Karl Blog

This is a random blog post.

Unlike most of my messages, it has no real theme.

Today's post is partially a Monday Random Act of Kindness, partially a message of inspiration, partially a greeting for the holidays, and wholly a big dollop of love.

Why?

Because Christmas is here. It's the time for you to open your heart and embrace the world around you.

You see, anyone that knows me... knows one thing.

I love this time of year!

It's magical. People everywhere -- at least those not caught in the crazed, ever-busy last-minute gift rush -- open their hearts and become just a little more loving.

It's the time we can officially be jovial and say "I LOVE YOU!" without feeling like an idiot.

It's rationed happiness.

Of course, you could be like that all year round -- and feel great as a result. But if you don't, AT LEAST do it for Christmas, and live every minute of the holidays to the full!

So, what can you do to get into the Christmas spirit?

Well, Random Acts of Kindness are a fantastic way to start!

They're small acts of kindness, done for the good of some stranger, solely for the purpose of making their like more joyful -- without expecting anything in return!

http://www.karlblog.com/blog/labels/random%20acts%20of%20kindness.html

Let me give you some examples.

This week, my mother donated much of her wages to abandoned cat and dog charities here in the North East of England. (And my mum has a lot of big bills to pay!)

On Saturday, I helped an elderly man overloaded with bags up the steep hill to Durham train station.

Last night, I gave a surprise visit to an elderly friend -- and decorated his otherwise-Christmas-free house with bright tinsel and wreaths and "Merry Christmas!" signs. They cost me £7 in total, and changed his mindset completely!

Those are just a few festive Random Act's of Kindness you can use to change someone else's life -- and make yourself feel great at the same time.

A Random Act of Kindness is, after all, simply an act of love.

And what is Christmas if not love?

Before signing off today, I'd like to give you a couple of quick Christmas gifts.

Firstly, if you haven't yet downloaded the Karl Blog.com Christmas screensaver, then click here to learn more and download your copy for free.

Secondly, I've prepared an official greetings card just for YOU!

Please... I'd like you to ask that you take two seconds out to visit the following site and listen to my message...

www.KarlChristmas.com

I guarantee it'll pep up your day.

And so, as this glorious day slowly retires and the sound of sleighbells gently ring in the distance, allow me to wish you... a very, very merry Christmas!

With love, with happiness, with a big smile and wide pupils... I wish you all the very, very best.

:)

the view next to my apartment

Labels: christmas, ramblings, random acts of kindness

Ladies and gentleman...

It's CHRISTMAS EVE!!

No matter where you live in the world, and no matter how you celebrate this time of the year, I'd like to offer you my very deepest, warmest wishes for the season.

And I'd like to brighten your day with a few interesting facts about this time of year...

For a start, did you know that Christmas was once ILLEGAL?

No kidding. In 1647, Oliver Cromwell and the British parliament passed a law making all Christmas celebrations illegal. It was considered that feasting on a holy day was immoral. The ban was lifted thirteen years later, in 1660.

But Christmas wasn't even celebrated until the year 440 AD. And it took a long time before it became the holiday period was love and celebrate today.

Take Christmas lights, for example.

For me, lights on a tree are synonymous with Christmas. But who actually came up with the idea?

Well, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb back in 1879. It was just three short years later that Edward Johnson, Edison's assistant, decided to put lights onto a tree for public demonstration. The display was a massive hit... and within a few short years, DIY kits were made available to the public.

But of course, those bulbs were all pretty big.

The whole idea behind a string of small electric bulbs that you wrap around the tree -- similar to the ones we use today -- came back in 1895, from a man named Ralph Morris.

Morris was an American telephone engineer, who had originally invented the lights for use in telephone switchboards. He suddenly had the idea of wrapping them around his tree. The concept took off - and within a couple of years, they were everywhere!

Interesting, eh?

But what would Christmas really be... without a little SNOW?

Strange as it may seem, my home country of England has only ever seen seven white Christmases (despite tales by my late grandpa to the contrary!).

And, officially, it's only had two.

You see, the Meteorological Office in London only defines it a white Christmas when one snowflake falls on the roof of London Weather Centre. That happened once in 1938 and once in 1976.

The other five times it must have just missed.

Now, I really must dash...

And so - from the bottom of my heart - allow me wish you a great day tomorrow.

Whether you're celebrating in Santa Claus in Arizona, in Noel in Missouri, or in Christmas in Florida...

Merry Christmas!