I’ve been thinking a lot about Santa Claus lately. With a 3-year-old, it’s hard to escape that at Christmas time!

And what I’ve realized more and more is, Santa isn’t about an old man with a beard, any more than God is (in my opinion and belief).

God (or the Universe, the Creator, or whatever name you like) is everywhere. Omnipresent.

A spiritual force that connects us all together, whether we’re in a particular “special” building or not.

And Santa, in many ways, is too.

So while we were told as kids that he watches and knows all about whether we’re good or bad… that’s true in the same sense that the Universe delivers experiences that we focus on, whether it’s good or bad (yin or yang).

In other words, the spirit of St. Nick is the spirit of the Universe. And loving Santa is like loving life.

Merry Christmas!

Keep Unwrapping the Mysteries of Life!

I just read about an influential writer and producer named Joe Bodolai who helped create Canadian comedy TV.

He was instrumental in the creation of The Comedy Network, shows like Kids in the Hall and Comics, and co-wrote the original Wayne’s World movie with Mike Myers. He also wrote for SNL.

Our paths crossed with some of the same people I knew when working in the media world in Toronto. I also met and regularly interacted with several members of the Kids in the Hall cast and crew over the years, since they worked in the same building.

But I never had the pleasure of meeting Joe.

A few days ago, he published a final farewell blog post on his Say It Ain’t So, Joe blog. He called the post “If This Was Your Last Day Alive, What Would You Do?”

It was nearly his last day alive, as I’m sad to say he apparently just took his own life.

I can understand the pain people go through when life throws curve balls. We’ve all walked through darkness, trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel.

I just find it such a blow when someone — a valuable, talented, creative, giving person (like we all are at the core) — finally succumbs to despair and seeks a different kind of light.

It seemed like Joe understood that life is a balance of good and bad, and that you need to fight for what you want. In business, and in the comedy world, he fought singlehandedly to save several projects that he believed in.

And after his last blog entry, he posted on Facebook that he’d be alone on Christmas and intended to volunteer to help the homeless.

But for all his accomplishments, the goodness in his heart, and all the value he gave to the rest of us — as radio veteran Gene Valaitis said, chances are Joe made you laugh, which is an incredible gift — he took the final curtain call.

I’d like to take this opportunity to dedicate a favorite video of mine to Joe. Joe, I resonate with the spirit of your final post, as I’ve also written before about the same topic. I like to reference this song when I do, because it says it all so well.

I only hope that this time, the soul-searching aspect of the subject inspires others to find the strength to create a better life. To count their blessings, be grateful for what they have, value what they offer, share with others, and express what they’re feeling in their hearts.

I like a lot of Nickelback’s music, but I think this is by far their best song, for the depth and meaning of the lyrics.

Listen, enjoy, ponder, heed… and may you find joy and thought-provoking inspiration here:

Keep Unwrapping the Mysteries of Life!

Dear 2011,

Often we go through life looking for easy routes to happiness. And at the end of the day (or year), when people talk about what they’re grateful for, it’s the “good” times they focus on.

In a reversal, and in honor of my good friends Yin and Yang, I’d like to thank you, 2011, for the “bad” times too.

Perhaps “good” and “bad” are too black-and-white. After all, Yin and Yang would tell us that every good has its bad side, and every bad has its good side.

So, 2011, I’d like to thank you for the easy times and the challenging ones. For the times when it felt like I was zooming straight ahead, firing on all cylinders, and for the times when it felt like I was hitting roadblocks or getting stuck in the mud.

For the joy, the pain, the sunshine, and the rain (yeah, I know, I sound like an old song by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock)

Yes, you’ve brought me more challenges than I’ve ever experienced in my life (or at least in a very long time), on many levels. But I’m sure I signed up for them, way back when, before I made a return to this earth in human form.

So you’ve more than delivered. And in the process I’ve learned more about my weaknesses, and more about my strengths, than I ever could have imagined.

That’s what’s required for us to learn, grow or develop in life.

And one of the things I’ve learned is to embrace every bump in the road and every rainy cloud, because the bumps are paved with gold and the clouds have silver linings.

2011, I’ll never forget you and what you’ve taught me. I’m grateful for every moment you’ve spent with me, no matter how much I may have resisted you at the time.

Now I bid you a fond farewell as I look forward to 2012, and what exciting experiences it will bring me in the coming year.

Lots of love,

Heather
xoxo

P.S. Enjoy that classic hip song I mentioned above, in your honor — this version brought to us by my old friend from Toronto, Chris Sheppard:

P.P.S. Happy New Year!

Keep Unwrapping the Mysteries of Life!