A Glass Full of Water

Last week’s blog story was about drawing with a purpose. Today’s blog story is about painting with a purpose.  For about 5 years, once a week, my mum Mary took painting classes for maximum security prisoners at Auckland Prison (Paremoremo). She was accompanied by my dad Peter and older sister Linda. Talking with Linda last week, some fascinating insights were shared about my mum’s voluntary work with men that were ‘inside’ for a long time.  There was always a good turnout of between 12 -20 participants. Linda described mum as always being herself (all 5 foot 2 of her). She was quietly spoken and earned the prisoners respect because she wasn’t there to judge and knew how to teach something she loved doing herself and was good at.  Mum had the ability to draw talent out of anybody. She wouldn’t hear and accept the words, “I can’t paint.” She was there to love them and to teach them.  Mum knew that the men needed kindness as they were angry and hurt and paying a price f...

Have you ever seen those amazing 3D chalk drawings on footpaths? They look so realistic and last for such a short time.  The other day I watched a dad draw small, stylised chalk pictures (in a row) for his daughter. She was tiny (I guess around two years old) and her head and smile followed his drawing hand. I was intrigued by his ability to draw freehand perfect circles and capture the essence of a boat, car, truck, house and sun. There was nothing 3D about these pictures and yet they carried their own beauty. Their beauty was in the moments that were being created. Once finished she used the pictures like a hopscotch game. She hopped and she counted. Backwards and forwards, time and time again. Her dad also called out the objects and she repeated them out loud. So much fun. Great teaching! I then noticed her looking up and it was her turn to point and call out, “Boat!” Sure enough, about 50 metres away was a boat on a trailer. Clever girl. Clever dad. Connections were being made ...

I had a random conversation with a couple of guys a few days ago. One of them in a frustrated voice said, “I don’t watch the bleep (expletive) bleep (expletive) news any more! It’s all bad news.” I couldn’t help but agree, when it seems most of the news is about ‘wars and rumours of wars.’  I followed up our conversation with an unscientific survey of the first 15 news stories on BBC, Radio New Zealand and the New Zealand Herald (All online). The BBC had 11 bad news stories and 4 good news stories. Radio NZ had the same numbers. The NZ Herald had 8 bad and 7 good. So, it would appear that there is more bad news around us than good news. But why is this so?  A conundrum to me is there’s a lot more ‘good’ people in our world doing good things than ‘bad’ people doing bad things, and there’s a lot more kind people in our world than unkind.  The bias of negative news needs to change (Interestingly our community newspapers and school newsletters are full of positive news)....

I asked some friends of differing ages and experiences, What’s the first thing that comes to mind with this statement, ‘That’s what friends do’. Dan said, “A couple of my friends store a few beers at my place at the beginning of the week, ready for our after work conversations in the workshop.” Leanna answered the question with, “My friends remember my birthday!” (It should be said here, that for years, the only birthday I remembered was my twin brothers).  Darcie smiled and then said, “My best friend Jen and I don’t see each other much, but she recently surprised me by booking flights from the south coast of New South Wales (Australia) to see me for two days. Such a crazy girl. But that meant such a lot to me.”  Mary-Anne thought for a few seconds, “My friend dances with me on my house deck in the moonlight.”  I spoke with Michelle and Sue together, their thoughts are combined. “Sue rings me or sees me at exactly the right time. We have known each other for 26 years. We ...

No actual blog story today. Just a few connected thoughts. Being kind is about taking action. It’s seeing a need and doing something, even something that appears insignificant. Now or ‘soon as’ is the best time.  Don’t always tell someone, “If there’s anything I can do, just ask.” Most people don’t ask and the need is still there. Take the initiative and help without being asked.  For example, our Raglan neighbours all help us and we help them. Between us, lawns have been mowed, gardens watered and produce shared, mail and courier parcels collected, rubbish and recycling bins brought in and often because we all like to travel, an eye is kept on neighbouring properties as an extra security measure.  Be prepared to help a neighbour more than once. The sun keeps shining and lawns grow! We make the time to help as this collective kindness comes out of relationship and connection. We know our neighbours but are not nosey. There is no expectation of reward, social media ‘look a...

Two little hands were stuffing a cafe lamington into his mouth. Talk about looking like a chipmunk. His brother watched and nonchalantly bit off huge chunks of his toasted sandwich. Then they tried to talk. Oh my goodness! Bits of food everywhere.  In that moment I thought about how our mum managed to cope with our shenanigans and successfully raise my five siblings, Linda, Chris, Jenny, Cathy, Mike, and me. She and all mums have the hardest job in the world.  Within a minute, the boys chased their food down by slurping on their smoothies in a competition to see who could reach the bottom of their glass first.  Their mum now needed to use the bathroom, which was in a separate building and o ne of her boys had to stay at the table (next to us) as there wasn’t room for everyone. What to do? She asked Val if she could mind him  and Val, without a moments hesitation said, “Sure.” The Mum looked relieved and smiled. The boy looked at Val and nodded his approval.  Lov...