I'd like to buy the world a Coke...

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year.  Each Christmas Coca-Cola comes out with their Santa Claus themed cans of Coke.  I am always excited to see these hit the shelves.  Coca-Cola is one of the largest, most sought after, brands in the world.  The secret recipe lends mystery to the All American Red and White that people from all countries recognize.  Did you know that Santa Claus traditionally wore green until Coca-Cola began to promote him heavily in the 1950s?  Now in every mall across the western world, Santa wears the colors of Coke.1

This Christmas across the world families will buy Coca-Cola.  In doing so, they are sharing in a little piece of the magic of Christmas, in American history, and in a century old mystery.  How amazing that all of this can be found in a little red and white can of Coke!

1. Brand Sense by Martin Lindstrom

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Friends,

During this Thanksgiving Season, please read below the Thanksgiving Proclamation signed by George Washington in 1789 during his first year of Presidency.  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

G. Washington (his actual signature)

Attitude is Everything

Recently, Alfonso Thomas, a supervisor at TideWater in Savannah, brought back a vivid memory from my childhood.  A couple of weeks ago, he handed me a printout of the quote “Attitude is Everything.”  As I read it, I remembered that our family had this taped to our refrigerator door when I was a teenager.  I can still see my Dad pointing to this quote when I started to complain to him about the woes of adolescence.  How am I going to pass this test?  Why doesn’t anyone like me?  Why are you so strict?  He would smile and say, “Read this!  A positive attitude is what you need.”  I would shrug my shoulders and proceed to argue that a quote would not fix anything.  He would laugh while shaking his head and replying, “Everything will be okay.”

Well, he was right. 

Thank you, Alfonso, for the reminder. 

Enjoy this quote and share it with your family. 

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

-        Charles Swindoll

Taking the First Step

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao-tzu 

This weekend I, along with 20,000 other runners, embarked on the inaugural Savannah Rock N’ Roll Marathon and Half Marathon in Savannah, Georgia.   What an incredible event!  The weather was crisp and cool, the music was loud, and the energy contagious.  While running, I thought to myself, “What makes 20,000 runners think that this race is an attainable and worthwhile goal?”  As I winded through the streets of Savannah, I encountered a few runners who gave me a little insight into this question.  I met a man who was a cancer survivor and was running to raise awareness for finding a cure.  I met a Marine running with his full pack while carrying the Marine Corps and the American flags wearing a sign “In Memory of my Dad, In Honor of my Mother.”  I met a lady who had lost 160 pounds and was celebrating her success by running in this race.  Everyone running had a reason.  What was mine?  I decided that deep down I wanted to answer the question, “As a wife and mother of a one year old and a two year old, do I still have what it takes to finish a half marathon?”  The good news is I found out that being a wife and a mother makes these kinds of challenges even easier than they used to be.  I finished 13.1 miles in 2:22:37 - my personal best.   So, we all have our reasons to take the first step.  Maybe next year I will test my endurance at the marathon?  See you at the start line in 2012.    

Who are you?

On this Halloween, a night of pretending to be someone we aren't, "Who are you?"  Tim Burton asks this question as he has recently filmed a new version of Alice in Wonderland. 

In the film, after Alice falls down the rabbit hole and enters Wonderland, she encounters the hookah smoking caterpillar, Absolom.  He poses the question, "Who are you?” to which, Alice replies, "Alice."  However, the White Rabbit and the Tweedles are certain she is the "wrong Alice."  They are looking for the "right Alice" to defeat the Red Queen’s champion, the fire breathing dragon called the Jabberwokky, and return the White Queen to the throne.  Is this mild mannered Alice the one?

Alice begins her quest through Wonderland to meet The Mad Hatter.  He explains that she is the Alice who must save Wonderland.  After she insists that she is not, the Hatter explains that the Alice from dreams past was "much muchier.”  This Alice has lost her “muchness" and Wonderland is doomed.

Alice continues through Wonderland experiencing impossible acts along the way.  She meets cakes that make her smaller, potions that make her larger, animals that talk, and cats that disappear.  All of these hurdles lead to the climax of Alice volunteering to be the Champion for the White Queen and fight the Jabberwokky.  As she walks on to the battle field to face the dragon, she reminds herself that she often thinks of "6 impossible things before breakfast every day."  She can conquer the impossible, she will slay the Jabberwokky, and Wonderland will be saved. 

As all fairy tales go, Alice wins. She answers the question "Who are you?"  She is Alice, the slayer of the Jabberwokky, the Champion of Wonderland. 

So, ask yourselves, “Who are you?”  When you reply, remember your “muchness” and prepare to defeat the Jabberwokky.