Dear Santa Claus, I Promise...
by Irene Schiff
"We are sometimes pursuing something, but often do not know what it actually is."
So many promises written in Christmas notes
once! They were delicate and full of golden sparkles. The promises or the
notes?
Both! "I promise to be
good, to always do my homework, to obey my mom and dad" and in that moment we
really believed it and gathered all our energies to reach our goals at least
until the following day.
Then things changed, the little notes have almost
disappeared, but good intentions have remained, at least some of them, caught up
in the magical atmosphere of the Holidays. And even if the years have passed,
good resolutions, at least those made during Christmas time, still have to them
a sense of eternal youth. They have changed into objectives and strategies,
terms definitely far less romantic, but the desire to change something, to
improve oneself, influenced by the old ritual of changing the calendar, has
remained the same. But, what do we want? What have the electric train and the
walking doll been substituted with? From a
job promotion or even more simply or importantly the necessity of finding a job;
from the strange contradiction of wanting to lead the life of someone single to
having a family, from hoping to have the winning lotery ticket; or from a desire
to search for introspection; from the need for status symbols generating envy in
others or from the need to do things for others; from the curiosity to discover
new countries or regions near our home? Are these contradictions of this
modern era or simply a need to experience the wavering feelings within us? What
do men and women want today? What do young people and older adults want given
that, as Seneca wisely said "nemo tam senex est, ut improbe unum diem speret"
meaning that "no one is too old to be hoping for another day"?
Test: Tomorrow is there awaiting you! What are your resolutions for the year 2006?
1) "Life is a dream", this was said
by someone who is:
a) pessimistic
b) optimistic
c) a
sleepwalker
2) Would you like others to see you
speak with:
a) soccer player Del Piero
b) the President of the
Republic
c) singer Gianni Morandi
3) You realize you did something
wrong:
a) you pretend that nothing happened
b) you are terribly
ashamed
c) you make a joke
4) Someone bought a newspaper; what
page will he or she read:
a) sports
b) business
c) front
page
5) You arrive late to
an appointment:
a) "I had to conclude some business"
b) "to
excuse myself, I'll offer the drinks"
c) "I had an important
meeting"
6) To infringe something
is:
a) useful
b) wrong
c) exciting
7) Someone is talking about a very
rare flower; you think:
a) "I wonder what it would smell
like"
b) "I would like to have it"
c) "who would have it?"
8) You have met friendly people on
vacation:
a) you keep in touch
b) friendship is over when
vacation is over
c) you wait for them to call
9) You have to work in a circus; you
choose to be:
a) a clown
b) a lion-tamer
c) an
acrobat
10) To do overtime
is:
a) a waste of free time
b) a way to be better known on the
job
c) a way to make a little more money
11) You would have liked to
be:
a) Gianni Agnelli
b) a roman emperor
c) Alberto
Sordi
12) If you had to open a shop, you
would:
a) have few objects, but of high quality
b) have a wide
choice of things
c) often change the style
13) To live well it is better to
know:
a) what you have to do
b) what you must not do
c) what
others do
14) A lovely vase is
found:
a) in a museum
b) at home
c) in a shop
15) Some people are teasing
you:
a) you play along
b) you get annoyed
c) you tease them
too
SCORE | |||
Question | A | B | C |
1) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
2) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
3) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
4) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
5) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
6) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
7) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
8) | 3 | 1 | 2 |
9) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
10) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
11) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
12) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
13) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
14) | 3 | 2 | 1 |
15) | 2 | 1 | 3 |
EXPLANATIONS
FROM 45 TO 35
POINTS:
LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Borrowing Benigni's film
title, it can be said that what you are looking for is to enjoy life at its
best: work, family, free time, studies. The order is not significant because, to
you, all these factors have the same degree of importance. Your intention is to
have a good quality of life, experience with commitment and serenity, and that
is an excellent recipe.
FROM 34 TO 26 POINTS:
THE STICK OF COMMAND
Power attracts you, whether it is about work or
your private life. To be recognized as the team leader without whom it is not
possible to go ahead is very important to you. This can be experienced in a
positive way if you are a person able to take on responsabilities and at the
same time able to respect the freedom and personalities of others. It all
depends on you.
FROM 25 TO 15
POINTS:
ABOVE ALL, THE IMAGE
Your dream? That everyone
talk about you, about your success and the fact that you made it. You need
objects that show you and others that you can satisfy your every wish. Are you
sure that behind this need to show others that you are financially comfortable
is not hiding the need for self-confidence and worthiness?