Writing from the Heart with Brian
Think, Laugh, & Cry Each Day
My mom never had the chance to go to college. She never took a Psychology class and she never had a chance to sit in on a seminar on “how to win friends and influence others.” She grew up on an Amish farm and was forced to quit school after the eighth grade. Despite her... Continue Reading →
(A version of this short story ran in December 2023. The story takes a look at what happens when bad weather forces Santa Claus to make a brief stop on his Christmas Eve journey.) Santa Claus looked down at the gauges on his sleigh. They were teetering close to the danger zone. The swirling snow... Continue Reading →
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Oh, a few days ago, I wasn't feeling the Christmas Spirit. The calendar told me it was early December, but I didn't care much about giving or other’s feelings or well-being. For the lack of a better word, I was a grump. I was far from being... Continue Reading →
Today is Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season in the U.S. and beyond. Management Consulting Firm Bain & Company estimates that retail sales in the U.S. from Black Friday to Cyber Monday could increase by 5%, reaching a record-breaking $75 billion It's natural to think about gift-giving this time of the... Continue Reading →
The days after Christmas can sometimes feel strange. The big day and all the anticipation that comes with it have passed. Santa is back at the North Pole with his boots off, kicked up on his sofa, enjoying a cold beverage. The elves too have the next eleven months off. It's time to recuperate. I... Continue Reading →
(Reposted from December 2021 - previous headline, The Day Santa Died.) When I was a kid, I never liked to sit on Santa Claus’ lap. My mom used to keep our family photos in an old shoe box that we kept in a closet, I don’t think there’s one picture of me with the big... Continue Reading →
For many folks it's a tradition to watch the movie It's a Wonderful Life in the weeks leading up to Christmas. They like the message the story has to say about giving and helping others. It's funny, but I actually like to watch the movie after Christmas, leading into the new year. As most of... Continue Reading →
(Reposted from Dec. 25, 2015.) A few readers commented last week on how the song “Mary, Did You Know” ranks as one of their favorite songs of the season. When I heard the song years ago, it inspired me to imagine in my own words what it must have been like to walk in her... Continue Reading →
Who's ready for Christmas? My final list of Christmas movie quotes. “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” —Ebenezer Scrooge, A Christmas Carol “It's Christmas Eve. It's the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer... Continue Reading →
Writing from the Heart with Brian 
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