WINNER WINNER

Cross-Country running and racing isn’t for everyone, including myself and probably you. Let’s leave it to the younger generation eh. Last week a grandson from Mount Maunganui won the Arataki School Year 6 Cross-Country race. Patch is a competitive athlete and was determined to finish in the top 5. Footage of the last 50 metres shows Patch winning the race! His mates are not far behind. 
Patch’s mum and dad Ruth and Jake watched the race and can be heard encouraging their son and other athletes. Nice. We, including his brother and sister and extended family were very proud of him. 
A photo of Patch after the race made me even prouder, as Patch can be seen comforting and encouraging an exhausted mate. Such an appropriate time to show empathy and compassion. I love that he was mindful not only of his own success, but also the welfare of others. The school motto of Growing hearts and minds Whakatipuhia ngā Manawa me ngā Hinengaro was celebrated for sure that afternoon.

POINTS TO PONDER
We are all running a race. It’s called life. Are you encouraging yourself and others to finish to the best of your/their abilities? If only we realised how many people are cheering us on too!
Please don’t be a parent that criticises your children from the sidelines when they are trying so hard to be successful. It’s not fair and has the potential to do a lot of harm.
You can win the race of life without coming first. People will remember you for your caring actions, not for ‘having the most toys’.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In Your Face

Sometimes being kind doesn’t seem to work and when this happens it can be confusing and hurtful. I recall such a time… Driving on a main arterial route in Hamilton I noticed ahead of me a man pushing his car. I pulled my car over to the side of the road and ran over to help. Placing my hands on the boot I pushed too. The car was on a slight uphill incline, so my help was surely going to make a difference.  You know that sense you have when something isn’t quite right with the world. Well, unexpectedly he curtly said “Get your hands off my car!” Startled, I  replied. “Excuse me?” Making sure I heard correctly he said in a more forceful voice. “I told you once. I don’t want your help. Go away!”  I backed away, bewildered. I couldn’t understand why he wanted to push his car by himself. I just wanted to do the right thing. To help him. POINTS to PONDER Sometimes our desire to help isn’t wanted or appreciated. Get over yourself if this happens.  We do not know what...
Read more

BELONGING

I’m reading a book ‘Belonging’ by Owen Eastwood (2021). Owen has Irish and Māori descendants. He has a wonderfully considered understanding of whakapapa (genealogy) which means the tracing of lines of inheritance from our ancestors/descendants - it is also about our links to the land (whenua) and our connections to people and our relationships with them. But what if we don’t belong for a time? In my career in education spanning 45 years, I’ve experienced a workplace where I was ostracised, maligned and sidelined. This has possibly happened to you. I was also micromanaged and bullied. Highly stressed and feeling a failure, Val would watch me leave for work and worry about my wellbeing. Not anymore. Without the unwavering support and encouragement of a number of colleagues, Val’s unconditional love and knowing that I was safe and secure with family and friends then I’m not sure where I would be today.  Today I belong. I believe in myself, my ideas and know I am worthy. I’m part of so...
Read more

BLAH de BLAH BLAH?

It may surprise you that I enjoy talking with people…  For many years I had a stutter and talking was a form of torture. Now I’m rarely too busy for a chat and a laugh (Making up for lost time perhaps). Val loves to have a chat too and I love the way she makes friends  with supermarket check-out staff and is unfailingly welcoming to people she meets.  One of our Raglan neighbours had ordered catering supplies. The bread company personnel had delivered their order and walked towards our home. Val and I were working in our garden, looked up and initiated a conversation with them. A few minutes of banter followed. Then, ‘out of the blue’ they offered us a free box of bread treats. Eh? They must have noticed our confused looks, so they said, “This is our way of thanking you for being kind to us.” We  accepted their kind offer. In a good way we had interrupted their busy day and in their own way they appreciated that.  I’m sure that some readers of my blog will think...
Read more