Meaning and Purpose

Hi Readers, 

Looks like I have time on my hands as I'm writing this post barely two days after my last one, but whether I publish it tonight, the last day of the year remains to be seen. 

It could be very lengthy, or just a brief hit in the park, let's just see how it goes.

Speaking of the last day of the year, some of you might be wondering "Why the hell is he spending New Year's Eve doing this?"

Well, back in the day, Jen and I would panic if we didn't have plans for each weekend, and it would have been rare to find us at home on weekends. The same applied to New Year's Eve. There was always somewhere to go, and if there wasn't we'd create somewhere to go. Fast forward many years after kids and we were content to just spend the night at home together, and usually be tucked up in bed way before midnight!! That's the circle of life!

So here I am, sitting in my caravan in the backyard having a quiet home brew ginger beer and doing something that I really enjoy. In reality, this is a perfect way for me to end the year.

This post will be a collection of a few things that have come my way in the past few days, so in a way I am 'clearing my desk.'

In no particular order, here I go.

In a recent post I mentioned that I was reading Travis Boak's book, one that I have found to be very hard to put down. As usual, when I read books, as soon as I read something that really gets me thinking I close the book for the day and just let what I have read sink in. This has happened with this book. It's also why it takes me so long to read the books that I enjoy most, because I never want to stop reading them.

He speaks about doing certain things in training, then questions how it will help him on the field. He also transfers this to real life, something that could apply to us. Once he knew how these things could help him, he no longer did them just because he had to, because he could now connect value to them. He discovered that everything has to have some meaning or purpose.

Readers, I'm not suggesting that you need to go out and practice your football skills, even though I'd love to do it myself!! What this says to me is that whatever we do in life, if we occasionally stop to think of how we can add value to what we do then we just can't lose.

By making what we do count, and being more aware of the value we are adding, surely this can't be too much of a bad thing?

When I was teaching I could really have a crack at this and try to make the learning experiences more engaging for the kids, and myself. There were just so many ways that I could add value to what I was doing by being more prepared, responsive, less reactive and more tolerant. But now that I'm retired, how can I continue to add value to what I do?

To put this into perspective, look how easy it can be...

Over the past two days I have been more aware of this and put it into practice with the simplest of tasks and have been amazed at how such simple actions can make one feel so good. Try it!

Driving into town - letting people into your lane (as long as you don't disrupt the traffic!), not stressing about someone cutting you off or nearly bumping into you. Not worrying about the traffic, because in reality, YOU are the traffic too! Not getting the park you wanted.

Interactions with store workers - just giving a smile, a thank you, or "Have a good day". You'd be amazed at how some of them react so happily.

Doing tasks around the house - Rather than bitching and moaning about having to mop/sweep/clean, just think about the end result. Work towards a greater outcome ( and play lots of your favourite music really loud at the same time!)

Doing rehab - I do find it monotonous and tedious after so many years, but I know that if I don't do it then things will be harder. In my last post I mentioned how I try to focus on how it is helping me and that changes my mindset dramatically.

The list of other things is endless!!

Readers, you could come up with a huge list of things that bore your socks off, but when you just add that little bit of "Value Adding Spice", you can turn a boring situation into a rewarding one. Sometimes the challenge of turning the most mediocre of tasks into an enjoyable one is a rewarding challenge in itself.

Just from reflecting on Boak's response now has me asking myself quite a lot "Is this the best that I can do?", "Can I do this better?". Not always, but at least it makes me more aware, and sometimes that spurs me on just a little bit more.

The same applies to my posts here, as I always feel that I need to do better, so I am always looking for new ideas.

If you have some, please list them in the comments tab at the bottom of the post, I take on all suggestions eagerly!!

Now for something completely different, a change of direction so to speak.

This morning I was in the supermarket, and as I was approaching the self checkout area I could see this particular worker standing at the entrance. I have noticed her there over the years and have always thought that she looked so stern, and was not someone to mess with.

With my new mindset, I thought that this was a good opportunity to "add value". As I went past her she looked at me in her usual stern way, which is fine by me. I smiled and said "Good morning", not expecting a reply, and before I could go much further she said to me " You go to the cemetery don't you?"

This sort of shocked me and I stopped and said "Are you talking about the White Hills cemetery?"

She said that was right, and I could just tell that she was up for a chat. I told her that I did go up there a lot and she said that she had seen me a lot sitting in my chair as she was often in a white car nearby, visiting her deceased parents. As soon as she said that I could instantly recall the white car that was often there at the same time.

We then chatted for a few minutes, both sharing the same names of other people we have met up there. It seems that the cemetery has become a great place for people to meet others who all go there for the same reason. One bloke who I have met recently has half a mouth of teeth, always has a can of Jim Beam in his hand, looks as rough as anything but is the most delightful fella and is nothing like the image projected by how he looks. It just shows how judgemental we can be. I'm not saying that the White Hills cemetery is a version of Tinder, but it is a place where I have met some lovely people who know when to approach you, and when to give you time and space.

Now if I could just lasso that lady who pesters us all with her dogs up there...🤬

Now another tangent.

In my last post, if you read it you may recall that I am now looking towards my future as a blank canvas, as I just don't have any real plans. Well I do have some, but I'm still living by the seat of my pants at times! I didn't plan on retiring on my own, so lots of adjustments have been, and will continue to be made.

Lo and behold, the next day I get a link from a close friend where a lady who had lost her husband 3 years ago was a bit lost still until the realisation came that she needed to try and stop dwelling on what had happened and now focus on what she could do in the future with her life. Like her, I feel the guilt of trying to start a new life, but realise that until we do we are always dwelling on the past rather than aiming for a brighter future.

This will take some adjusting, and even over the past 24 hours I have made a choice that might cause some to wonder about my sanity, but as it only affects me, no-one needs to worry at all!! Stay tuned...

And to my friend who sent me the link, and was a little worried about doing so...Don't worry, I loved it!!!

Finally, and this part I write with a heavy heart. 🥺

A close friend who I went to boarding school with many years ago has had some bad news recently in regards to his health, and tonight I got the message from him that things have gone downhill. It looks like he hasn't much time left and that he now needs to focus on his remaining time being with his family. The way that he has approached this challenge has been inspirational and it breaks our hearts to hear that time is against him. Having lost a partner in a similar way I just feel so much for him and his family.

When things like this happen it just makes me more aware of the fragility of life and how we just can't leave things sitting on the shelf for too long. Which is why I just keep making what seem to be rash decisions that leave others shaking their heads, but sit easily with me and our boys.

And as one of our boys and his family have moved overseas today for the next few years I am now already planning more overseas travel. I'd always thought I'd go overseas again, maybe not this soon! So the caravan will get used, but I'll always have one eye on the passport for sure!

As I said Readers, not much of a post around an idea, but hopefully just a prompt on how by just thinking about ways we can give more meaning and purpose to some of the very basic things we do, we might make the mundane more enjoyable.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Until my next post,

Cheers 😁