Do not let the consumerism of Black Friday overshadow the quality time you get to spend with your family this Thanksgiving.

Ramblings

Jan
02

Goals for 2012

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 2:30 pm

Last year was the first time in my life that I have kept a New Year Resolution.

I successfully read my Bible from cover to cover. The feeling of accomplishment was amazing, and I was able to mark it off my Bucket List!

I want that feeling again on December 31, 2012.

So here it goes.

This is a partial list of the items I will finish this year.

  • Read the Bible Chronologically
  • Pass CPA Exam
  • Read 52 Books
  • Write 52 Letters
  • Blog 3x a Week (MWF)
  • Write a Book

Any of these tasks by themselves would be a daunting task, but when you realize that there are 364 more days in 2012 to complete them, they no longer seem impossible.

Intentions without actions are useless.

This statement has caused me to get more work done than anything else.

It serves as a daily reminder to me that my habits daily determine what I will accomplish in a week, month, or year.

Today is a fresh start. An opportunity to change anything that you want.

QUESTION:

What habits do you need to change to accomplish your goals for 2012?

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Dec
30

2011: Year in Review

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 4:40 pm

Late on December 31, 2010, I arrived in Manila, Philippines. To celebrate the new year, we set off and played tag with fireworks in the early hours of the morning. If you get the chance, this is a must.

The next two weeks were spent traversing the Philippines, checking on goat raisers as part of my work with Give a Goat, and eating the head of a goat as it smiled back at me. It was a gift. How do you say no to that?

Meeting with business men in Hong Kong and attending the inauguration of Rick Perry rounded out the month.

A few weeks later in Paris, I shared my passion for Texas with Europeans at the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Pisa.

Over the course of 10 days, we spent time in Paris, Monaco, Florence, and the Vatican. Ate gelato in Rome and gazed at the fountains in Versailles.

In mid-April, I attended TEDxOKC and learned about the meaning of coming home.

I spent my birthday on the island of Cebu. It is forever etched in my memory for two reasons.

First, I was given the most unique birthday present ever. Second, my Filipino friends asked me to sing karaoke in the home of a stranger for hours. Killer whales, bloody chicken wings, and homemade pills all made it unforgettable. Read about it. It is the most interesting story of the year.

Days later, I spent a few hours in the slums of Talisay. It was the most moving experience of the year.

Soon after I returned to the states from a month in the Philippines, I started dating an amazing woman. This was the best decision of the year.

My sister got married in August to a great man. I had the privilege of walking her down the aisle. All of my family was together for the ceremony. It was great to see everyone.

I was thrilled when an opportunity arose for me to spend time in Haiti. It was a short trip, but I met Loukie and many other great people.

The largest item off my bucket list this year was Cuba. I spent a week talking with locals and discovering this isolated country just 90 miles from Florida. It is a must see for experienced travelers or cultural enthusiasts.

My next post will focus on 2012. What I plan to do. What I will finish. What I need to change and how that will happen.

What are you going to change next year? Remember that time is on your side.

2010: Year in Review

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Dec
16

Logical Letter to Santa

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 11:19 am

A few years ago, my brother and a friend of his wrote a letter to Santa.

This was not your ordinary letter. It was the original “Santa Letter from a Realist“.

Their wit got me thinking. What would a logical letter to Santa look like?

My brother and I cowrote a letter.

Here it is.

Dear Santa,

Have you thought of outsourcing your delivery of gifts? There are much more efficient methods of delivery now than a sleigh and reindeer that never seem to age. Seriously, how old are they? USPS has flat rate boxes that work well. If it fits, it ships.

Speaking of shipping, do you ever screw up and accidentally deliver gifts to the wrong person? Oh and what do you do about communist countries such as North Korea or Cuba? Do they let you through immigration or deny you access?  Are you required to fill out customs declaration forms? Please tell me.

I would also like to ask if the world’s population nearing the 7 billion mark is a major concern to you? Will you be strained to get your job done in the given time frame with that ridiculous quantity of people to serve? Do the math.

In your opinion, is outsourcing the toy making to China and other countries wrong? Why do the toys that I supposedly got from you last Christmas say, “Made in China”. Are you deceiving the people of the world with your claims that the elves make the toys at the North Pole? I believe so.

Is it wrong to just ask you for money? I mean, America is in an economic recession now and some extra dough would definitely come in handy. Some people say it is rude, but I don’t think so.

Do you have a contract with Betty Crocker? A lot of people buy her products simply to bake cookies for you. She is making a lot of money from your eating habits. Maybe you should negotiate a kickback program. Just saying. It could help reduce your travel expenses with the high prices of gas and all.

Speaking of high-priced gas, that is what I want for Christmas. An unlimited amount of gas. Maybe you could use some of your magical powers to make that happen. Then I could resell the gas for 100% profit to friends.

Also, are your reindeer’s emissions contributing to global warming? Are you working to make them more eco-friendly? When should we expect the début of Hybrid Rudolph? Ask Al Gore if you need ideas about this. Supposedly he has all the answers, but I’m sure you knew that already.

Here is my last question. How do you fit down the chimney? Seriously. I tried it once. The emergency room doctor looked at me like I was idiot. Please fill me in on your secrets.

Now for my wish list.

A puppy. I can’t think of a better “gift” than something that will need me to clean up after it and cost me money in the future.

Don’t forget the unlimited supply of free gas!

Sincerely,

Bryan & Justin Clifton

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Dec
12

Best Part of Your Story

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 9:15 pm

“I want it now!”

This attitude has crept into my life lately.

I like to think of myself as a patient person. But recently that has not been the case. I am in a place because of outside forces that I cannot control. I want to change them. Just give me what I want!

Today, I ran across a blog post that helped me shift my attitude back into check.

Jon Acuff is a tremendous writer that I would highly recommend. His post today was entitled “What I Say Every Time My Dream Hits a Bump in the Road.” Check it out here.

I’m sure he meant for it to be read with a focus more on dreams and perseverance in the face of obstacles. I took it a completely different way.

In the face of circumstances outside of your control, what you can control is your attitude and outlook. I needed that reminder.

I cannot control other people or the situation I find myself in, but I can control my attitude and how I react. This is simply a hurdle to be overcome. A few years from now, I will look back on it and either laugh or smile. Not sure which will happen first.

Also, people like to hear stories of overcoming adversity or difficult circumstances. Perseverance makes for a better story. This is simply one more step along that journey.

As Jon said, “You’re writing the best part of your story right now.”

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Nov
24

Thanksgiving & Black Friday

Posted by Bryan Clifton at 1:09 am

The name says it all. Thanksgiving.

With a name that obvious, it is hard to misinterpret what the meaning is of this holiday really is.

Yet it is easy to read this word as “watch the Macy’s parade before you sit down to stuff your face with lots of food while watching football (or that dog show) and awkwardly talking to distant relatives who you do not really know but for some reason must talk to out of a sense of obligation from your mother/grandmother”. That definition is straight from Websters. Go check. I’ll wait.

So maybe that description is just my interpretation, but maybe your expectations or experiences are similar.

As I eat the turkey and green bean casserole, all I can think about is laying out my “attack list” for tomorrow mornings shopping spree. The food is great, but Thanksgiving is simply a warm up to the real holiday. Black Friday.

It may not be recognized as a holiday by the US Government, but on my calendar, it is clearly marked months in advance with an “!” signifying the importance of this special day where I join hundreds of other people to wake up at hours reserved for deep sleep to stand in the freezing cold simply to save a few bucks on a new TV or electronic item. It has always puzzled me how we cannot find the energy to get to work or class on time in a climate controlled space and starts much later than an early morning Black Friday shopping spree, yet we are more than willing to freeze for hours and even pay for the chance to do it! This defies logic, but I love it.

Black Friday is the one day a year I have an excuse to be at Walmart at 4 am in a large jacket and ski mask and not have the cops called on me. It does not work any other day of the year.

In all seriousness, please do not let the consumerism of Black Friday overshadow the quality time you have the ability to spend with your family this Thanksgiving. Whatever your traditions are, do them like this could be the last time they will happen. Most of all, have fun with the people you care the most about. Soak up the environment and store the memory deep in your mind. You will look back on all of it fondly many years from now.

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