Tuesday Night OLists Happy Hour: The Gift of Achievement

As Christmas fast approaches, and many of us are busy preparing to celebrate with family and friends this weekend, a specific observation occurs to me.

In discussing Christmas, in 1976, Ayn Rand observed:

The charming aspect of Christmas is the fact that it expresses good will in a cheerful, happy, benevolent, non-sacrificial way. One says: “Merry Christmas”—not “Weep and Repent.” And the good will is expressed in a material, earthly form—by giving presents to one’s friends, or by sending them cards in token of remembrance...

Years earlier, she wrote this passage in Atlas Shrugged, when Dagny is about to run the first train on the John Galt line:

She looked at the crowd and she felt...a sense of fitness that they should be here, that they should want to see it, because the sight of an achievement was the greatest gift a human being could offer to others.

As we approach the end of the year, I think there is real value in looking back on our individual achievements from the past year, both as a source of spiritual fuel, and as a means of checking one's bearings in contemplation of goals to set for the new year.

And, in the spirit of Christmas gift-giving, what better way to remember the year's achievements than to share them with others?!  Which brings us to this week's menu:

Appetizer:  What were your major achievements of the past year?  Which of your achievement(s) of the past year make you the most proud?  

Drink Special:  Did you have any achievements that had a particularly significant impact on your life?  Was this expected or unexpected?  How do these achievements impact your expectations and goals for the new year?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Hour takes place every Tuesday night, from 9-10 p.m. Eastern and 6-7 p.m. Pacific, at the new OList Chatroom.  Check your OList email for the login and password.

For more info on the OLists, check out the OList Events page here.

Your hosts for the OList Socials are @DianaHsieh, @laforgetm (aka William Green) and myself, @Earl3d