NEWSLETTER : December 2005

Dear friends,

Time goes by so swiftly, sometimes. I feel this more and more when it comes to that great Western World event - Christmas.
Do I like Christmas? If you've produced quite a few intl. Christmas Music Albums you simply must love it to begin with.

Christmas to me was and always will be the scent of cinnamon, the taste of mulled wine, the warm and reassuring feeling of  a beautiful tradition, wrapping that emotion, (no matter how cliche' some might think that is), around my shoulders like a green-red shawl, knitted of childhood memories, good feelings and lovely music - the sound of hope and happy anticipation.

The idea of peace on earth alone always gets me going - it's GOOD, it's NICE, hardly getting better than this! Gathering fresh hope - try to beat this...well, you can't.

Whatever you believe or don't believe - a fest of love can always and only be positive for everyone.
Or what?
Absolutely!          Happy you agree.

We live in interesting times, busy and difficult to many, hard and hardly bearable to even more.
There is so much sadness and heartship, suffering and terror in this world.
And all the worries we encounter here at home, all those uncertainties. Still, most of us have a heated home to go to, plenty of food, entertainment and really a pretty secure outlook, in comparison.
Millions and millions can only dream about that.

So now it's Christmas again.

I received an e-mail the other day:

Dear Heli,
What am I to do? What is more MIZPAH "be-good-factor"?  Donating money to charity or buy X-mas pressies for my folks ? Can't really afford both. Everything is becoming so expensive, more duties, more taxes, to earn money is more difficult than ever. Or should I not simply save all I can and spend as little as possible ? Many people I know feel the same and the papers and news are full of it too.

Here is my reply:

1. Give to charity and catastrophy relief  http://www.ifrc.org  whatever you may be able to afford, even if it is just a very small sum, it'll make a difference.

2. Go out there and shop for presents for your loved ones - even if just little things - that is "being good" as well, stuff all the negative hype! 

You'll help the retailers to keep going and their staff, the wholesale dealer, the manufacturer, the service agencies, wherever they are, it will help them to to sustain their business and jobs and consequently their people to be able to keep their families going.
It is a chain effect and you are the king of it, you are in charge, actually. Ever seen it like this? See!

Shopping is a very nice way of sharing !

No charity, but contributing to the big cycle in everybody's interest on the long run. Practical intelligence.

So why not enter into a "spirited getting and giving mood" ?

Check out all the stores, catalogues, websites and TV shopping channels, but please do not overspend. Moderation. Small can be beautiful as well as very special.  The thought is all that counts anyway.
I am great friend of little things, not so much about big value but intrinsic, whimsical and meaningful gestures and objects.

Visiting people, smiles and hugs, writing cards and surprising your neighbour with a choccie thing - thinking of the people around you and reaching out to them - simply what I call glad tidings.

That is the Mizpah Touch. All in your hand!       
  
3. You can see now, that distributing your money wisely is very much in tune with the MIZPAH be-good-factor. Feeling MIZPAH is being passionate about a positive attitude to life, that hopeful anticipation that can move mountains as well as being the greatest "turnaround agent" I know.

And it is about different kinds of responsibilities.T hat is also where saving and monitoring your expenses is so important.
But I am sure, that you know best how to divide and look after your funds the right way.

Being a conscious consumer is a powerful and important role and I am not condemming it at all, as without a stable economy we cannot carry on very well and if we hold back on spending too much or even refuse to buy, the whole world would be aching far more than it is right now, and one or the other party could be over in no time.
Less is always leading to even lesser in other areas, where every buck, quid or euro is sorely needed to help those in need.

You know, I am not too enamoured with the big "shareholder orientated" industries (there is no apology for greed) and have a big heart for local, smaller businesses and manufacturing, but keeping things going, moving forwards is vital in every aspect of the overall picture.

Now to the media: Doom and gloom on the highstreets?

Yeah, go on, rub it in, but have you ever thought it through?
Scenario: we do not like to shop as we used to? Just browsing but staying away from those tills seems to be the new trend. All them rising costs, oil, gas,debts.
And on top those fear merchants prancing their clinical obsession with bad news.
This is not funny! Does the term "self fulfilling prophecy" ring a bell?
And that won't suffice, as what some of the media perform is rather "self destructive prophecy" than the afore mentioned soft version. Talking and writing a blib into the abyss by shaking peoples' confidence.
Not nice. And not funny at all.
They could do so much better. Acting responsible and don a more positive attitude every now and again at least. Not knowing something is OK, not wanting to know is unspeakably stupid.
So please stop ruining peoples' Christmas, the retail sector 2006 and so much more!

Don't worry, nearly done. For today.

Just a final more private note: finding myself in the situation of not seeing as well as I normally should (just another belated souvenier of those accidental events 1992).

Yet I find that the less I behold and the more I trust, the clearer my apprehension is growing.

I am not afraid and ask you too to try not to be ruled by fear.

So much hoping for a shadow-free time around this Christmas.
Turning to the light of my lucky guardian star and making that glimmering wish for love and peace.

Have a joyful festive season and keep safe and well!  MIZPAH to you all!

Helena Lind

If evils come not, then our fears are in vain,
And if they do, fear but augments the pain.
Horace Smith

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