"If Mama Ain't Happy - Ain't Nobody Happy!"

Oh How true it is!! Here we are in the New Year - 2009!! Wow! When I consider that the new year is ahead of me - As many others, I look back at 2008, evaluate what went well? - what didn't? - What do I want to improve and what will that look like in time, energy and committment? As we laughed when Pat mentioned the above quote, I suddenly had one of those eye-opening moments, revelatory in nature, and a realization that will certainly change the way I think about my small, somewhat insignificant life in light of the greater scheme of a great big universe bursting with galaxies, solar systems, and more unknowns.

Back to "If Mama Ain't Happy ...", I completely underestimate my power of influence! If Mama can set the tone for her home - her husband, children, friends, and extended family - what an effect she has on the world around her. Unfortunately negative!

Of course, my personal goal is to impact the world around me in a positive way - cheering on those who are actively running the race! But as I've run my own race - I haven't really paid much attention to the power my own influence might actually have in the most minor moments of my life. Minor moments like when I'm busy getting ready for my day and I'm interupted, or chasing the run-away dogs when I've got an appointment that I was going to make 'just in time.' Doing menial tasks that just must be done with some degree of regularity and which go without praise or notice.

Training my attitude to positively influence the world around me is the start of developing the kind of influence I'm really reaching for. What I exhibit in the most trivial areas of influence will surely freely exhibit in those more visible. So I'm going to pay attention this year! Pay attention to the people I would like to influence. And to those I actually do! I think I'll look at those who influence me - and why. I'm sure that upon examination I will find that each has a common trait of positive influence in the even closest relationships of life.

The fact is - It really is true! "If Mama ain't happy - ain't nobody happy!" But if she is ---- the whole house is dancin'!!! I want it to be my house in our quaint little New England Village! Happy New Year - 2009! I've got a whole community to influence.