MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM FACE CENTRAL!

Can you believe it? It’s December… again! Of course, that means there is nothing but good news to share. Think about it…
  • It’s the time of year when most of us get to take a holiday;
  • We spend more time in celebration with family and friends;
  • We have the privilege of hindsight on the year that is coming to an end – whether it was good, bad or indifferent, it’s over;
  • We can experience the joy of receiving and giving gifts to each other; and,
  • We have a brand new year to look forward to.
You see… nothing but good news!
 
From all of us here at FACE Central, we wish for you peace and blessings, happiness and love, and a most prosperous 2012.
 
 
Christmas Gift for a Complete Stranger
by Mike Francis
 
Christmas is a time that usually brings out the best in people. The meters on the dashboard of our relationships seem to register higher than average. Love, kindness, happiness, charity, even the basic meter of smiling is peaking into the red zone. As we soak up our joys of the festive season, let’s also remember the people whose meters are reading the opposite. This Christmas, please keep your eyes and your heart open to the needs of at least one of those people. You may be the only Christmas gift for a complete stranger in 2011. 
 
A simple way to identify one of those strangers is to constantly ask yourself this question: “What will Christmas be like for you this year?” The moment you ask that question, your sub-conscious mind will go to work for you. All of your sense-gates, especially sight, will move into a heightened state of awareness. You’ll start noticing finer details – facial expressions, the lack of sparkle in their eyes, their tendency to slouch, and more. Your intuition will search the unseen and you may even begin to feel their pain, their hopelessness, loneliness, fear and sadness.
 
It’s all too easy to walk on past and pretend not to notice. Most people do. But what if, this Christmas, you decided to step outside of your comfort zone. What if you rose above your own fears and inhibitions and focused on the stranger’s need. Introduce yourself; just a first name will do. Ask for their name, and then ask that same question: “What will Christmas be like for you this year?” Finally, you have the most important step in this experience… listen! Really listen. This alone is a most wonderful gift that such people rarely receive; another human who cares enough to take some time to truly listen.
 
Of course, your own FACE style will determine how you might approach your stranger. And, if you’re struggling with this ‘Christmas Gift for a Complete Stranger’ concept – if your fears and inhibitions are getting the better of you – the FACE Team is here to help. I’ve asked Frennie, Lystie, Rollie and Ennie to give you an insight on how they approach strangers. Yes, they have all done it before; many times.
 
(By the way, for clarification purposes, ‘Frennie’, ‘Lystie’, ‘Rollie’ and ‘Ennie’ are the nicknames we’ve affectionately given to the four FACEs – FRIEND, ANALYST, CONTROLLER and ENTERTAINER. Just be careful with Rollie, because he’s not so keen on his nickname. Actually, he’s a big softie when you get to know him well.)
 
Anyway, I really encourage you to reach out to your stranger. Not only will you brighten their Christmas, but you too will experience the powerful gift of humility, simply by giving a moment of your time. If you choose to go beyond listening and bless your stranger with something more tangible, so be it. There is no limit to the ways you might do that.
 
Of course, be safe in whatever you choose. Take your time and allow your sub-conscious and your senses to do their job before you approach anyone. Trust your gut instinct and consider the warnings that come from your inner voice. Personally, once I’ve met my stranger; I never give my last name, my address or my contact details, and I always make sure I’m in a place where there are plenty of other people around.
 
Receiving cannot occur without the initial act of giving. The genesis and foundation of Christmas is fundamentally all about giving. Indeed, giving is the very Spirit of Christmas. And to choose to give a gift to a complete stranger this Christmas will be the best gift of all.
 
Merry Christmas!
 
 
 
Feel the FACEs
But there is only one me!
 
The first Christmas gift I gave to a complete stranger (as with the rest of the FACE Team) was in 2005. I was nothing short of terrified! Despite shaking from top to toe, sweating profusely and expecting a confrontation that I just knew I wouldn’t be able to handle; with the rest of the FACE Team urging me on, I pressed forward and took a leap of faith. “Hello, my name is Frennie. I saw you sitting all alone here and I just HAVE to ask you an important question.”
 
She was speechless! So I just went ahead and asked the question… “What will Christmas be like for you this year?” More than two hours later, which included lunch – yes, of course I paid – my newest friend (Jessica, a single mother with a sad history) went on her way with a much happier demeanour than the one I so fearfully approached in the beginning.
 
I managed to get her home address and so I sent her a box of chocolates, along with a sizeable gift voucher from her local grocery shop. She still lives at the same place and every Christmas since then I’ve sent her the same gift.
 
That experience was the highlight of my Christmas in 2005. Since then I’ve met at least one new stranger every Christmas. It’s only Jessica and one other person whom I regularly send gifts too. Most of them have just cost me a little time, perhaps a cup of tea and sometimes a light meal. Actually, ‘cost’ is so not the right word – ‘investment’ is far more appropriate.
 
I would love to be able to do so much more, but there is only one me. I know! Maybe you could help? Oh please, do consider it! You’ll be so glad you did.
 
Have a wonderful Christmas, a fabulous New Year and I’ll see you again in 2012.
 
Bye-bye.
 
 
Facts Matter
It is just another case of simple mathematics
 
Just like a true ANALYST, I waited and watched the rest of the FACE Team have their ‘stranger’ experiences before making my decision to so venture down the same path as they. I presumed that on my first Christmas stranger escapade, a certain degree of apprehension, increased pulse rate, some perspiring, and even perhaps mild anxiety would be a normal physiological response. After observing the Team and, subsequently, from my own maiden voyage, it turned out to be exactly as I had presumed. Indeed, if the truth be known, I found the entire experience to be most enriching and even exhilarating. It would seem that my first stranger (Alan) was similarly enriched.
 
Since then, it has been my annual habit to engage in the same activity – several strangers every Christmas – and I must say that I rather look forward to it. The physiological sensations are much the same, only not as intense; and the outcomes are always positive. It would be appropriate to say that it is just another case of simple mathematics.
 
To echo Frennie’s recommendation, may I suggest you set aside any reservations and make the choice to make a difference this Christmas. You will be glad for the decision.
 
My very best wishes to you for the festive season. Until next year…
 
 
The Bottom Line
It just wasn’t my thing.
 
I have to say that I wasn’t much interested in the Good Samaritan idea when Mike first suggested it. Besides, I donate to plenty of charitable causes, so I figured it would be best if I just stayed out of their way and let them do what they do best. Then Frennie and Ennie (especially Ennie) kept pestering until I realized that the only way to get them to back off was to do it. But only once! I made it very clear that, whilst I agreed that it was an intrinsically good thing to do, it just wasn’t my thing.
 
I locked my sights onto a particular stranger and the mission was launched. The poor guy (Brandon) seemed frozen with fear. It all happened so fast, he just didn’t know what hit him. He was a young street kid and I was a life-sized replica of every bad memory he had of his domineering, drunkard father. Anyway, after he got over the initial shock, he realized that there was no imminent danger and we ended up chatting for quite a while.
 
Six years on, and the thing that just wasn’t my thing has become a very important thing. In fact, a few buddies and I have got together and we go out every Christmas to run a program for the street kids. We’ve rustled up some great sponsors and the grand finale (on Christmas Eve) is a big Christmas dinner, followed by a visit from Santa and giving out of toys.
 
I’m hooked! You should give it a go yourself. Totally worth it.
 
Happy holidays.
 
Goodbye.
 
 
Speak Up!
We should have Christmas every month!
 
Strangers? Strangers? There are no such thing as strangers; just a whole lot of people that haven’t met me yet.
 
I was totally on board with the ‘stranger’ thing the moment Mike mentioned it. It was a complete no-brainer! My life is just fine and dandy because of what people have done for me; so it seems only natural for me to return the favour. You know, “Keep the dream alive”, “Pay it forward” and all that stuff.
 
Actually, I have to be honest and say that my initial involvement was (in no small part) motivated by selfish gain. I thought if people saw me doing such a nice thing, then they would think more highly of me. It’s an ENTERTAINER image thing. However, I can assure you that that motivation was very short-lived indeed.
 
From my very first stranger (a young man called Andy) I was hooked. Who cares what other people think. Yes, I get lots of praise and pats-on-the-back for the many strangers’ lives I’ve been privileged to touch; but that’s not what motivates me anymore. I love people! And if there’s one thing that everyone could do with more of, it’s love. The Beatles had it nailed… “All ya need is love, la de-da de-da”
 
I’m going for a minimum target of 10 strangers this Christmas. Come on… give it go yourself! It’s simply the best! (Thank you, Tina).
 
The only problem with the ‘Christmas Gift for a Complete Stranger’ program, is that it only happens once a year. We should have Christmas every month! Ah, but that’s the secret… you see, it doesn’t have to just be a Christmas-time activity. I’m doing the stranger thing all the time now. Trust me, the giving bug will get into your system and you’ll be hooked too!
 
Have a Woohoo Christmas and a get-down-n-boogie New Year!
 
See ya next year! WOOHOO!!!
 
 
FACE of the Month (FREE download)
“…we have the knack of turning up at the right place at the right time, with the right contributions.”
Which FACE am I?