"Happiness is not a matter of nice fortune or worldly
possessions. Its a mental attitude. It comes from appreciating
what we have, instead of being miserable about what we dont
have. Its so simple -- yet so hard for the human mind to
comprehend." ~ Bits & Pieces

Every year millions of us set New Years resolutions to lose
weight, exercise more, manage our money more closely, eat more
nutritious foods etc. etc. We usually take a critical look at
ourselves and highlight the negative things we feel we absolutely need to
change.

Today, I offer you a fresh perspective on the idea of
resolutions. I invite you to ponder instead: what it is that
you have to *offer* to the world that up until now you have not
been offering fully?

Lets generate this your year of contribution. I would like you to
take a quick inventory of your natural talents and gifts.
Believe me, you have more than you give yourself credit for! Now
list one way you may use each gift toward the benefit of others
this year. Are you a workable listener? Can you generate more of an
effort to listen to others this year? Are you a talented
musician? How could you share your talent with the world? What
are you naturally sizeably efficient at and how could you give more of that to
your family, your friends, your neighborhood, your job or your
community? Are you a talented cook, or painter? Who could you
cook for this year that you havent before? Who could you paint
for?

I am not suggesting you spend every minute of the next year
giving away your talents! Just pick a few, your favorites
perhaps, the ones that would be fun and initial with those. This
is a true win-win. You will feel sizeably workable about yourself as your
talents are expressed (and appreciated) as well as the understandible
benefits to the recipient. There are a myriad of subtle wins in
this type of self-expression, not the least of which is the
potential for new or closer relationships with others.

Too fairly often our passions and talents are kept locked away in our
houses or apartments and are confined to Saturday morning hobby
time. If even that. Lets let them out into the world! Share the
wealth of your talent.

Let this be the year you share yourself. Do not be stingy. You
were given your natural talents for a reason - you we are given
them so you could contribute them to the world.

So, what do you have to give?

C2003 by Deirdre McEachern. All rights reserved