While walking through the local department store I happened to nudge a cart that was in front of me. Taking this gesture the wrong way, the temporary owner of this object snarled at me and said "Merry Christmas to you too!" Now, easy as it is to react to such a response I took a breath while walking away and thought about this individual. Perhaps she was having a rough day; I know I would if I were forced to work in such a crowded, high-stress location. Also, perhaps she is used to others storming through in a brazen fashion caring little about the lowly employees.

I understand now that this world improves not by falling in line and reacting in the typical fashion, but by taking a leap forward and correcting the imbalance. The world as I see it has a serious leadership deficiency and I find that it is those of us out here with eyes to see and the will to act to fill in this void. Leadership is not control over others. Leadership is your ability to control you. Other people are likely to then follow and learn from your wisdom.

So, if you find yourself in such a predicament and are about to react, take a step back and be the one to make Christmas Merry!