Leo Buscaglia Story

Here’s a speech I did about Leo Buscaglia many years ago.
I thought it might interest some of my friends.
If you’re never seen Leo speak, please take some time and look him up on YouTube.
He has passed away, but his message is still relevant.

January 1st Chores

I have some regular chores that I check-off at the beginning of the year.

• Throw away old clothes. Look for clothes which haven’t been worn all year and give them to a charity. I take this tip from Oprah who suggested turning all your hangers to face the back at the beginning of the year. If they haven’t been turned around by the end of the year, then you know you haven’t worn them all year.
• Backup your computer. Hopefully, you do this on a regular basis, but just in case you haven’t, now is a good time.
• Copy your wallet. Take out everything from your wallet and scan it and make a physical copy just in case you lose a credit card or your whole wallet. Also copy your passport if you haven’t already.
• Adjust your budget. At the beginning of each year I look at my budget and see what items need to be adjusted. There’s a good chance your cable bill and phone bill have gone up. What are ways you can reduce your bills?
• Go though your emergency supplies. See what needs to be added/updated/thrown-out.
• Goals for the coming year? Think about new goals for the year and what you need to do to reach them.

If you have any other beginning of the year tips, please share them.

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The Secret to Happiness

Shawn Anchor’s Ted Talk is very interesting and makes some good points about how to become happy. If you’re not as happy as you’d like to be – this speech is definitely for you.

Here’s his basic daily formula:

• List three new things you are grateful about.
• Journaling about one positive experience you have had in the last 24 hours.
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Random Acts of Kindness. Send one positive email every day.

Our Role as Parents

SAY YES!

Y E S

One of the great experiences that I’ve ever had is when I played Santa Claus.
The Cub Scouts were having a Christmas meeting and the man who was going to be Santa was sick, so about an hour before the meeting I got a phone call.
Would I like to be Santa for the night?

I’ve never done that before. I don’t even look anything like Santa.
Then I heard that word “NO” starting to form in my brain and  in  a  split  second I screamed at myself mentally for even thinking that word.
Yes, yes… I’d love to be Santa tonight.
What do I have to do?

That night was a beautiful experience for me
I was magically transformed from Tom Krauska ordinary looking person into Santa Claus..the bringer of gifts and  joy and happiness.

And you know what I found out?
Everyone – everyone loves Santa.
I was hugged and embraced like I’ve never been before.
I had women sitting on my lap kissing me
Women who had never even shaken hands with me before.

And all of a sudden I realized what I could be.
I could be Santa every day of my life.
Not by wearing a Santa Claus outfit, but by developing that Santa Claus attitude.

That attitude that says YES, YES, YES
That attitude that walks around with arms open to the world
So people know they are welcome
That attitude that is always giving so people know that they can trust you.

Give yourself a gift that will last forever.
Say YES to the world ……..Say YES to yourself.