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There is less than a week left in 2013 and now comes decision time. Most will attempt to make some sort of resolution for the New Year and normally before Valentine’s day, it’s over. Whatever was so important at the close of last year fizzles out before the New Year really gets started.

The problem is not in assessment usually, it’s in implementation. There are too many people who don’t know what to do. And then for the ones who have figured out what to do, they have a problem following through. It leads to a year full of complaints and anger turned inward — depression!

So this year, let’s not make a resolution but follow this AAA plan that will take you to where you’re trying to go. This plan begins with meditation and prayer. You must ask the almighty God for clarity and strength. Pray that your path be made clear and that you have the strength to follow through. We get caught up sometimes asking God for things he has already given us. For example, there are people who know they are stuck in a horrible relationship that only brings them down. They know it and everyone around them knows it, yet they are praying for a sign from God. The vainest prayer is one where you’re asking for something God has already provided.

So then, the first “A” is Assessment. It is imperative that nothing in this stage gets “sugar-coated” and honesty abounds. Stop lying to yourself about your circumstance or situation. If you won’t be honest with yourself, then who will? This step can be as simple as writing down what you don’t like and why. Then of the things you don’t like, what can YOU change?

The next “A” is Acceptance. Before anyone can move forward there has to be acceptance of the assessment. If due diligence was done in step 1, then open your heart to receive information that is profitable for you. I may have to accept that I don’t make enough money for the lifestyle I’m trying to lead. I may need to go back to school, change careers or advance in the field. Our comfort zone will be attacked at this step because you have to decide if positive change trumps comfort. I know people who want to lose weight, but don’t want to compromise what they currently eat — which is the problem. The day that losing weight for them trumps what they eat, guess what will happen?

The last “A” is for Action. Create a plan starting with the destination or end result. Where would you like to be at the end of the year? How much weight do you want to lose? How much debt is there to be paid? Whatever your accepted assessment discovered for you, make that your target and start backwards from there to get the plan. For example, say a person wants to save $10,000 next year. That’s less than $1,000 per month above their monthly expenses. That may mean they would have to increase their revenue stream. I know people who have taken extra jobs because they have accumulated extra debt. What about a person who loves themselves enough to take on an extra job — not for debt purposes, but for the sake of their own prosperity? What would it be like to end the next year with an extra 10k?

Or say a person wants to lose weight — which is really one of the easiest things to do. Education on nutrition is all that’s needed. You can actually just eat whole food and lose weight. For a person to lose 100 pounds, save 10k, fix their credit or do anything just takes a denying of self. Can you deny self for the benefit of self?

The triple A plan works and it’s logical. If you need help, I’ll coach you. If you need encouragement, I’ll tell. If you want real change, Clydestyle is here for you. I’ll deal with your spirit and your body and we will together heal your soul. Happy New Year!

Now don’t get angry. Don’t shoot the messenger and don’t stop reading. Someone has to tell the truth about the reason for the season. We hear this phrase all the time and it resonates throughout this time of year. This should be a happy time and I’m not trying to steal anyone’s joy. If you feel closer to God during this time of the year, that’s great news. And there is nothing wrong with that. Anything that can come from this national pastime that makes people even have a discussion about God is great.

With that said, many of us already know that the Holy Bible does not mention when Jesus was born. There are clues like the shepherds watching over their flocks by night. Clearly harvest time had not come yet and that would be sometime in October on our calendars. But Jesus was not born on Dec. 25. In fact, there is really nothing holy about this holiday at all. Moreover, there isn’t anything holy about any of them. Now, don’t take my word for it. Research it for yourself. Below I have listed an overview of the history of Christmas from the website http://www.historyofchristmas.com if you are so inclined.

So the reason for this season has more to do with your wallet than your bible — and I’m not talking about tithing! Which did you do? Did you spend more money for the cause of Christ this season or did you make our retail industry proud? Well, it’s your choice anyway, but if you really want to remember something, remember this: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes on him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. Celebrate everyday that Jesus died, was buried and rose again on the third day. Spend your life — not a season — remembering what matters most: Not that he was born, but that he died so we could be reconciled back to God and that he lived so we could be saved. Remember that he said, “he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Respect his words and follow him … And give Christmas to Santa and the rest of the media. Be at peace all year long my friends and show love the same way.

An overview of Christmas:
1600’s: The Puritans made it illegal to mention St. Nicolas’ name. People were not allowed to exchange gifts, light a candle, or sing Christmas carols.
17th century: Dutch immigrants brought with them the legend of Sinter Klaas.
1773: Santa first appeared in the media as St. A Claus.
1804: The New York Historical Society was founded with St. Nicolas as its patron saint. Its members engaged in the Dutch practice of gift-giving at Christmas.
1809: Washington Irving, writing under the pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker, included Saint Nicolas in his book “A History of New York.” Nicolas is described as riding into town on a horse.
1812: Irving, revised his book to include Nicolas riding over the trees in a wagon.
1821: William Gilley printed a poem about “Santeclaus” who was dressed in fur and drove a sleigh drawn by a single reindeer.
1822: Dentist Clement Clarke Moore is believed by many to have written a poem “An Account of a Visit from Saint Nicolas,” which became better known as “The Night before Christmas.” Santa is portrayed as an elf with a miniature sleigh equipped with eight reindeer which are named in the poem as Blitzem, Comet, Cupid, Dancer, Dasher, Donder, Prancer, and Vixen. Others attribute the poem to a contemporary, Henry Livingston, Jr. Two have since been renamed Donner and Blitzen.
1841: J.W. Parkinson, a Philadelphia merchant, hired a man to dress up in a “Criscringle” outfit and climb the chimney of his store.
1863: Illustrator Thomas Nast created images of Santa for the Christmas editions of Harper’s Magazine. These continued through the 1890’s.
1860s: President Abraham Lincoln asked Nast to create a drawing of Santa with some Union soldiers. This image of Santa supporting the enemy had a demoralizing influence on the Confederate army — an early example of psychological warfare.
1897: Francis P Church, Editor of the New York Sun, wrote an editorial in response to a letter from an eight year-old girl, Virginia O’Hanlon. She had written the paper asking whether there really was a Santa Claus. It has become known as the “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter.
1920’s: The image of Santa had been standardized to portray a bearded, over-weight, jolly man dressed in a red suit with white trim.
1931: Haddon Sundblom, illustrator for The Coca-Cola ™ company drew a series of Santa images in their Christmas advertisements until 1964. The company holds the trademark for the Coca-Cola Santa design. Christmas ads including Santa continue to the present day.
1939 Copywriter Robert L. May of the Montgomery Ward Company created a poem about Rudolph, the ninth reindeer. May had been “often taunted as a child for being shy, small and slight.” He created an ostracized reindeer with a shiny red nose who became a hero one foggy Christmas eve. Santa was part-way through deliveries when the visibility started to degenerate. Santa added Rudolph to his team of reindeer to help illuminate the path. A copy of the poem was given free to Montgomery Ward customers.
1949: Johnny Marks wrote the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Rudolph was relocated to the North Pole where he was initially rejected by the other reindeer who wouldn’t let him play in their reindeer games because of his strange looking nose. The song was recorded by Gene Autry and became his all-time best seller. Next to “White Christmas” it is the most popular song of all time.
1993: An urban folk tale began to circulate about a Japanese department store displaying a life-sized Santa Claus being crucified on a cross. It never happened.
1997: Artist Robert Cenedella drew a painting of a crucified Santa Claus. It was displayed in the window of the New York’s Art Students League and received intense criticism from some religious groups. His drawing was a protest. He attempted to show how Santa Claus had replaced Jesus Christ as the most important personality at Christmas time.

Slaves were brought to market and were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Some went real cheap and others cost a fortune. These slaves didn’t want to be sold. They clearly would have rather stayed where they were.

The slaves I’m referring to would be our families.

We auction off our families every time we miss an opportunity to be with them. We sell our families as slaves every time we value some thing over them. We enslave our families whenever a priority supersedes them. Our jobs can become the greatest slave master. It works us and is so demanding that we forsake all others. Things outside of our home can rob us of valuable family time. We’re too busy with professional organizations or volunteer groups or even social clubs to know the details going on in our own homes. Money and status is important, but are they that important? Life does a job on us as well because sometimes we get so tired that we can’t do anything. Life has taken almost all of our energy so that all we have left is enough for a shower and to climb into bed. How did we get here?

We have gotten so busy earning a wage to enjoy life, that earning a wage has become our life. It is our new slave master. By the time we realize that we have missed the best parts of life, it’s over. Image just being a sperm donor and a check for your family? Work has kept you away so you have missed most of the recitals, almost all of the sporting events and all of the opportunities to implant your wisdom and knowledge into your children.

Then, during the holiday season you try to make it up the only way you know how: you write another check. There are only so many electronic devices and video games you can buy before the children just write you off as an investor instead of a parent. Don’t make this holiday just about gifts. Your family needs you! And they really deserve all of you. Let them know you love them the old fashioned way. Just tell them!