Scary Christmas

I'm at home thinking about how good life is.

My boys are sleeping warm in their beds. Christmas decorations are up. The presents have been bought. My wonderful wife is finishing up laundry. My dog is cuddled up next to me in my chair.

I'm even okay after my surgery yesterday. It's official, Liza and I won't be having anymore babies. Despite the discomfort, it wasn't a bad experience. Fortunately I have a nice health care plan that defrays the cost.

Life is good.

With the extra time I've spent not moving, I've been reading alot of news. Of course the 2 things in world current events are the climate deal in Copenhagen and the passing of the health care bill.

And that's when my Christmas got scary. I don't know enough about either, but that's the scariest part. Our president was in Copenhagen making deals for billions of dollars to fix or make right our "involvement" in climate change.

Funny how they don't use "global warming" anymore. It's a crock of hooey. There is just as much, if not more, evidence against it, but somehow the media and our government jam it down our throats.

If you tell people about it enough, they start to believe it. Just like "evolution" and "separation of church and state" and the super deadly "swine flu virus". Bunk.

And then the Senate just got the 60th vote needed to pass the health care reform bill. It took alot of compromise, and the only happy people about it are the president and Harry Reid.

In my opinion they're only happy about cementing their place in history. I don't see how this is what's best for our country. We don't need more government. We don't need bigger government. Our government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Not by people who "know what's best for the people", sneak it by the people, to control the people. We're losing our freedom....I'd argue it's pretty much lost.

You do realize that with the passing of this bill, we will be forced to buy health care coverage. Notice I said "buy". It's not free! And taxes will go up. Better (more like worse) yet, they want to push this through be Christmas Eve. Why? Because it's losing steam. Fewer and fewer Americans want it as they learn more about it and the truth comes out. So instead they want to rush it and make it happen.

See what a senator from the heartland had to say.

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091219/OPINION01/912190306/Sen.-Mitch-McConnell--Approving-health-bill-would-be-historic-mistake/?imw=Y

Scary, huh?

Our goverment has spent billions, er, trillions of dollars in just over a year and this Copenhagen treaty and health care bill will cost us probably trillions more.

Scary Christmas to all.

But I have to admit, as I'm writing this I do have a sense of peace. I'm reminded of a story that should be fresh in our minds at this time of year. The story of Jesus. When he came to us, the government was seeking additional power and control. Every person was "forced" to return home for a census. Just like now, the government wanted more control.

So just like I wrote recently, the more things change the more they stay the same.

But I should add something else to list of things that never change. God. He's still in control. As much as members of our government like to think they are. As much as they know what's best for us, there is One who does.

And He doesn't change.

Suddenly this Christmas isn't so scary after all.

Change... Life Happens.

Let me preface this by saying I started writing this entry on Wednesday before I knew how my life was going to change. Yes, it looks official that the Saab brand is wound down. Where that leaves me? Time will tell.

Ah, the paradox of constant change. The more things change, the more they stay the same. There are only a few things constant in this world, death, taxes, and change.
Change is inevitable. Change will happen.

I like to think of myself as consistent. Call it level headed,or call it even-keeled. Call it boring. That's just who I am. Don't get too up. Don't get too down. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. Take the highs with the lows. Lots of cliches, I know, but it's the best way to sum it up.

Some of it is my natural personality. Alot of it is based on life experiences and wisdom from people that have poured into me. It's served me well.

Maybe that's why I roll with the punches so well. That doesn't mean I enjoy being punched, it just means I "stick the jab" and keep fighting. I get back up and keep on going.

But more than being consistent, I think it's more about adaptability. I've seen 36 years of not everything going as expected. I can't control everything. I can plan everything out and do my best to make sure nothing happens, or plan to the best of my ability and adapt when things aren't as I'd like.

The first option is an oasis, dream or nirvana. I like to use the phrase "Life Happens." Because it does. Man, life and it's challenges are what make life, life! Don't get me wrong, I like knowing. I like to have control over my circumstances, but adapting as uncertainties or things I don't like come my way is rewarding.

Adapting to things in life is essentially coping. Coping is often how we learn.

I see that carrying over in how Liza and I parent the boys. We call it our "Ben and Nicole" style of parenting. It involves alot of picking up crying boys, rubbing bumps and bruises and wiping tears. It usually ends with a "You're okay" and a pat on the tush.

I have to brag on Ben and Nicole and their kids for a moment. The end result of their style is tough, adaptable kids. That family has been through the ringer over the last few years, but you wouldn't know it. The kids may cry from time to time, but they get right back up and go.

I always remember a young Bryce, who probably was in his first weeks of running. He comes running down my parents hallway, reaches the kitchen floor, and wipes out! Uncle Nate, with his first nephew down, does the huge gasp of concern. I go to pick him up, but he starts to get up, says "I'm okay!" and starts running again. I laughed so loudly. What a great moment.

I vaguely remember similar situations as I grew up. It usually ended up with Dad telling to brush the dirt off, or rub some dirt on it, or spit the blood out of my mouth.

I'm not really sure how that ties in with "change" other than that life will pull the chair out from you from time to time. We can get rid of the chair, so that it can never be pulled out from under us. We'll get hit in the face with a baseball. We can quit playing so we never get hit again We can sit there and feel bad about it, or we get back up and be ready to go again.

Isn't that the attitude we should have? I mean, life is going to happen. We can do our best to eliminate potential pains and danger. We'll never eliminate it all. So what can you do? You chin it. You learn how to deal and you learn about what you actually can control.

This whole situation with Saab has been like a jab, a left hook and then the upper cut as an attempted knock out blow. Last August, I was asked by GM to interview for a job at Saab. Flattered that Saab wanted me, it essentially meant GM didn't. That was the jab. Then in November, the original sale of Saab fell through. We all thought it was a done deal. That was the left hook. We dusted ourselves off and then it appeared there was a new buyer. Just today, that deal fell through. And there was the uppercut.

What can I do? Pick myself up, spit the blood out of my mouth, check my teeth, and get back at it.

My mind is flooded with Rocky quotes, but the ones I'm thinking of right now are from Rocky V and the latest movie, Rocky Balboa.

My apologies for the "b-word"



And then this one:



Lastly, I've had this quote up in my cubicle for most of my career. Charles Swindoll's quote on Attitude.

It says this: 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, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, 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 every day 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% how I react to it. And so it is with you ... we are in charge of our Attitudes.

I'm ready to go. I didn't hear no bell. One more round.