Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

The New Year Reflection Thing

Waiting for the year

 

 

Standing at the threshold of a collective moment: The first day of the new year- Welcoming the unknown future.

 

"Participate in your divine Presence."

How often have I thought of it since I heard it said several years ago? Usually during the first of the year, and also when I am being a grump dog about something that is annoying me which is usually ten times a day. To participate in my divine self… Or at least try. But often even trying doesn't register, and I resort to being plain me and shake my head, "Will I ever learn?" I am about as close to being divine as living on the moon.

Participate.

"To be present to our divine being, that which is holy, which uniquely connects us to one another. To put our divine presence in front of us, to let it guide us."

And yet I easily walk the other way nine times out of ten. Giving reasons why it is okay to be lead by plain me.

And yet each new year's day for the brief moment that it is I reflect on the abundant love I have been given, of my beautiful family and friends that have come into my life. I would think I would be a more loving person considering, and yet I can say I have not made much progress.

Will this year be any different?

Only if I make a concentrating effort to change my ways.

And that my friend is harder than giving up gluten, meat, dairy, sugar, wine and the brocante.

 

Comments

17 responses to “The New Year Reflection Thing”

  1. Jacklynn Lantry

    I SO understand what you are saying in this post. I struggle with this issue on a daily (maybe hourly) basis. Oftentimes the “tail wags the dog” in my life. I do not know the answer. Daily meditation? Therapy? Start a support group? Commit to journaling? I do not know, but your post has made me renew my commitment to dedicate this year to not repeating past, but growing beyond it. Thank you for that Miss C.

    Reply
  2. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    Somehow, with that sweet empty chair, I thought of Annie and expected that to be what this blog would be about. I love “remembering” her.

    Reply
  3. g

    as jacklynn said above- I could have written this post in the same exact manner with the exact sentiments….I dedicate my intentions to this every morning and often throughout the day….. I am tried almost constantly and succeed very little of the time-even very little is an exaggeration how about almost never-yet I refuse to give up the intention the goal-I think that we are aware is the first step-now let us begin the journey-

    Reply
  4. nancy w.

    Some years ago (after retirement) I looked at my life and thought “Now what?” I realized that when I had too many obligations, responsibilities I simply went through the day on autopilot. I just did what I thought was expected of me and called it good. It did not seem enough so I made a decision to approach/live each day consciously. To make every choice a real conscious decision. Can’t say I do that all the time but I remind myself to try. Now I mostly do what I believe to be the right thing and when I backslide I don’t beat myself up. Just start again. Hope that helps somehow.

    Reply
  5. Janet Eiffel

    You said in this post……
    “I would think I would be a
    more loving person considering”
    Even though I only know you -via-
    email and your blog, I believe
    you to be one of the most loving
    people I’ve ever had the pleasure
    of knowing.
    I suspect you participate in your
    divine self more often than you realize.

    Reply
  6. Toni

    Corey-
    I think you are being hard on yourself. I think you are a special spiritual person that has an awareness many do not – your love of the brocante is evidence of it I am sure.
    I pray. Prayer helps me be more present and aware of the opportunities to do the right things and even when it’s too late and I’ve chosen poorly.
    Through prayer, I believe truths are revealed to us and we can try to ignore those truths, but if we are sincere, then we cannot.
    If we ever meet, I will tell you how it turned out for me!
    Bonne Annee!

    Reply
  7. Star

    Like Jacklynn and G, I feel that your thoughts expressed here mirror my own. May each of us step into the space of this new year with renewed purpose and confidence that His hand will guide as we navigate the days ahead.

    Reply
  8. Shelley Noble

    Can’t imagine a more loving person than you, Corey. I experience the Divine running through all that you do. The way you befriended Annie, the way your husband and children are better for having you in their daily lives, the way you express Divinity in posts. These are true sermons to me because they so often carry the highest of perspectives.

    Reply
  9. carol

    Couldn’t say it much better than Shelley. Happy New Year, dear Corey; a year of new beginnings.

    Reply
  10. Jennie

    Echo everyone elses thoughts about you Corey. I have never met you but your divine spirit shines through. Sometimes your words, because they are poetry to me, get me through the day. I hope I am not hogging your divine spirit but that it is flowing to all of us.

    Reply
  11. Marilyn

    You ARE participating in your divine presence already! With the effort and time you make every day to create this divine blog, with its wonderful writing and beautiful photography – even when you are away or sick in bed you always give this. Especially for me – it enhanced my wonderful trip in France in the fall and after 11/13 you really awakened my compassion for the Syrian refugees in Europe and you refused to condemn all Muslims for the bloodshed in Paris. You are divine.

    Reply
  12. g

    THANK YOU STAR…I needed that!

    Reply
  13. Irene Thomas

    Your last sentence made me smile, Corey. In my life most major changes seem to “happen” without any effort on my part. Last year started out with a disturbing health test, and an email brochure about eating a plant based regime. (I could never give up my protein which I included with every meal to avoid that shaky feeling.) I watched a few movies about the lifestyle. (Too drastic and scary). Later, Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment was published and (SNAP) something changed inside me. I could participate in helping our world in a big way by eating plants. (This was an option I never considered.) I emailed an acquaintance asking for help. All she said was,” Have Fun, Irene”. Fun, this would be way too hard to be FUN. It was as if she knew just how to handle me. By making it FUN. And the challenge of changing my way of cooking and thinking about food has been really exciting for me. My large family still enjoys Sunday Dinner together as usual. I just adjust my own plate. My only effort has been the FUN of learning something entirely new, and the happiness of enjoying positive change. The seems to be how my Higher Power works for me by introducing options I never would have thought of.

    Reply
  14. Paulita

    Corey, No matter what you may see as your shortcomings, you are an inspiration and you cause many of us to reflect and to live in our moments as well. Thanks for your pictures and words. Happy New Year

    Reply
  15. Janet Eiffel

    I am a woman beyond a “certain age” now.
    At the age of 12 I had a life altering
    experience. I have been a vegetarian
    ever since. I am not a vegan.
    I have one simple rule.
    I will not eat anything that had to
    die for me to eat it.
    The difficult part of this rule is
    weeding out all the seemingly
    vegetarian products that have hidden
    (unneeded) animal ingredients lurking.
    I could go on for hours on this fact!
    I wish you luck and health.
    “Be vegetarian—save the planet.”

    Reply
  16. Toni

    Your blog is one where I always want to read your readers comments! So insightful and thoughtful!

    Reply
  17. La Contessa

    WELL…………….that was a GOOD READ for this wet RAINY Morning in CALIFORNIA!!
    I gave up the GLUTEN……………I will SURVIVE.
    Give up sugar…………maybe but doubtful.
    Wine………WHY?
    Brocante……….I have basically STOPPED shopping as the doors to my shop have closed but I still enjoy looking.If I had YOUR FLEAS to shop it would be different………I have owned or have all that is about over here………guess that says I am getting up there in age!I have found it to be VERY DISAPPOINTING these past few years………….
    YOU ARE DIVINE.I have met YOU.
    WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
    NOT SKINNY ENOUGH……………?Let it go.Fat makes one look younger…….NOT THAT YOUR FAT!YOUR STYLE your glasses……YOUR HAIR……..it ALL speaks to me!
    The FACT YOU HAVE FRENCH HUBBY AROUND says it ALL………….KEEP ON BEING YOU!
    XO

    Reply

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