I never thought walking would be an exercise for me. I have been at it every day for one month and I have not only liked it, I’ve loved it. It has caused me to think and be more observant than when I fly by on my mountain bike, which was my preferred form of exercise until surgery to have my gall bladder removed.

Today, as I often do, I walked through the Maryville College woods. I noticed trees I had passed by dozens of times, perhaps more than a hundred. I really studied them. I looked at a tall pine backdropped by the blue sky. I saw a knotty maple with withering leaves. I saw a tree with a scar. A scar caused by a fatal impact of a careless young man with his life ahead of him. A tree that wishes it had never been in the way of a speeding automobile. A tree surrounded by flowers and words written by people equally as young, forever changed by a loss. I read the notes left by friends and looked at the flowers wishing they had never been bought. I walked alone and said a prayer for the grieving friends and family of a young man who, only days before, had walked tall in his life.

Note: I don’t often “steal” things. Today I was a thief. I stole this post from my other blog.  That blog is what I call my X-blog - my plan to exercise every day for one year. Jan 1st will be six months of intentional exercise every day (yes even the day on, and day after my surgery).

On or near January 1st, I’ll be encouraging people to join me like my friend Laurie who has her own X-blog and is active again after a hiatus. Link to the X-blog and read Laurie’s posts. She is on a quest to loose 75 pounds by next summer.

Things I have THOUGHT about blogging about this week and likely still will:

- Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Grahams’ daughter) who I heard speak yesterday, but it required some thinking which I will do over the weekend.

- Attitude: I experienced a great story today involving two people who lost jobs with the same organizations, but had two VERY different responses. I’ll write that one later too.

- Marriage: Tomorrow  is my wife’s birthday and on her day I’ll likely write about being married to her. She’s an incredible wife and she deserves every bit of the special day and surprise evening I have planned.

- Maryville High School football (recently ranked in the top ten of teams in a USA “Today” poll). Last week I went to my first game after four and a half years living here. They are an amazing team who have won several state high school championships in the last seven or eight years. I am hooked. Wanted to go tonight but alas, I had a party to plan. Please come if you are local.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

My friends and family who know me well, know how much I love to laugh. It’s like the stuff of life… no, it’s like air. I HAVE to do it regularly. So, since I need laughter to live, I feel compelled sometimes to do things to make others laugh because what goes around comes around right? So this next line probably won’t shock you - I like to make unusual and fun messages on my answering machine at home. I also like to leave messages and make phone calls using different character voices (I have Patrick Fraley, one of the voices of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to thank. His Using Character Voices for Fun and Profit is outstanding!). Long time friends are on to me but every once in awhile an unsuspecting new friend gets the “Tim Treatment”. It goes something like this (with a strong British accent)“Hi Mr. Van Winkle. It’s Freddick P. Bodywrap with the Love Life City Morgue. Today we are offering a special - “buy two funeral services, get your mother-in-laws absolutely free”. This limited time offer expires…well before you expire….which we hope… You probably get the picture.

Last week, it was my friend Anne’s birthday. Anne is the coolest girl I know. We met when we were freshmen at Florida Southern College and stay in contact about twice a year. I LOVE Anne-sters (my name for her) as she makes me laugh and she has the hippest lingo - it’s really a culture. But as you’ll see below, she is like a sister to me. When my wife and I were married, I told Anne-sters that I wanted her to be a groomswoman in my wedding, but the numbers just didn’t play out (I just think she didn’t want to wear a tux).

So last week, I call on her birthday and give her the “Tim Treatment”. If I say so myself, it was ….well … very… let’s just say “not that there is anything wrong with it” ( for all you Seinfeld lovers). She sent me the email below. It made my day.

Tim,

So every year, my birthday falls on or near Thanksgiving. It’s always a mixed blessing for me because even though I get to spend my birthday with my family, I get to spend my birthday with my family. . . if you know what I mean.

This year, we were driving back from South Carolina. A what-should-be 5 hour drive took 7 hours and included, bumper to bumper traffic due to a flipped tractor-trailer, two overflowing diapers of pee pee and pooh pooh that permanently seeped into the car seat fabric, door-to-door crying and general gnashing of teeth. As we drove into the garage we all let out a sigh of relief to be home.

Due to the extenuating circumstances, I had no cake, no cards from my children or husband and no gifts to open on my birthday. Not that I’m fussy, but that sucks.

The best part of my day was getting your message. It was such a wonderful feeling to have a 5 minute belly laugh after the stress of my trip, but also to be remembered every year from you, my friend I have known for 27 years who-if-I-kissed-I’d-throw-up. I think I even forgot your birthday this year. Thank you for remembering me!!!

Anne-sters

It’s up to you now. Go make someone’s day. After all, what goes around comes around. If you are in the Richardon Circle of Trust (watch Meet the Parents), or a member of the village, when you least expect it you just might hear….”Hello, this is the White House. I have Hillary on the line…can you hold for her?”

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Tonight I ran a couple of errands and one was to a store to take back some items I had purchased at Black Friday sales. I wish I had taken a more thoughtful approach in my spending and NOT purchased so many impulse items. It was like I was drugged. I got caught up in the moment (which is exactly what they want you to do). My professional speaker colleague Beth Terry has a take on Black Friday and it’s well worth a read on this blog.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

 My friend Laurie sent these comments for my wife who often tells me she was born during the wrong time. The comments are from the year 1955 (which is the year most of the scenes took place from one of my  favorite movies). Be the first person to name the movie and you’ll win EVERYTHING behind my garage! BTW, today also happens to be the anniversary of the first showing of the Price is Right!

That’s only 52 years ago!

 “I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s
 going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $20.00.”
 “Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long
 before $2000.00 will only buy a used one”.
 “If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. A quarter a
 pack is ridiculous”.
 “Did you hear the Post Office is thinking about charging a dime just to
 mail a letter?”.
 “If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire
 outside help at the store”.
 “When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday
 cost 29 cents a gallon. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the
 garage”.
 “Kids today are impossible. Those duck tail hair cuts make it impossible
 to stay groomed. Next thing you know, boys will be wearing their hair as
 long as the girls”.
 “I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more. Ever since they let
 Clark Gable get by with saying “DAMN” in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every
 new movie has either “HELL” or “DAMN” in it.”
 “I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a
 man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows
 they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas”.
 “Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for
 $75000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday
 they’ll be making more than the President”.
 “I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be
 electric. They are even making electric typewriters now”.
 “It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married
 women are having to work to make ends meet”.
 “It won’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone
 to watch their kids so they can both work”.
 “Marriage doesn’t mean a thing any more, those Hollywood stars seem to be
 getting divorced at the drop of a hat”.
 “I’m afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot
 of foreign business”.
 “Thank goodness I won’t live to see the day when the Government takes
 half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best
 people to congress”.
 “The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously
 doubt they will ever catch on”.
 “There is no sense going to Lincoln or Omaha anymore for a weekend, it
 costs nearly $15.00 a night to stay in a hotel”.
 “No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $35.00 a day in the hospital
 it’s too rich for my blood”.
 “If they think I’ll pay 50 cents for a hair cut, forget it”.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

This morning at church I heard about a pastor named Michael Slaughter. He is a very non-traditional minister in a particularly traditional denomination- The United Methodist Church. Slaughter’s church is Ginghamsburg Church and he challenged his Tipp City Ohio members to spend less on Christmas gifts and more on helping others. In particular Slaughter believes (as I happen to believe), that we spend WAY too much on gifts - about $900 on average. As we put up our tree tonight, I was stumbling over presents sent or delivered by family. My wife and I come from large families so we haven’t scratched the surface. Despite my plea to have money donated in our honor to a charitable cause, or to send money or gifts for our  local Dreams for Kids party, the presents will continue to arrive. The people who love us simply want to buy us gifts to show us that they care. Though we instituted a parent one present and stocking rule this year to cut down on excess, the kids will hardly notice a difference. Plus, I’d say that there’s a strong possibility that one of us will break under the marketing machine and buy something our kids really “need”. Americans are just programed to spend and I am, after all, a proud American!

It’s simply ridiculous how much “stuff” we give and receive during the holidays. Slaughter supports cutting whatever you spend on gifts in half and giving what you would spend on gifts to efforts like “The Sudan Project“. Check out their web address to see links and other cool ways they are making a difference. I’d like to hear other ideas that people are doing to spend less and have a bigger impact. What are you doing different this year? What traditions do you or your family have? Do you think Slaughter is off base? Do you think I am the Grinch who Stole Christmas or Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life?” Should I be banned from Christmas? I think some in my family think so!

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Random Black Friday Thoughts:

I’ll admit it, I went Black Friday-ing. YES I did it. I woke up at 4:45 (with my cursed internal alarm mind you!), puttered around until 6:00 and then went to Office Depot, Circuit City, Lowe’s and EVEN picked up something for my wife at Walmart. Walmart was tame in comparison to the other stores which were NUTS! I mean lines from the back of the store to the front. Parking lots full. Wallets empty. Police directing traffic. Traffic in the store. Road rage. Range of rogue stuff. We’re sick people, I mean sick!

I’ll call “Pat”, was almost at the checkout (glory land). “Pat” told me that he/she couldn’t sleep the night before because he/she was so excited. Funny guy … err friend. I noticed as he, my friend, left the store, he/she had a big blanket and other frigid weather gear (indicating that he’d been there a bit before six). He had a smile on his face as he left. I am not sure if he was just rubbing it in or if his new purchase brought him that much joy.

Forgive me Thomas Watson as I am a sinner though feeling exceedingly joyful about about my future sin. It’s something I have been thinking about for awhile and just haven’t had the courage to do it. I am having some feelings of betrayal after years of being an IBM kind of guy. Soon I am going to take a big bite of a …. Mac (Apple Computer) - I hope by years end. I am thinking I will feel like Paul on the road to Damascus. For any NOT familiar with the story, in Bible times, Paul persecuted Christians fervently and had a conversion after hearing God’s voice. He was blind for three days and became one of the staunch supporters of Christianity. He wrote a lot of the New Testament.

I think I am going blind and may wake up one day soon an Apple convert. As I told my friend and fellow professional speaker Bruce Turkel, I need a disciple, a messiah, someone who has traveled the road to heal my affliction, or tell me if the life after will be just as good with an Apple as with an IBM! What shall I do? What shall I buy? Will I burn in hell for turning my back on my long time friend? WWJD – What Would (Steve) Jobs Do?

They really should call it Gray Friday as I am sure many turn prematurely gray fighting over their purchases. Or maybe Black Eye Friday since some people get rather passionate about their purchases and fights have broken out. Or perhaps Red Friday because they are people who say they hate to shop (me) and then get up ridiculously early, fight crowds, and buy things they don’t need. The best name might be Blue Friday because today they are worrying about how they are going to pay off their credit cards and pondering how much they really “saved” knowing they are paying 18% interest.

Did you know, there’s actually a web site for Black Friday shoppers now? Perhaps there needs to be a support group. Hi, my name is Tim (everyone “Hi Tim”). I have a problem…

Several years ago, I was intrigued by an award winning recipe I had read about in USA TODAY. It was for Apple Pie, my favorite dessert. There are few things I love more than homemade apple pie and with Thanksgiving approaching, I salivated. We had been at my grandmothers for a fall trip to the beautiful western North Carolina mountains. My grandmother had a small apple orchard on the hill in front of her home, so I picked organically grown Wine Sap apples late in October in anticipation of making a great pie for Thanksgiving. The award winning article included a recipe for whole wheat crust as well as a cranberry strudel for topping. I couldn’t wait to dive into this project and thought about it way more that I want to admit in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. As we traveled to be with family on Wednesday before the great all American eat- a –thon, I thought about the fabulous dessert project awaiting me. I carefully planned and reviewed the ingredients again in my mind. When Thursday morning arrived, I was up with the sun and greeted by my grandmother in her kitchen. As she put the finishing touches on the turkey, I began laying out the ingredients. Then I started washing and preparing the apples. With her much needed assistance and encouraging instructions I began making the filling and pie crust. Since my previous pie experience consisted of visiting Mrs. Smith in the frozen food aisle, I was both anxious and excited about how it would turn out. Although I grew up baking ginger bread men and making oatmeal and raisin cookies with grandma, this was out of my league. Despite the fact that I might have pulled it off without grandma, having her there to help me peel and cut the apples and give me needed instruction on the crust preparation was invaluable. More than anything, I appreciated the company and encouragement, as this pie took about as long to make as the turkey did to cook. Knowing that I had 70 years of baking experience in that kitchen gave me a little more confidence that things would turn out. As I got further into it, I realized a few things-

• Making a homemade pie was taking much longer than I had anticipated.
• The pieces would be pretty small if EVERYONE were to have some.
• I was missing the Thanksgiving Day parade and the great conversation that was happening elsewhere in the house, (I was probably being talked about!).
• If things didn’t progress more quickly, the pie would not be finished before the feast.
• Mrs. Smith would get my business next year.
• The Dallas Cowboy game would be starting soon.

When the pie came out of the oven AFTER lunch, I felt as proud as I have felt about any accomplishment I have had in the kitchen. (I realize that wasn’t saying too much for a guy who has mastered the one course meal, or prepared meals, almost always centered around tuna fish). The accolades were sincere, even if they were mixed in with ribbing from my three older brothers. The very best part of all was the time I had spent talking with my grandmother as she coached me through the process. Though I haven’t made the pie since, the memory of the experience will last a lifetime. That’s what the holidays are about to me … making or starting rich traditions and making lasting memories.

I’d suggest this season would be a good time to start doing both.In memory of Alta Faye Bunton b. November 23, 1911, d. June 30, 2006

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

Things I am thankful for (but not necessarily in this order):

1) Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day.

2) Turkey with my wife’s homemade cranberry sauce.

3) Apple pie (I’ll share a Thanksgiving tribute to my grandmother tomorrow on what would have been her 96th birthday).

4) Family.

5) Faith.

6) A walk in the woods with my son on a rainy Thanksgiving Day.

7) Sweet, loving daughters.

A Wonderful wife.

9) A wonderful life (mine and the movie).

10) Friends (like the Leslie family for whom we shared a wonderful Thanksgiving!).

(not necessarily in this order!)

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

I happened to catch the end of NPR this am, and heard that yesterday (like every November 21st), was World Hello Day. The object is to say hello to ten people during the day. To me, it just seems like a natural thing to do, but as I looked around on World Hello Day I realized that most people just aren’t interested in saying hello. We are all interested in what is going on with us, where we are going, how much time we have, and what we are eating for Thanksgiving.  SO…doing my job as a proud support of World Hello Day, I am saying Hi. Pass it on…with a smile. It will make your day and another persons as well. By the way, the message is for world leaders to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts. This event started in 1973 in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel. Perhaps George Bush and a few other world leaders might want to practice saying Hello World!

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com

I had WAY too much to do today to sneak away for what might be one last glimpse of fall, but I had too much to loose not to do it - family time, a crystal clear day, short pants weather - 71 degrees on November 20th and and a worry-free Thanksgiving, (we’re not hosting or traveling for the first time ever!).

We were headed to the Great Smoky Mountains to re-hike a trail I did on Saturday with the kids and saw the sign for the Dancing Bear Lodge. I serve on the Jeff Roth Cycling Foundation Board with the GM of the Dancing Bear and remembered he had extended an invitation to come see his mountain biking trails. So we took a u-turn and explored the trails - all seven of us - on foot.

It was after 5:00 when we arrived and the colors of the late afternoon sun illuminated the majestic mountains. The reds were redder, the yellow more yellow, and the orange just all orangy, (is that a word?).

Fall is lingering this year and the last few days have been some of the prettiest days of the season. I am thinking maybe ole’ Al Gore was right about global warming. Perhaps along with creating the internet, he invented global warming (the founder of The Weather Channel said last week that GW was a bunch of bunk). Perhaps Al set the weather patterns into motion. I think as I write, he’s filling up his SUV and letting ‘er run while he shops at a Walmart for items packaged with too much packaging, in a lot without a tree in sight. Maybe Al has his illegal alien landscaper blasting his Nashville and DC neighbors out of their easy chairs with a Black and Decker turbo leaf blower. Maybe Al and Tipper’s carbon footprint is the biggest one of all and it’s happening because he’s still fretting over a few missing Chads in Florida. Maybe he’s the one who let all those shopping bags loose in San Francisco that caused them to be outlawed. Perhaps he works at Walmart….hmmm…..maybe the new greeter at your local WALlet Mart is really Al Gore in disguise. I digress.

If days like today are the result, I say bring on global warming. Put Al Gore on the ticket in 2008. I like colors; I like them late; and I like enjoying them Thanksgiving week. I’m dancing inside and out. I am wondering if Al is too… Nobel Peace Prize and all.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com