Rick, so is your heart and everybody else`s, I think it`s just a matter of breaking those egotistical walls we build around us that set us far from others and from ourselves. I`m trying breaking mine, and gee, that SOB it`s hard man, well a little hole on it though, LOL. MERRIEST XMAS. TO YOU! nelson.

Paula,
I`m gonna take the time to answer every single response on this blog, it will be a joy to make contact with some people that for some reason we have not crossed words yet...
MERRY CHRISTMAS ! Nelson.

Yes Chuck,
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND ALL! nelson-

Hi Frank,
Sometimes I just stir my brain around trying to find answers about our existence, our purpose as short-lived human beings. What about happiness and how we pursue it. Gee, it`s not easy. Happiness I don`t think relates to those sparks of high excitement that we experience every now and then between curves of depression. May be that valley from where ups and downs can be observed, relates more to happiness. At times, I sit and observed my sorrounding and the state of things in an accepting, forgiving, and natural way, and a sense of peace invades me. The trick is to be able to maintain that frame of mind. Nothing easy! One needs much personal growth to achieve and enjoy longer moments of peace... so I`ll wish peace and love to you and all. nelson.

Thanks Nelson for wishing us all the best....one of the best gifts for me is the ability to communicate with so many wonderful and talented people on this site. Thank you Enrique.
After reading where and why you've been absent....I'm wondering how the people that have remained on this site talking to each other was not part of your "greater plan".
I do feel truly connected to everyone here. And have had the extreme pleasure of actually meeting two of you who turned out to be people I feel will be my friends for a long time to come.
And...I think this site has caused me to re=access my work, myself and why I do what I do. I have come to learn that I love making art and sharing with others.(regardless of the monetary benefits or losses) SteelyJan

Jan,
You as other gals here on this site, apart from being talented, are a good example of sensitive, creative, and hard working people. To you and all, my best wishes too. Nelson

Yeeessss Mele. Thanks for sharing and Merry Xmas! Nelson

Well, I must say I envy children, and I envy your actitud. Merry Xmas. to you too. nelson.

Thank you for sharing! Yes, at the bottom line of this "childish" issue, lies the cause of the actual global chaos: our greedy human EGO pretending to overpower others only to sooner or latter find out that all of us, and everything is just a bit of a whole. We`ve only come to value the economic "benefits" of globalization. Well, such selfish profiting has a cost, Mother Nature is saying so, as the state of human affairs at present time. What about globilizing love and sharing. This is an unaceptable idea for many, so as stuborn humans we are, learning the hard way, (Tuition, as someone here says) appears as the way out. At this point the word moderation comes to mind. When it comes to those ingredients our ego feeds on, the word extreme is the one making sense. We live on a limited resources planet, where the time has come to start making rational use of them, and too few people (specially HUGE companies), have too much, and too many people have too little. Economically speaking, if we as a few continue the present trend, soon there won`t be enough people with enough money to buy our goods or services we provide and on which we make profit on.That critical point has not been riched yet, but there are signs. All fisical matter in the universe is limited, and so is the "Pie", if we depend on one another to live and survive, we`d better use more rational criteria. The solution to so much chaos may come as we realize we all are alike,as you say, so tending a helping hand and sharing with our fellowmen will change things drastically. Gee, what a nasty word: SHARING...A miracle needs to take place, filling our hearts with Love, and Peace would then invade every spot on earth, and more important, every one of us ! I`ve realized, that I should have title this blog not "Merry Xmas. Everybody" but "PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL". It seems it`d be more appropiate. Times don`t call for excess joy if any at all. Moreover, there are people here like Michael,and all over the world, who are in sorrow for irrepairable losses. To them all, an to the rest, seems more appropiate to wish PEACE and LOVE. Nelson.

I'm not very good with words, never have been, probably never will be.... so i rely on those who are... Obviously i'm a fan of dr dyer... here's a bit of him on utube...what he says here is thought provoking and i think hit on what you are saying here Nelson.... anyway.. here ya go...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRAewRQl_ZY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPzsKI1vAfE&feature=related

Paula
Guthrie, MN

Hi Paula,
I`ve checked those two youtube sites and they`re thought provoking to say the least. When it comes to words I ain`t that good either, so that material is nourishing. Thanks Paula for sharing. nelson.

Hi Jamie,
My goodness, your reply is short yet more complete than I could have thought of. I`m so greedy and you come talking about gratitud...Yes! those 3-ending words sound good. God bless you and all! Nelson.

Nelson:

P.S. Never lose your childish behavior...its the most important thing. It keeps our innocence alive!

Cheers,

Jamie Santellano

ON THE eve of the Normandy invasion in 1944, General George S. Patton, addressing the men of the US Third Army :
"Americans love a winner," Patton growled, "and will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win - all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. . . . The very thought of losing is hateful to an American."Nowadays, the thought of losing a war isn't as hateful to some Americans as the thought of losing an election…
Undoubtly, Patton was an excellent armored warfare tactician, and his philosophy at a point in history, had many followers, and still have nowdays. His egotistical actitud reflected on his saying: “ I would`t give a hoot in hell … “speak for itself. Here`s another famous thought : “What luck for rulers, that men do not think”. ~Adolph Hitler. I do not mean to equate both men, neither their thoughts, but in both cases we`re talking about war men, as could Mr. Bush and other leaders representing the people that chose them to rule their destinies. Somehow the point intended by this Merry Xmas. Everybody is being mistakenly taken. We`re not talking specifically about politics, economics, religion, or any other human affairs. The point although involves all those aspects, is man`s actitud towards others. Be it a neighbor, a country or the whole world. Any unjust treatment to any individual, for whatever reason, must be considered wrong! We are not talking about everybody being aliniated to literally think the same way . There shall always be freedom of thought and action. Nature abhores sameness, so from a natural standpoint there always be room for diversity. Pattons ideas fit into a place in time, could we say even a trend of thought then, and sadly to say trends that men stubbornly continue. Here`s the tricky word: TREND. And actual man`s trends do not seem the head in a constructive, just, and positive direction. Here`s the essence of this blog, not a call for anything else, but YES, it is a call for Peace and Love, principles not much in agreement with war, greed, and other characteristic trends of our time. Very respectfully of your and everybody else`s freedom to think and act at will. Merry Xmas.to you , and more importantly yet, peace and love. Sincerely, Nelson.

Hi Rob,
First of all, this "everybody`s" post. I thought of it late, but wished I had posted it unnonimous. Anyhow,I`m glad you brought that up. Like I said here somewhere this post should have had a better title too, like Peace and Love, because the latter has in my opinion more meaning to more people. Christmas may only be understood by some, but peace and love resume in my believe the highest state in human affairs. Yes Rob, I wish as many do, Muslams, Christians, Jews, Induists, Budists, and all people regardless of race, religion, and any other man-made labels, could some day just understand we are all equal. That, just that, will be the start of another era... Thanks for sharing and taking the time to contribute to the purpose of this blog. Peace and love to you and all. nelson.

Bill,
Thanks. wish you hapiness and peace. nelson.