'Aspire not to have more, but to be more.'

"Aspire not to have more, but to be more."
- Archbishop Oscar Romero

Known as the "Bishop of the Poor" for his passionate defense of poor
farmers' rights in El Salvador and for his courageous opposition to the genocide,
Oscar Romero died for his beliefs at the hands of an unknown assassin in 1980.

Today (11/23/2007) is a day better known as Black Friday. You get up early to acquire more stuff for less money...or so the retailers would like you to believe. Judging by how crazy it is for people to shop at these ridiculous hours of the morning to buy things for others, you would think that people just don't have enough. Obviously, this is not the case, unless you live in a third world country. Everyone in the industrialized nations do not need to acquire any more possessions.

You may want to consider other choices for the holidays. Give of yourself.

Aspire defined: to long, aim, or seek ambitiously;
be eagerly desirous, esp. for something great or of high value.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=aspire

What does it take to aspire to be more?

1. Learn what it takes for you to be more.
2. Know what your carbon footprint shows about your consumption.
   http://www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp#
3. Look at your life as a giver.
4. Be empathetic.
5. Set goals and plan objectives to take action.
6. Stop shopping for everything (except necessities) for 90 days.
7. Share your life with someone instead of buying them something.
8. Teach what you are learning.
   
9. Seize the moment and share ideas about your aspirations.