“We make a living from what we get; we make a life from what we give.”
- George Eliot

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I stumbled on this quote while out shopping the other day (don’t ask!). I thought it was worth reflecting upon, especially at this time of year when some people are embarking on a new way of life. I’m alluding to the New Year’s Resolution. How many of you practice this tradition?

Reflection
I can’t actually remember making a formal resolution. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t trust myself to keep the commitment, and therefore am avoiding disappointment, or because New Year’s Eve doesn’t seem an appropriate time to make such a serious decision.

In any case, while reflecting on this question, and contemplating what step in the right direction I might take at the beginning of 2006, I decided I would like to step up to my higher self, and be more supportive of my loved ones in their endeavors. Speaking from personal experience, I find it isn’t always so easy to be encouraging of others’ actions, especially when I feel my own life has been impacted by their decisions. But I’m reminded that nothing has meaning until I give it meaning. My opinion is just that - my opinion. Essentially I can choose to blame someone else’s choices for interfering in my life, or I can deny co-dependency and encourage them, while pursuing my own calling.

Resolution
Taking my resolution at face value, I realize how I do anything is how I do everything. Acknowledging the interconnectedness of absolutely everything, being supportive means being supportive of everyone, on every level. I must be supportive of myself, and my decisions, as well. Strangely enough, this is often the most difficult thing for many of us to do. We allow our egos to second guess our true feelings, and live in fear of pursuing our dreams. Do I really know what I’m doing? How will I handle the changes in my lifestyle? What if it doesn’t work out? What will others think? The cautionary voices inside our heads are endless. And so, too often, we deny ourselves the opportunity to really excel. I don’t mean that in the typical judgmental, egotistical way. By excelling, I mean following our true calling, doing that which comes from the heart, or rather our very soul. This kind of excellence allows us to use our innate talents to benefit our world, and experience joy. I believe that by doing that which we were meant to do is the only way we can ever find joy. This is more than a fleeting happiness. This is a feeling that everything is right with our world, despite what might be going on in the world around us.

Contemplation
So much for making a New Year’s resolution! There’s so much to think about considering the application of said resolution. Life is a journey, and therefore I prefer to apply principles as I learn them. Implementing them on a predetermined schedule doesn’t work for me. I’ve got far too many changes to make in my life. If I wait to put up the sails on my personal development boat only once each year as the New Year clock strikes midnight, I’m going to have to live a very long time to get anywhere on my journey! I’ll never join the rest of the fleet at that rate. Sure, slow and steady does win the race, but steady is the operative word here. As Eliot suggests in the introductory quote, we’ve got to continually give something in order to have a life worth living. Changing and developing on an ongoing basis is a way of giving to ourselves, so that we may have the wherewithal to give to others.

Speaking of giving, you can thank Santa for the following book recommendation: I received in my stocking a copy of “Stillness Speaks” by Eckart Tolle, whose first bestseller, “The Power of Now”, I’ve previously mentioned. This compilation of short simple pieces gives us direction for moving beyond our active minds to the transformational stillness within. It’s one of those books you can read in its entirety, or pick up from time to time to read and contemplate a passage or two.

Relaxation
Further on the subject of giving, did you give yourself some time to relax and enjoy the holidays? I had an amazing, but unusual Christmas this year, as Blair and I traveled to the Sunshine Coast of B.C. to celebrate with our oldest daughter. It’s seldom that we leave home for the holidays, but in the last 7 or 8 years it has also been seldom that we get to spend this time with her. Once again she was unable to come to us, and since the rest of our children also had alternate plans for much of the Christmas festivities, we decided it was time to accept her invitation and go to her.

What a good decision that turned out to be! We very much enjoyed our time in beautiful Sechelt, and the weather was phenomenal! Yes, it did rain some, but it was sporadic, and hey, it was warm. Blair totally enjoyed the hours (believe me, it was hours) he spent lounging in the back yard hot tub overlooking Porpoise Bay. If you walk into Corbins and notice someone resembling a prune, that would be Blair. When it comes to hot tubs, he believes in nurturing himself, and what else are holidays for?

Direction
Well, the holidays are over for now, and it’s back to business as usual at Corbins. We’re here to serve you and your business. Please let us know how we can help. We look forward to hearing from you in 2006.

For your success,

Team Corbin
 

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