I'm a pretty upbeat person most of the time, but the month of December rachets up my upbeat-ness another notch.  I love the holidays:  the food, the decor, the traditions. 

One of our family's most endearing traditions (at least to us) is quoting from favorite holiday movies.  We've got dozens of lines we throw at one another all year long.  Like this one:  "You will be visited by three ghosts."  Got it?  Of course you recognize the line from Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol."

The three ghosts in question represent Ebineezer Scrooge's past, present and future Christmases.  The lessons he learns from the ghosts make a great story line.   So as 2010 comes to a close, ponder these lessons from our own Ghosts of Courage

Lessons from the Ghost of Courage Past:

The past: we can't change it, but we can certainly learn from it. 

Try this: draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper.  On the left, list three things that went wrong in 2010.  Say out loud,  "Okay, I made these mistakes.  What will I do differently the next time I face the same situation?"  Feel your courage growing?  You're arming yourself with tools for future obstacles.

On the other side of the page, list three things that went right in 2010 and say out loud, "Yippee!  Now, what have I learned from these that I can use again?"  (Psst .... that tingling in your toes is more courage growing!)

Lessons from the Ghost of Courage Present: 

We're bombarded with news of disasters, catastrophes, and dilemmas.  Yep, they're everywhere, every day.  But emerging from each is a courageous person, someone not afraid to start over, speak his or her mind, or lend a hand, even in the face of their own crisis.

These people aren't just news stories; they're models of courage for us to learn from.  Angels on earth, I like to call them, who show us that there can always be a silver lining, even when the only direction you can go is up.

Lessons from the Ghost of Courage Future:

If you spend all your time worrying about the future, you'll miss the present.  Period. 

Yes, old age and retirement loom ahead, but so do the memories of wonderful moments.  All of your life's experiences become valuable nuggets for you to pass on to the next generation.  It will help them fill their own well of courage, completing the circle of courage.

I'm not so idealistic to think that aging doesn't come with its share of challenges.  But science has proven that at any stage of life, looking for the good and striving to be happy will actually make you healthier.  So just do it.

May these lessons from the Ghosts of Courage give you the girt of courage throughout 2011.