A Glass Full of Water

We swim all year round. Val swam with hundreds of jellyfish a few days ago in the Raglan harbour. I didn’t. Fortunately I was teaching at Te Uku School and fortunately the jellyfish were harmless!  We’ve swum with stingrays at Taiharuru, Whangarei Heads and stingrays in our harbour too. You also don’t want to have an unplanned and unwanted swim with crocodiles…  Back in 1985 our oldest daughter Sarah (then aged 5), a friend and I were in a vehicle crossing a river in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. Dieter was driving and forgot to engage the 4 wheel drive function. We lurched and slid nearer to the crocodile infested waters. Water poured around our legs. Miraculously he managed to wrestle back control and drive to safety. Whew. Much closer to home and now in Napier (a few weeks ago) Val and I watched as the vibrant swimming community of Ahuriri met together at dawn for an ocean swim. There was no rush to get in the water. Not because it was cold, but becaus...

Earlier this year our youngest daughter Ruth set a running goal of 50 kms by doing 15 laps around Mount Maunganui, Tauranga. Many of her friends loved the idea and volunteered to run with her or be a supporter, or both on the day.  So, where’s the joy in putting your body and mind through such an event? How could a run be fun? Well, last Saturday Val and I (the parentals) joined her friends and their children in ‘The Ruth Classic’. As each lap was completed sweaty hugs, slippery handshakes and exaggerated air kisses were in abundance. There were so many laughs as joy was expressed in simply being together.  Further joy was evident in runners setting then revising up their numbers of laps completed. At one stage, Ruth was almost getting too far ahead of herself with the number of laps still needing to be completed. Jake, Ruth’s husband, gave her some great advice, “One lap at a time. Don’t think too far ahead.” 5 laps to go… 4, 3, 2, 1… one last corner, one set of stairs, one s...

Have you seen ‘Patch Adams’ (1998) starring the late comic genius Robin Williams? In my opinion, one of the funniest and poignant comedy/drama movies of all time. It’s essentially about kindness.  Irreverent and antiestablishment, the movie shows the absurdity of bureaucracy and the negative effects of cynicism, apathy, arrogance and indifference. Humour, compassion and empathy are shown as character strengths not weaknesses. The final scene is not to be missed! Now to a Patch we know in person. One of our grandsons. I asked our youngest daughter Ruth why her oldest son was called Patch. Ruth and her husband Jake (before they had kids) were in London in 2009. They had a meal and watched Patch Adams. They both loved the movie. Outside the movie theatre they met an African American man who reminded them of the actor Michael Clarke Duncan who played John Coffey in the movie ‘The Green Mile’. The man they met was one of the nicest people they came across on their OE. His name was Noble...

Hands up who likes meetings? Cue sound effects of crickets chirping and a dropped mic.  A friend Andy works in a large Hamilton workplace. They normally have 1 meeting a week at 3.30pm. When needed, two meetings a week are allowed but not mandated.They have only had 6 full staff meetings to date this year. Instead of team meetings being held mid afternoon there is also a lunchtime option. Simple.  Being kind to people is about meeting their needs. The main need for staff is to have more time to replenish their energy, so to be able to give the best of themselves to their clients, day after day, after day.  I should also mention that they set a new record for their latest board meeting. Drum roll please... 24 minutes. Woah. The most commonly heard phrase in the meeting was, “As read.”  Staff love to work without the tyranny of ‘tired out time’ and ‘death by power point presentations’.  Prescribed outcomes look after themselves as staff are given more time to be r...

Visiting is defined as ‘to go and spend time with them’. Do we act on a kind thought or two about them? Is visiting now viewed as a bit like watching the 6pm news? Who does that anymore? We do! Some say, we haven’t got time. Make time. Val and I recently had a Raglan pub meal with a colleague from school, Mary- Rose and her dad Pete who was visiting from Whangarei. Our conversations ebbed and flowed and we collectively realised that we have a lot in common -  it’s so enjoyable to share insights, stories and laughs. I like to visit our school leadership offices, the reception office, the caretakers shed and classrooms at Te Uku School. I don’t have an agenda or want anything - but experience tells me that they are opportunities to praise and encourage. Such comments are always appreciated, valued and fuel for a busy day. Living in Raglan means that ‘the world’ ie domestic and international tourists visit the town. They often come to my favourite cafe. Many fascinating thoughts are s...