Written by EWI Phoenix Chapter
20 December 2011

Dear EWI Colleagues:

It is a very special time of year right now. Families and friends are getting together to celebrate the Holidays and the New Year. My wish for each of you is a beautiful and bright Holiday Season!!
 
What I want to ask you is what do you REALLY want to do this time of year? I hope you carve out some time for doing just that....something important to you. Maybe something important to you is helping someone else.

There is a fun read, titled "The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People", by David Niven, PH.D. The sub-title says..."What Scientists have learned and How You Can Use It". What is a happy person such as myself doing with such a book? It made me happy to hear someone else, besides me, wanted others to be happy also and I wanted to see what this author wrote about. I have always been cheerful but that is not the case for many people in my family. How can we be so different yet have the same parents?

Recently, I heard about someone who decided not to complain about anything for one week. Just one week. He applied this to everything in his life....traffic, food, service, the bank account, costs of things, the wait at the bank or dry cleaners. Guess what, he said it changed his life forever. And for the better as his marriage improved, his business relationships improved, even his health improved.

As we bring families together this time of year, and possibly set some New Year's Resolutions as well, I hope you will consider some of these topics. Maybe share some new goals with family members too. Here are a few categories from the book and I challenge each of you to decide how to enjoy life to the fullest:

What happy people know.....
  • Your life has meaning & purpose
  • Use a strategy for happiness
  • You don't have to win every time
  • Turn off the T.V.
  • Remember where you came from
  • Your goals should be aligned with one another
  • Accept yourself - unconditionally
  • Friendship beats money
  • If you're not sure, guess positively
  • Age is not to be feared
  • Pay attention. You may have what you want
  • Limit yourself to thinking about one subject as you lie down to sleep
  • Make your work a calling
  • Accomplish something every day
  • Cherish animals
  • Do things you are good at
  • Smile
  • Don't ignore one part of your life

The list goes on and on of positive and productive choices we all can make in our lives. We all don't have to be super cheerful either to be positive. These are not one and the same and I am grateful for our differences.

I can't wait to see everyone next month at our special 55Th year EWI Chapter Celebration. It will be exciting to celebrate the New Year, some new beginnings, with our rich heritage at the same time! I am so proud of this Chapter, our amazing Members, supportive Executives and wonderful Firms! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of you!

Kellie Wise
Phoenix Chapter EWI President 2011-2012