The Trust Department
The Department of Transitions and Life Changes

This Department concerns itself with life’s impermanence and flux. Through it all, the ups and the downs, the laughter and tears, the disappointments and rewards…    What do you really find to be trustworthy?

This department explores questions like—

• What and whom do you trust the most?
• Where do you feel secure?
• What/whom must you protect? And what/whom protects you?
  From what?
• What do you expect to hold for the long haul?

Trust is a link to the heart

Trust is active. It requires frequent fresh efforts, watered with honesty and mutual respect. Each person must invest something of who they are in their relationship. Strong or weak, long-term or short, health or toxic.

If we expect our relationships to sustain us, we have to value and nurture them. It’s like a plant that cannot live without the water of attention and the heat of the sun (emotion - warm feelings).

A person-to-person connection will wither without care and caring. Weed out minor verbal assaults, resentments and disharmonies which can undermine even the most loving relationships. Every weed of negativity eliminated is a vote for protecting what you both share—making it shipshape.

Building trust requires constant adjustment and repairs, so the underlying trust stays intact. It demands vigilance against giving casual jabs and insults, that can happen too easily.

Trust maintains bridges in uncertain times

During times of transitions we reflexively take stock of what and whom we trust the most. And we think seriously about what we have to offer to those we care about. Make sure you’re as mindful about the emotional gifts that you have to offer as the financial ones. They often count for more and last longer—maybe a lifetime.

Life changes shift life from the familiar

• New baby
• Marriage
• New Home
• Toward maturity, growth and self-knowledge
• Graduation
• Divorce
• Changing jobs or careers
• Relocating
• Retirement
• Illness in the family or your own
• Death of someone close, facing your own

Celebrate what life presents to you

Transitions needn’ be monumental to be noticed. Some build gradually, without being apparent until they’ve happened. But each of them requires some level of recognition and taking stock. Each causes a ripple that requires adjustments.

Every transition deserves to be an occasion for celebration and gratitude. And celebration brings with it a dedication to the unfolding glorious mystery.

Rejoice, whatever the event. Life is dealing you a fresh hand. And you get to be a major player. So the ultimate trust is that life itself has something in mind that is good for you. And you stand ready to play your part.

_____________________ Copyright © 2005, Off the Page Press
The Joyful Banker - A Parody of all things Financial
Off the Page Press   (719) 395-9450  fax (719) 395-9453
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