Saddle Up!

During our Christmas program for my parents last Saturday, my nephew Zach (the one I call the cowboy) talked about one of the mottos he lives by: Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.

We may fear the unknown... or a tough challenge... or change in general. But if we have faith, we can plunge forward and get through it -- oftentimes finding success or, at a minimum, learning something about our strengths (weaknesses, too) and what's really important to us.

Zach asked us each to share a favorite Christmas memory. We went around the room of 30 people and, to a person, heard of special moments revolving around loved ones. There wasn't talk of material things. The memories that impacted us the most had nothing to do with what was under the tree, but who was sitting next to us, who was in the same room as us, who was miles away, and even who was sleeping in our laps as we looked at the tree.

People and love made our memories. People and love make passion. Passion, my nephew reminded us, is what gives us courage.

As we close out another year, I hope we all take a moment to recall what we are passionate about. Then find a way to channel that passion into something positive in 2010.

Get ready to saddle up! Some of us may be in for one heckuva ride!