Bravo Christmas 2015

by Omar Bravo    /    Misc

Rather than focus on the shopping and the decorating or the hustle and the bustle, this year’s Christmas theme is a call to simply “be”…

  • Be Present
    There is no greater gift than your time.  Let’s spend it wisely, connecting with our loved ones and making new friendships.  The chores can wait.  The gift of your presence is priceless.
  • Be Kind
    It’s easy to lose focus of others when there is so much stuff to get done.  No matter how busy this time of year is, let’s go out of our way to never be in such a hurry that we miss an opportunity to be kind to our fellow man.
  • Be Grateful
    We are all so very blessed.  Let us be both grateful for and humbled by these blessings as not everyone is as fortunate as we are.
  • Be Fun
    The whole reason we get together is to enjoy each other’s company.  This is an awesome time to let go of the stresses and the worries of our regular lives and relax, play some games, tell some jokes, and belly-laugh.
  • Be Compassionate
    Everybody has a story and everyone is currently dealing with at least one difficult situation in their life.  Let’s cut others a little extra slack and do our best to see things from their perspective.
  • Be Forgiving
    Regardless of whether the transgression was big or small, it’s time for us to let it go.  It’s been said that “holding a grudge (withholding forgiveness) is like drinking poison in hopes that the other person will die.”  We’re only hurting ourselves.  Especially since it’s not necessary for the transgressor to be sorry in order for us to forgive them.
  • Be Helpful
    Do big things.  Do small things.  Do anything.  Do something!  Any gesture of help is a gift and should always be welcomed.
  • Be Beautiful
    When we do good, we feel good, and when we feel good, we look marvelous!  Let’s go the extra mile and give away our advantage by doing something extra sweet for someone unexpectedly.  By doing so, they’ll be more beautiful too, simply because they’ll be smiling.
  • Be Intentional
    Slow down and take an extra minute or two to check in with people.  When we say “how’s it going”, let’s not just listen to their answer, let’s ask a follow up question and let them know that we really do care.
  • Be Patient
    With all the stresses and running around, it’s easy to be rushed this time of year.  All the more powerful when you smile while waiting in the checkout line at the store, the security line at the airport, or the merge lane on the freeway.
  • Be Encouraging
    Our words are so very powerful and it takes almost no effort to use them for good instead of evil.  Let us speak with hope and do our best to lift others up.  Even a simple phrase like “I’m sure everything is going to turn out fine” can help to calm a co-worker’s anxiety and give them the encouragement to fight on.
  • Belong
    We are each a part of an amazing family as well as various other fantastic communities.  Embrace your role (regardless of its size) and celebrate that you are a part of something bigger!
  • Believe
    To quote the great Nat King Cole… Play Now →

    God rest ye merry, gentlemen
    Let nothing you dismay
    Remember, Christ, our Saviour
    Was born on Christmas day
    To save us all from Satan’s power
    When we were gone astray
    O tidings of comfort and joy,
    Comfort and joy
    O tidings of comfort and joy
  • Begin
    Last, but definitely not least, let us end the year on a high note and start the new year as though it is to be our greatest year yet!  Every day is a fresh start and there is no time like the present to *Be Present* and start over / again.

 

Gift Exchange

Like last year, the gift exchange is completely optional.  If you would like to give someone a gift (handmade or store bought), that’s awesome!  If you don’t want to give gifts, no problem either.  If you’d like to receive gifts but haven’t been sweet enough for others to organically give you gifts and would like to have someone be specifically assigned to give you a gift, the only thing you will be unwrapping this Christmas is Mom’s tamales.  Better luck next year!

 

Proposed Schedule

As Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, it seems like some people will be working up until Wednesday, 12/23 and then having more time off after the 25th.  So, this is proposed schedule.  If you have additional ideas or a modified schedule suggestion, feel free to propose it and “Be Ready” (per this year’s theme) to implement it.

Wednesday, December 23rd – White Elephant & Gift Exchange

Thursday, December 24th – Posada, Auction, Legacy Gift

Saturday Morning, December 26th – Ladies Spa Day

Saturday Evening, December 26th – Party with Tia Ofe’s Family

 

Champion of Christmas

For some extra fun, we will be playing the “Be” game throughout the vacation.  The way it works is that anytime you make a play-on-words phrase based on the word “Be” and put extra emphasis on the “be”, you get one point.

Example Phrase:  You’ve got to *BE* kidding me!
Example Phrase:  *BE*lieve it or not!
Example Phrase:  You can’t *BE* serious!

Extra funny play-on-words or highly intelligent play-on-words will be worth two points and Bonnie will be the infallible judge as to whether a play-on-words qualifies as a two-pointer.

A play-on-words phrase can only be used once and it must be used in the context of a conversation.

As a fallback for the less creative folks, a half-point will be awarded for every properly executed (a la Michael Scott) “That’s what she said” remark.

The person with the most points at 11:59pm on Sunday 12/27/15 will be crowned the Champion of Christmas and will receive a special reward.