher.
Take a look at your dreams as a child. See the essence of those dreams and see how you can align what you are doing now to the spirit of those dreams. After all, our dreams all boil down to living fully and loving openly. They just come in different forms and different ways. You and I can live our dreams no matter what!
Second, you can take this time to bring back that sense of wonder. Do you remember the first moment when you saw the dog wagging its tail and you were amazed? Do you recall the first time you heard the crow of the male chicken waking you up at dusk and you find it so wonderful? Do you remember the morning when you walked on the ground and the dew on the grass wet your feet, and you asked, ‘Where did the water come from? It didn’t rain last night.’? Do you recall the day you finally got dressed and walked your way to school and you were so excited to experience what a school is?
In our journey of experiencing life, we sometimes forget the life in these experiences. In the busyness of life, I too at times forget the beauty of these little things. If we try to take an inventory, I’d say that ninety plus percent in life are these small things – the ordinary events, experiences and encounter. In them, there are lessons we can learn, wisdom we can gain, and truth we can be reminded of. In them are beauty, joy and love.
Have you forgotten to take notice of and appreciate the simple events, experiences and encounters that come day to day? Have time to appreciate what I call ‘The Gift of the Ordinary.’
This Christmas, be a child again. Those dreams you had before may have morphed into something else that is more suitable to you and your circumstances. Those wonderful moments you had before could again be experienced and enjoyed.
Yes, relive the spirit of your childhood dreams and inject or draw out the essence of those dreams to what you do now. Also, bring back that sense of wonder and experience life once again!
Blessed Christmas!
(Chris Dao-anis/CPA, as an author and speaker, helps aspiring and young professionals become better communicators and leaders. His first book ‘The Gift of the Ordinary’ is available at Mt. Cloud Bookshop, Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road, Baguio City and in Central Bookstores (Metro Manila and Cebu). For seminars and resources, visit www.chrispoweracademy.com or email chrisdaoanis@ymail.com.)