For several years around this time, I begin collecting all my thoughts to put together an article discussing the upcoming year in financial markets. As a result of the generous leeway Postmedia’s editor gives me, around this time of year, I also write an article — a Christmas message of sorts — to everyone. Over time, I have come to give equal thought (if not more) deciding on what sort of Christmas message I would like to write to everyone. This is that Christmas message!
Back in around November, for the first time since my daughter Mia joined Girl Guides (she’s actually an ember right now!,) I had to miss her advancement/graduation ceremony; our new family member, our dog Nala, was recovering from a vet visit and needed someone to stay back home to take care of her. With Nala sleeping, and me feeling sorry that I couldn’t attend Mia’s ceremony, I decided to google the Girl Guides ceremony online. Below is a reprint of the young ladies’ oath:
“I promise to do my best, to be true to myself, my beliefs and Canada. I will take action for a better world and respect the Guiding Law. As an Ember, I am honest and kind; I help take care of the world around me.”
I’ve heard Mia and the others recite this oath above on two other occasions. However I think when I listened to it live, while at the same time trying to film and take pictures of the ceremony, its message was not as impactful, given my attempt at “multitasking” during what was a special moment for Mia. This year, however, being at home by myself (while Nala slept) and reading the oath a couple of times to myself, with no other distractions, the message resonated with me much more.
It is a very simple message, yet at the same time a very powerful and impactful one. So why I have I chosen to highlight it as my Christmas message? Well, you’d be wrong if you said it was to make it easier for the guides to sell more cookies, though that’s always appreciated by the group!
Seriously though, I think everyone, as an adult, as a parent or as a grandparent, needs to hear (or read) the Girl Guides oath, especially in the times we now live in. For some, the oath will be a reminder, for some a reinforcer, and perhaps for a few it will be a new message, but the point is, we should all review it and more importantly do our best to act on it. It’s not for me to suggest what that action may be, but hopefully after reading the oath, you can in your own small way “take action for a better world” and “help take care of the world around me” however you choose to define the world around you!
Sometimes short and simple messages are the best ones. (Maybe I should take a page out of that book while writing my investment articles!)
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! But for the new year, let’s not just hope for a better one, but rather as the guides say, let’s “take action” to do our part to make sure 2025 is a better year than the last.
