All great discoveries, like all monumental decisions, involve an unearthing of fear and trust.

The key to the treasure chest is knowing to toss all fear and clasp the trust. It is similar to locating that elusive lost mitten. The frustration and impatience comes from believing you can’t, won’t and losing all hope you ever will.

We know good relationships are built on trust. I believe great relationships are trust. It is the precious riches of confidence, belief, faith, certainty, assurance and conviction that leave no room for fear.

Unearthing these valuables isn’t always easy, for they are the veins of gold too often surrounded and encased within the solid rock of trepidation. Removing the rock requires either a steady chipping away of beliefs that can be threatening and cause alarm or it can be a single deep blow, cracking open the core emotion imprisoning the fortune or soul.

Fear is a stopper! It is the lock trapping the seeker. And locks, like stone surrounding gold, act as a form of protection; but their role is actually one of isolation, separation and boundary. Trust is the key to opening that fear prison. It creates belonging, connection and total freedom.

Finding trust is a difficult task, for it, like self-love, is something we arrive with at our birth, yet lose in varying degrees somewhere along life’s path. The truth of the matter comes down to the fact that it isn’t the absence of trust in others terrifying us, but actually the lack of trust in ourselves.

Until we discover and embrace the mitten of trust in ourselves, we will always be searching for it in others … and, like the proverbial mitten, it is easily misplaced.

Trust and value can be discovered however, without a complex treasure map, by asking oneself, “What’s under that?” Upon reflection and an accurate answer, ask the question again, “What’s under that?” Then, keep asking until you reach the heart of the matter. Is the core lock keeping you from trust…fear? Do me a favor — toss it!

Now, the next step is utilization. It does you no good to horde treasure and not use it for the benefit of others.

That being the case, we have a gem of a website, two, in fact, that are available to us. The first www.discovercasscounty.com is all about the mother lode of things to do, places to see, events, including tree lighting ceremonies, shopping, dining, calendar and treasures galore. If you want to be in the know or be known, get in touch with Laurel Ward (contact@discovercasscounty.com) and she will make sure it happens.

A month lead time is preferred and guarantees timely updates to the site. Now, the second nugget of gold is www.casscountybusiness.com, which can be accessed through the Discover Cass County URL but has its own page. The site offers a search option, directory, deals and offers, calendar and the opportunity to promote your business in a professional and affordable manner.

Lastly, I want to mention the pop up Christmas Store is now open through Dec. 23 at the former Treasures Down Under next to The Smile Center downtown thanks to Dr. Pecina’s generous offer to use the space. It is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. all days, except Sunday and Wednesday, and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

There are lots of great handcrafted local gifts. If you are looking for a beautiful fruit and gift basket that you can create, contact Joann at Broadway Cafe 445-2122 by Dec. 18 to guarantee delivery by Dec. 22.

 

CeeCee Wilson, is Organizer for Cass Can, Inc. and owner of Last Tagine in Paris, LLC