The Art of Framing

"At some point in your life, have you ever encountered a problem?"

A pretty pointless question as the answer will always be a resounding "Yes". The next question is the interesting one and will yield varied results:

"How did you deal with it?"

I, generally, have an ignore-it-for-a-while, to let nature take its course type of reaction. Others may call it the ostrich-in-the-sand response. If it isn't able to be resolved on its own, then volumes of research, reading case studies, on-line help, professional consultations and anything else I can find to throw into the blender will be added to permutate a solution.
We will all have different approaches and each problem in itself will require different tactics to overcome it. It's the approach aspect that I want to narrow in on. I read an interesting article about whether the creative design process could be put down in a structured process. The study followed some ingenious people and discussed each of their methods of approaching a problem and the steps they 'followed' to see if there was some common pattern that could be written down for others to emulate and hopefully achieve similar levels of creative results. What stood out for me in that article was a line from the approach aspect, "Frame your problem differently."

This struck me as quite profound as if you take a picture frame, it actually separates the picture from its surroundings, it puts it in a different context, different to what is around the framing, it hi-lights or gives focal attention to the picture and it also gives a boundary for the picture. Although the article didn't explicitly describe the framing in such a manner, it was immediately apparent to me that this is an excellent strategy to approach problems.

Don't allow the problem to bleed into the rest of your life, give it a boundary that it can't cross. Keep it contained so it cannot affect all aspects of your life. Give it focus so that it can be addressed but not focus to be obsessed. Remember, the problem has a boundary containing it.
Separate the problem from its surroundings, approach it from completely new angles without the distractions of its surroundings. Use whatever insight or knowledge you have to look for alternative solutions. You may have an interest in nature and seen how a bird's wing is shaped and can adopt that to the problem of creating a more aerodynamic bicycle frame. You may have chemical know-how and can adopt that in your culinary hobby. I have seen liquid nitrogen being used creatively in the kitchen because of someone framing the problem differently.

Frames also come in an infinite variety of styles. This speaks to me of how you define the problem. So many times we label the problem in such a way that it seems impossible to resolve. If the frame is changed, perhaps the problem definition could be altered such that it can be addressed. A simple framing example: "I don't earn enough money! With my job, I get a salary that is the market norm and that's all, nothing else I can do!"
Re-framed: "I spend too much money based on my income! Let me review my budget and see what unnecessary expenditure I have and make some adjustments so I can save for what I really need."

If that frame doesn't work out, try different ones till you find one that better defines the problem for you so that you can resolve it. Remember, there is never just one frame that suits a picture, each adds a different aspect to the picture. A different colour may draw attention to different entities within the picture. Different frame profiles suit different style pictures. A modern metallic sharp angled frame wouldn't suit the Mona Lisa and an old ornate wooden carved frame wouldn't suit a modern pop-art type of picture.

Find the frame(s) that suits your problem. There is an art in framing, so don't settle for the first one you try, use some creativity in your approach, you may be surprised at how you end up solving your problem...

How Often Do You Sow?

Reap what you sow

Reap what you sow in your life
Every opportunity awaits the willing
A chance to plant the seeds of hope
Placed in the ground with a purpose

When the seeds grow into serenity
Having a chance to be inspiring
An exhileration of the joys of labor
Then you're prepared for what life is!

Yes, for you'll have that chance to teach
Or learn just by dedicating  yourself
Understanding the benefits...reap what you sow

So in that garden of life...when it's truly seen
Often missed by many...the real spirituality
When you...reap what you sow...each and everyday

David

© afireinthisheart  http://allpoetry.com/poem/6393295-Reap-what-you-sow-by-afireinthisheart

This week seemed quite uneventful in comparison with the latest torrent of DIY projects on the go. One event that did stand out, was an opportunity I was given to promote the field of mechanical engineering to some young adults who are exploring their options for their future after school. What an honour to be able to provide some input into guiding these individuals, who could go on to become the next Gordon Murray or Mark Shuttleworth or Elon Musk. I will likely never see them again nor know if my presentation affected them in any way, but just being able to use my experience to sow into their lives and being able to help guide them in their career choice, is a huge privilege. I imagine this is a small taste of the satisfaction teachers get every day.
The poetry above, I thought captured the essence of what happened yesterday.

How often do you sow?

It's not the 'karma-ists' who invented this principle of sowing and reaping, it's a practical law of nature. You will not grow maize if you plant apple seeds! You won't grow a crop at all if you don't plant any seed. It's a biblical principal too. It moves on from the the agricultural example and into what we do for our carnal sowing and reaping and ultimately for our spiritual sowing.
Sometimes, this can be hard work with very little visible reward hence the trap of falling into the worldly instantaneous gratification system that yields crops quickly but of very poor quality. Something worthwhile will always require effort and persistence. The crop will produce at the right time, so don't stop tending the fields.

For some crops, you may actually never see the efforts of your labour. The true test of your heart is whether you sow anyway...

My Fear Equation

Continuing with the personality vein of last week, I am one of those stick-to-the-path, use the tried-and-tested method type of people. Trying new things is quite daunting for me. Even going to a new restaurant has a level of anxiety to accompany the dining experience. Where I stray from this inherent characteristic is in the field of D.I.Y. Somehow, I find the excitement and the anticipated sense of accomplishment on completion enough of an incentive to pretty much try anything. Last week-end I found myself embarking on a d.i.y. journey to lay a concrete slab. As always, the job was meticulously planned out, numerous drawings and calculations done, Google searches and YouTube tutorials viewed so I was as mentally prepared as an Olympic athlete.
The phrase,  "I've got this!" was resounding in my brain.

With the materials purchased and the area cleared, measuring and double measuring began. Everything was great up to the point that the shuttering was in. It was when the mixing of the cement began, that my equation of "Sense of Accomplishment > Fear of the Unknown" became flawed. There is no satisfaction, whatsoever, in the laborious duty of mixing cement, sand, stone and water, full stop.
My lesson learnt, was, that certain jobs are best left to the professionals and those experienced in doing them. Concrete work definitely falls into that category. I have a new found respect for the people who do this everyday. My builder friend came in during the week and completed the pour (I ran out of materials, I didn't give up.) within an hour whereas I had taken the better part of a day.
Will I try other d.i.y. jobs? Of course. Some will work according to the equation and others will prove it invalid. The important aspect is that I continue trying and experiencing and with those experiences, I keep learning.

What enables you to face your fears and continue with the job despite those fears?
I encourage you to identify those strengths and leverage them to get the most out of your life. Don't let the fear draw you into a life of perceived safety. There is so much more to experience than what you already know.

Find your fear equation and focus on the 'gain' side rather than the 'fear' side. Build on the positive and the fear will shrink back into its insignificance, releasing you to experience what truly makes you feel alive.

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear." Jack Canfield

Uniqueness of Character

This week I attended a webinar discussing different personality traits and how the classic 'types' perform at their best. I think this is something we inherently know but often we impose or expect our own character type from others and get frustrated when things are not dealt with in our way.

The uniqueness of individuals should be encouraged and the differences in character promoted in the correct manner to bring out the best in each of us.

I have always said that we all have value to add, we just bring it about in different ways. Just as the loud-mouth individual is annoying to the quiet introvert, the extrovert has similar sentiments towards the seemingly distant reserved person.

Knowing and accepting how each classic type best operates, you can relate to people in a way that will bring out the best in them and have a mutually beneficial interaction. For example, forcing an introvert to speak before they are ready only puts them under immense pressure and is likely to clam them up and the gem they were processing in their mind is unlikely to be brought out. On the other hand, some people like to think out loud, in conversation, and need that arena to be available to do just that. Keeping them in a silent isolated think-tank won't bring about the same results. Having these two personality types working together could be disastrous if they do not respect each other's preferred working methods and provide some leeway to accommodate each's style.

We get to choose the friends we spend time with, but at work, we often don't get to choose our colleagues and if we are honest, there are those individuals we would rather choose not to spend time with. However, understanding a little about their personality may provide a key to the best way to interact with them. Achieving the results most effectively may actually be the way to improve a difficult relationship. Of course one side has to first try to be accommodating for this to work and, I think, accepting that we are different and we do things in different ways is the first step to this process. Trying to change or mould someone into something they are not naturally inclined towards, will, in most cases, result in less than optimum results. This is not to say we shouldn't try things out of our comfort zones or encourage others to try new things to develop them, but people usually perform best with their inherent abilities in an almost instinctive manner. Time will of-course allow a person to develop new abilities, confidence, etc... but at a set point in time allow the individual to bring their gem to the table in the way they know best. Respect the fact that they are different and bring out the best in them.

Every Opportunity Has A Potential

"Don't miss an opportunity to be good to people." Galatians 6:10
A very apt message to remind me how we should be behaving rather than always looking out for yourself and striving for more and more. I feel that I do try and help where I am able but I often see opportunities or moments where that small voice inside says I could help in some way and I continue on my way dismissing it with excuses like, "I am on my way somewhere", "I am too busy at the moment", "I am sure someone else will step up and do the same thing", "I ...
"Don't miss an opportunity." That message is crystal clear how we should react when that inner voice speaks to us. You never know what impact it will have.

Here's a story my Mom told me last night:
Firstly let me start out by saying my Mom is not well off financially, so whatever she has is quite important to her. The story starts with her garden which is fairly large, too large for one man to handle let alone a woman with as much grey hair as my Mom has. The garden grows as it pleases and looks more jungle-like than garden. There is even a very large mulberry tree growing into her verandah in Day-of the-Triffids fashion! At times a young man, Romeo, comes in and helps clear weeds and trims the grass panga-style to find the wash line area. Now Romeo is one of the thousands who is homeless and lives in a shack which is constantly raided by delinquents in his area. For his work, my Mom gives him some money, some food and if she can, some clothing every time he comes to help her out. My Mom's house has also been burgled on occasion, with the crooks targeting scrap metal for resale. Now Romeo found these guy, recovered some pots they had stolen and gave them some 'advice' not to return. My Mom was so overwhelmed she felt giving him a clock-radio was just something she could afford to repay him. He literally danced in the street when she gave it to him.
Now Mom and Romeo have been talking about the little stand he has set-up to sell some oranges to commuters on their way to work. She has advised him how to save money and is taking him to a bank to arrange his first bank account. She has also told him about the man who owns the Spar at the four-way stop, started off selling fruit and vegetables out of the back of a van at the same four-way stop.
Yesterday, Romeo told my Mom that he has a target to save towards at the end of this year and he would like to give her some petrol money for her help. He has also spoken to the 'Spaza-man' and he is going to let him put a container at the four-way stop to sell some fruit. Romeo says wants to meet all my Mom's children because he is now also part of the family and wants to meet his brothers and sisters.
Here is a man who was merely surviving from one day to the next, who now has a vision for his future and is feeling so confident about life that he wants to meet his new family. Many would see my Mom and dismiss her as a crazy old lady. Her actions did cost her out of her little, they were sacrifices but it has brought about an incredible life-change in this man.
Imagine if there were more 'crazy old ladies' in this world...  DON'T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY!

Communication

So, I am one of those introspective types who will replay life events over and over in the movie theatre of my mind. Stop. Pause rewind, "How should I have handled that differently?", "What was really meant by that phrase?", "Did I interpret that correctly or does it really mean...?" Rewind, play it again.

It is hard work and is sometimes the reason I don't get the rest I should, hence I am awake at 3 a.m. on Friday morning with an over-active brain again. This time the issue revolves around communication and more precisely, the lack thereof leaving people to draw their own conclusions. A pretty risky and volatile situation especially when people's emotions are involved. Anyway, it has been pretty much all wrapped up and the "lack of an issue" resolved but this event has hi-lited to me (again) the importance of clear communication. 

What may be clear in my mind, is likely not fully comprehended by someone else until I explain completely what the intent is. 

A good test if the correct message has been properly received is to talk about it and get the listener's understanding of the message to see if it was just heard, or if they actually listened.

Being a stereotype engineer, talking is not one of my strong suits so I seem to fail in this communication domain quite often when it comes to life's soft issues. Generally for me, talking is a functional activity and not recreational, so I am quite succinct in delivering my message and usually get the request or information transfer done quite efficiently. Small talk is not for me! 
However, for some reason the emotional type issues are parked in my brain and communicated sparingly and almost always in a spy-interrogation style conversation. 

One would think that someone with a bit of intelligence would learn the value of not doing this over and over again and actually relinquish the burden of carrying these "non-issues". I guess character make-up is pretty difficult to change. I say difficult, not impossible. I believe I can improve on this area in my life and hopefully get my mind some rest. I know, I am not the only one who functions in this manner, and hope those who can relate, or those who interact with similar people, can be encouraged to also change and improve in this aspect. 

"That which we are capable of feeling, we are capable of saying." - Cervantes

"Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing." - Rollo May

With Enough Practise You Too Can be a Professional

While mountain-biking on Tuesday, I came to appreciate the instinctive learning ability we possess as humans. If you do something often enough, you learn how to react without even thinking about it. Riding through some rocky sections, I found myself a bit off the right riding line and in for a potential fall. Without any conscious thought, my body repositioned itself and and immediately the bike came back onto course again. This is pretty normal for any mountain biker but as an engineer I can appreciate the dynamics of the forces and momentum that play their role in making this possible. I always imagine programming a robot to perform the same 'balancing acts' we can do as second-nature. (My engineer geek is showing isn't it?)

The thought of this ability has stuck with me and I have been wondering how we can use it in a positive way. Writing it down now, it seems pretty obvious: "If you do something often enough, you learn how to react without even thinking about it." 

If you continually encourage, uplift, guide, comfort, console then these will be your automatic reactions to situations. If you always face life with a cheerful and enthusiastic demeanour, then this will be your automatic reaction. The key is to be doing it continually such that it becomes habit. Just as in learning to ride that rocky section of trail, it was only by continually riding it, that I learned how to correctly position myself. It was not a once off experience and I immediately knew what to do. It took numerous attempts at pushing through, consciously thinking about how much brake should I use and how far back and low should I be sitting. I am no professional mountain biker and have great appreciation for the training that the pro's put in to reach the instinctive skill levels that they have. 

If we put in the effort to practice using the abilities we have in building others up and finding the positives in life these can be instinctive. The more you use them, the more habitual they will become. In this way I believe one can actually change your personality. Not the core of who you are but your general outlook. People who are always complaining and bring negativity into conversation can change... with some conscious effort initially. Halting those thoughts before they become negative words and choosing to say something different takes some work but with continual practice it can become instinctive.  It is easier to walk past someone who is hurting than to stop and console them. It takes some work to sacrifice your time, listen to someone’s problems and offer a kind word. It is easy to live in your comfort zone and ignore those struggling around you, it will take some work to make a difference.

Think about how you would like to positively impact those you meet and start practising. With enough practise you too can be a professional.

(Re)Discover your Bucket Fillers

In life there are things that fill your bucket and things that drain your bucket. I am sure everyone can relate and can quickly identify those bucket fillers and the drainers.

It is quite an amazing moment when you have a revelation about yourself, even when you already know it to be true, but the reminder strikes a chord that just plays such a beautiful sound in your soul. I had such a moment this week and I am feeling a little bit like a child at Christmas with new toys. 

"I really enjoy fixing things."  

As an engineer, this should be pretty obvious and of course, sometime ago I had already made this analysis of myself but this hit home again quite profoundly in a way that said: 

"Why are you not doing more of what you enjoy?"

A million reasons (excuses) come to mind but the pleasure and satisfaction of working on something that fills my bucket should be a priority rather than an option. The things that are continually draining you, are generally requisite for normal daily existence. Not doing those may lead to greater problems and bigger holes in your bucket. With all the daily drains, the bucket has to be topped up, often, so as to keep content. That can be read in the context of filled with substance or also as a satisfied state of mind.

This week I have been tinkering with a generator and have had to hold myself back from stripping it completely into (too many) rows of parts and bolts laid out on my garage floor. I found this so absorbing, as to be honest I don't have the practical skills or experience working on engines so ?I found myself so focused on learning how the parts function and work together that it was bit of escapism for me. I have two gaskets to renew and seemingly the right number of nuts and bolts left to replace, so hopefully tonight will be the flight of the bumble bee! (The generator is yellow and black.)

I feel like I am ready for the next challenge. What else can I build? What else can I do that fills my bucket? This feeling is quite addictive and has got me a bit derailed from the daily routine, which I feel is a really good thing until I decide to build a Cobra and live in my garage on a full-time basis...

Spend some time to rediscover your bucket-fillers and give them some priority. It can be just the thing to add content to your life again.

Where Are You Headed?

So another week has flown by.  The month of June is upon us and it too is swiftly passing through. 
What were my goals for this year? Have I made any real headway?
Well, my fitness is at an all time high, I am the most fulfilled I have ever been at work, my relationships are exactly where I want them to be, my children are absolute angels and my country has really made a turnaround. And it is only June!!!!
I am sure I am not the only one to have fallen 'just short' of achieving my goals thus far. 

Does it seem like the time is slipping through your fingers and the more you try and grab at the dropping items, you just seem to be dropping something else? 
Take a step back and re-prioritise. Review what it is you wanted to achieve and perhaps modify the direction or perhaps the milestones you wanted to achieve. 

"If you don't change your direction you will end up where you are heading."  - Lao Tzu
Similarly, nothing changes if you change nothing. 

Why is it that we resist the change and hold on so tightly to the familiar even if we are aware of the eventual destination it is leading us to? Does the unknown really bind us so strongly?  The sooner you make the change the sooner your ship will start turning and you will start seeing new horizons. Sometimes the change is instantaneous, others take time to surface and of course these are the ones we need to press into and hold onto with the vision of the goal, instead of letting go and slipping back to the familiar.

In a slightly different topic direction, this week I witnessed someone being hit by a car on the main road home. It was a horrific thing to see. His body rag-doll tossed into the air and landing motionless on the other side of the road. That scene reminded me how fragile our lives are and there really isn't even a second that we can afford to waste. That man wasn't planning to have that happen on his way home. It took one judgement lapse to put him where he is right now. In the same light our decisions, or lack thereof, will put us where we are headed. Make sure you make the right decisions. In that statement there is as much emphasis on making the decisions as well as being the right ones.

Check where you are headed, adjust and trim the sails to give the desired destination.

Enjoy the Simple Moments

Commuting becomes such a routine, especially if done at the same time every day, that you almost develop a community of travellers who share the same commute time window. One such member in my travel community, is a guy who uses a bicycle as his means of transport. He stands out from the rest of the cycling commuters as he is kitted out with genuine cycling gear. Blue and white shirt, lycra pants, and a blue helmet. I imagine it is all he has because it is the same gear every day. The other morning I watched him glide down the on-ramp with his arms raised up and spread wide like wings. Not the safest thing to be trying in morning traffic but also not the first time I've seen him trying something slightly perilous. My immediate thought was not the danger but rather how much he was enjoying himself. He was genuinely having a blast, flying like an eagle. How many things do we just do out of duty and not allow ourselves the freedom to actually enjoy simple moments in a child-like manner? Here was this grown man, not giving a care to what people around him thought to just enjoy that moment to the utmost. He will probably never know that his actions that morning are being read about around the globe and, rightly so, he probably wouldn't care either. His actions, did however, gave me reason to pause and to see that we are often so busy considering our appearances and perceived reputation that we miss out on the fun in life, even if it is just in the simple things. Sure there is time to be serious and professional, but I believe an environment where smiles and laughter is the norm, will be far more productive than a hushed morose one. 

I have an unusual mind, in that, I 'see' what people are saying to me in an alternative light as well as the intended meaning. Some, enjoy the alternative light responses I give, and some probably think I am a clown. Just like my cycling eagle, I don't really care, I just want to genuinely enjoy the moment, laugh a lot and hopefully make some people smile a little bit more along the way. These days there is definitely a shortage of smiles, so I will continue to be a "clown" for the sake of those who appreciate it. 

We All Have Washing On The Go.

How do you know when someone is going through something difficult?

I think it is safe to say that everyone you meet IS going through something difficult. You have not and can not walk in everyone's shoes to truly understand what it is they are experiencing. Even if you have some knowledge of what the 'thing' may be and even if you have had a similar experience, you still don't know how that person is processing it. Each one of us deals with stressful situations in very different ways, so be mindful that your empathy has only a small insight into another's pain.

I have read many times, that as men, we feel compelled to be "fixers" so when a problem is identified we feel our duty is to make the situation right again. If we don't know how, or fail in our attempts, that creates a whole other set of stresses. I think it is a bit arrogant that we feel we have the qualifications and skill sets that we should be fixing everything and it was quite a liberation for me to accept that there is in fact more that I don't know than I do know! There are many things I just cannot fix.

Sometimes people just need to talk to air the issue and hear it spoken and shared, rather than actually have a solution provided. There is also comfort in knowing that someone else is aware of your hurts and what is tumbling around in the washing machine of your mind. For all the other people you interact with, that you have no idea of their 'thing', be aware that they too have a load on. You don't know which stage of the process they are in or the magnitude of the load, but be assured they have washing on the go. 

This is just another reason to treat others with respect and humility. I know some people are very difficult to love, but they still deserve a level of courtesy in your interactions. Constantly check your attitude (and altitude) when dealing with people. 

"Stay Fuelled by the Purpose"

This week I have been away from home to attend a software training course in Johannesburg. I have up to now, been trying a DIY or rather TIY (Teach It Yourself) approach with very little success and much frustration. 

The course presenter is supremely knowledgeable about the software due to his years of experience with it and effortlessly navigates his way through menu paths, mouse gestures, selecting variables, updating, referencing, linking and regenerating. Watching him operate is like watching a symphony conductor at work. I’m guessing, but I imagine my efforts at reproducing his baton movements would be very similar to my mimicking the course presenter’s skills.

I cannot even pretend to be an expert in this field but the comforting fact is that he too, at one point sat in the same introductory course I am being trained in. This reminds me of one of my earlier blogs, “You CAN get there from here.” There may be a far off place or somewhere just around the corner, it may be something easily achievable or something on the ‘one-day list’. Whatever it may be, you just have to purpose yourself to go.  Without a purpose, you are just out for a stroll. You may by chance get somewhere but more than likely you’ll either get lost or end up right where you started (with tired legs).

I am much more of a plan and purpose type person. It is just much more efficient use of my time and resources. One of my biggest annoyances is having my efforts wasted. It is completely demoralising and I’ll dramatize it a bit by saying that it is  even disrespectful…

This week away from home, although tough to be away from my family has been productive in gaining momentum for my purpose. It is equipping me for the journey ahead. Gaining the necessary resources for the journey is very important. You could find yourself half-way down the main road and realise that you didn't fill up with gas, halting the journey where it is until you have refuelled. Distractions like these can derail your focus and send you in a completely different direction. Stay fuelled by the purpose and keep your eyes on the goal. Trying to keep a flame burning without sufficient fuel is never going to be successful. This message leads on from last weeks in terms of ‘your purpose’. You need to discover your purpose and try and marry your goals to those purposes. Having identified a clear purpose behind those goals is like bringing in rocket fuel to keep a candle burning. It’s going to burn bright and for a long time...

The Life of a Pickle

What is it that defines who you are?

What is it that gives you purpose?

Where do you add value?

If you had answers to each of those questions, then the next question would be how to further use those qualities. If you say you did not have answers, I say find a quiet moment and read the questions again. Pause that instantaneous thought that enters your mind as you read the question. That very first thought, that is usually pushed aside by over-thinking, general negativity, self-doubt and social condemnation. Allow that first thought to play through a little. Believing that it could possibly be true and you will find that it is usually is the truth. No matter how small or silly the idea may be, take the liberty and run with it, before your mind police arrest your thoughts. Play the movie in your mind and see how it develops and what impact that "silly" idea really has in your world.

My thought police are quite active and forceful in their duties which probably contributes to my quiet demeanor. Any way, allowing my immediate response to the above allows me to realise that I am an integral part of a very blessed family, I have a pretty good spiritual life as a Christian and I do believe I am a positive contributor to the people around me. Even now, the mind-police are trying to get me to re-write that sentence, saying it is boastful, full of pride and a general "who cares about that" type of negativity. I think many others would be facing similar mind-censorship, but suppress those constraints and pursue your ideas anyway and you will see that you too have purpose and value.

If you still struggle to get the "movie" to play, spend your day actively monitoring your interactions as an outsider. A bit of a strange concept but try it. Every conversation you have, watch it as another person in the room. Don't be too critical of yourself, but look for the 'add-value' openings you are provided with. I often "see" them after the person has left and only then realise the lost opportunity I had to uplift someone or to encourage them. Some days I get it right, others I fail completely, but did I mention that some days I get it right!!! That's how it starts, and with some practise, I'll be getting more right days than fail days. It does take effort and putting yourself out-there, but the feeling of positively impacting somebody's life is definitely worth it. You also don't need any special training, degrees or courses to do it. You just start today, with the next person you meet. Go.

(What did the title of my message today have to do with the content? I don't know, but it was the immediate thought I had when I realised I hadn't filled in a title and I just ran with it without the mind-police correcting me...)

Remit and Release

So having a public holiday on a Friday, messes a bit with my early Friday morning schedule of sitting down and writing my blog. Doing a half marathon instead, messes a bit with my entire body...  Now it's time to catch-up.
Maybe that should be the sub-title for my message today, it's never too late to "catch-up"! Whatever has happened, has happened, you cannot change that. What you can change is what you decide to do today. I am probably one of the most stubborn people around and I know I can really dig my heels in and resist doing the right thing all out of stubbornness or in another word, pride. I can latch onto an incident and rewind and replay it over and over in my mind, reinforcing the emotions each time. This is the problem with the "quiet-types", while the mouth is still, the brain is in hyper-drive. (Although not always in a negative way.)
What should I be doing?   -  Remit and Release. Today.
Fix what can be fixed, apologise again if you have faulted, forgive if you were on the receiving end. And then, release the incident. Release doesn't mean forget; it just means not holding it so close to your heart that you are not able to feel anything else. Releasing "it" also releases yourself to move on. It takes your focus off of "it" and frees you to see everything else you have been missing out on.
What is "it" that has you captured? Is it a hurt you can't seem to move past? An action you can't seem to forgive? A word passed in a moment of emotion that now haunts you? Is it regret for something you should have done and didn't step out and do-it?
There are so many "its", that could possibly imprison our hearts and minds that we have to be on the alert and rectify them as soon as we can before we build a fortress around ourselves.
Start today with the first thing that has your focus while reading this. See if there is any action you can take to rectify the situation and do it, right now. Apologise or forgive those involved. It may be a case of forgiving yourself or forgiving people who unknowingly have hurt you. Forgive them anyway. Start with a head-based forgiveness and allow the thoughts of forgiveness to percolate into your heart. Once this is done, open those clenched fists holding onto the "it" and allow it to dissolve. You can feel the constriction of the pain and hurt being eased off and you realise just how trapped you were. Release and be free once more.

8-5 is a Long Time to Not Smile...

This week has been a pretty hectic one at the office with some important project delivery deadlines to be met. My office space has been abuzz with designers and engineers resolving issues, reviewing design options and signing off drawings. This, in addition to my role in doing actual design work and liaising with external designers, has resulted in little time to reflect on "thoughtful" things to blog about. Even my run yesterday, which is usually a great time for reflection, seemed to be just a blur of nondescript colours. I am sure, I am not alone in having times like this, where survival and endurance seem to be your focal points.

What should you do in times like this?
Unfortunately, I don't have any three step solutions. All I am going to do, is give all I can over this relatively short period to deliver the goods required of me. There is no way to sugar-coat this. There are times in life to just buckle down and work hard! No special formula, just focus and hard work.  I can't "demand" for the results of the finished deliverables, we have to actually get down and sweat it out to produce the results. (But now that is heading down a completely different avenue....)

I could waste time bemoaning the workload, ridiculous time-lines, external influences, etc... Or I can focus on what I need to contribute and be grateful that I can be part of a highly skilled team which is delivering a value-engineered product for both the client and our company. I can be grateful I have employment and not out-there struggling to find the next pay-cheque to support my family.
I am grateful.

Work is more than just an 8-5 time slot in your day. It is a period that you are giving of yourself to add value to your employer. Regardless of your current emotions and attitude towards your company for whatever reasons, it is your duty to give what you need to give to perform your job. I believe this is more important for your self-worth than out of dutiful employment. Leaving a task with a high sense of personal pride, regardless of your company's response, is more important for your job satisfaction.  Manager's however, please note, as managers of people, acknowledgement and recognition of people's efforts is probably one of your most important duties. Never neglect that aspect. People are putting the bulk of lives into being at work and should be recognised for this and not taken for granted as loyalty is easily lost and difficult to regain.

Working for most of us will be a lifelong experience and everyone of us can help make it a better one by recognising what others do within your organisation. Do something out of the ordinary for somebody else. Bosses, make coffee for your secretary for a change! Take time to laugh and have fun at work, 8-5 is a long time to not smile...

Worth Celebrating

It would be so easy to fall into the trap of complaining about the current debacles in South Africa but I think there is enough social media covering that ground. Instead...

Yesterday, I was looking at some photo's of nature in unusual but exceptionally beautiful forms. Cloud formations, lightning, ice formations, volcanoes... 
(http://distractify.com/dark/science/incredible-natural-phenomenon/) 

Yesterday, I also heard of the celebrations of a whole family for a son who had graduated and what a milestone achievement that was, as well as an inspiration for the younger members of the family.

We had some desperately needed rain.

I felt I had a productive workday, having completed some design objectives that had been outstanding for a while. 

My family were safe and sound when I arrived home and was greeted with a hug and kiss. There was a fabulous meal cooked and I was able to sleep in a warm bed.

I have technology to be able to write these messages. I have my mental acumen to create a comprehendible piece of writing while you have the ability and means to access and read the blog.

We have so much around us that is worth celebrating, why do we spend time dwelling on the negative? It is actually illogical. You have a choice to either bring joy, laughter and upliftment into your (or another's) life or you can choose to drag yourself down into negativity just by choosing what you want to celebrate. Because discussing something is putting it into a priority position. It is what you have chosen to spend this very moment doing. You have sacrificed all other options to do that thing right now! I would call that celebrating. I'd rather lift up the things I treasure and respect rather than the discouraging and degenerating topics. 

Leave the negativity to decay on its own. 
Celebrate only that worthy of celebrating. 

Let Them Know

So Thursday afternoon I attended a memorial service of a friend of mine who was ripped away from this world in an unexpected and tragic manner. She was a friend during my 'varisity years and a girlfriend to a good mate so as you can imagine we spent considerable time together. I can still remember when we first met; as a group we were off to watch a movie at Berea Centre. I can't remember what the movie was but clearly remember Mel like it was yesterday. For those that know me, I am not the most spontaneous communicator (to put it nicely), but Mel was in the passenger seat of the car turning around to face me and ask me all kinds of random things creating such a light atmosphere and of course so much laughter.
Unfortunately as life happens and as we followed our separate paths, we lost touch. On Saturday, I read of her accident and it hit my spirit with such impact, I actually groaned with the shock.

After so many years passing, I didn't know what Mel had accomplished with her life other than hearing that she had a beautiful daughter. However, sitting in the church, I could see how many lives she had touched and the profound impact she actually had on so many. The question that rose up in my mind was, "Did she know?".

My blog today is to remind myself to "Let them know". Don't let the opportunity pass to tell somehow how you feel about them, how important they are and how much you love them. That moment may never come again! The pastor used the word 'brevity' to describe our time on this earth. How you spend your time is your choice but realise how short your time is and that it could be taken
at any moment. Make your time count, make it a quality life. We all have our individual talents, so do what it is that you have been gifted with. We all have the propensity to love, just in different manners and capacities but we all have it. Don't hold it back, use the opportunity you have been given.

The pastor also compared our earthly time with our eternal experience. We can be so focused on surviving this life that we forget about the eternity we face afterwards. The 70-80 years we face on this earth are so insignificant in time comparison, to the measure of eternity. The earthly-time we have is available to decide what we choose to believe happens when we die. Most of us are fortunate to be able to freely practise our beliefs without sanction or punishment so use that opportunity.
For many years I was an atheist, choosing to believe I had no soul and once my life light was out, it was over. I have since become a Christian and have seen and experienced so much that I could never doubt the existence of God. That's my choice, just wanted to let you know you too have a choice...

Are Your Words Being Used to Build or Break?

Closing my eyes this morning and just letting words flash onto the windscreen of my mind, I generated the following list:

Colours, sounds, quietness, waterfalls, open fields, crashing waves, technology, love, sex, busyness, creativity, creation, death, endings, beginnings, fresh starts, connections, friendships, conversation, health, beliefs, faith, hope, prayer, conflict, hate, specifics, randomness, direction.

They seem pretty random, yet have a thread of connection or development or progression from one to the next. What I also found, was that as I read each word, I experienced a certain emotion. Each unique, based on the imagery or memory generated with the association of that word. 
How powerful our words can be! If, seemingly random words can change emotions or state of mind, then how much more powerful can a carefully constructed paragraph or a comment in a conversation be? Are your words being used to build or break? Sometimes it's also not the words themselves, but rather the tone or manner in which they are delivered that can deliver a message. A simple message like, "It's time to go", can be delivered as informative, instructional, suggestive or a multitude of other ways just depending on the tone of delivery. Your physical manner of delivery also conveys a message, so bouncing into a room with a smile of your face contrasts someone with hunched shoulders and a downcast demeanor delivering that same message. 

Absence of words can convey a message in itself. Possibly lack of interest, withdrawl from the process, either as a sign of rebelling or disapproval, or perhaps a lack of self-confidence in the subject.

Ultimately we get to choose our words and the manner in which we present them. Everyday, we also get to observe and interpret messages presented to ourselves. I urge you to think carefully about your words and the manner of conveyance, as the power and effect can have a significant impact. Remember, as you occasionally allow your words to poison, so too do other people make mistakes and you may be on the receiving end of a poorly thought out message. Beware of the people who consistently convey destructive messages and be even more aware if you are one of those people.
Choose to build.

"Do We Hear and See the Same?"

I had a flashback this week of a thought I had when I was young, "Do we all hear and see the same? The world I see, is it the same world you see? Do you see the colour yellow the same way I do?"
I have accepted that we do see and hear everything the same way, in the pragmatic sense but it's our interpretation of the data that varies from individual to individual. There is some over-lap and common-ground that occurs and these are generally the people we spend time with as they have similar outlooks and belief systems. Those that differ radically, usually end up in conflict. It would be a natural movement then, to avoid the conflict and move to where one is accepted with similar beliefs. With the scale of our global nature of doing life, we are constantly interacting with dissimilar people due to ethnicity, languages, religion, social class, education level and political standing. These are only a few differences I could quickly list, no wonder there is constant fighting. With so many differing viewpoints and the probability of two strong-willed dissimilar individuals interacting being very high, we are guaranteed to run into some conflict. Especially so, when one party wants to impose their beliefs and outlook onto another. Do we then live in separatist states, ignoring what happens next door, do we compromise and find some mutually agreeable solution or do we accept the differences for what they are and love the person despite of these differences? If only it was that simple. You are a vegetarian and I enjoy a good steak. That's pretty easy to accept and move on. Political and religious beliefs can run much deeper than that and compromise usually isn't an option in those categories. Acceptance would be the best solution but such is the way of politics and religion that acceptance is usually short-lived and conflict erupts out of the smallest disagreement. 

As different as we are as individuals, the commonality that brings us into groups is very powerful. The basis of the commonality needs to be questioned by each 'follower' before pledging allegiance to the group. 
Does what I believe in cause harm or does it encourage love for other people? 
That simple question should be the basis for any group being formed. Simplistic, yes! Why does it have to be complicated?

 “Your reality is as you perceive it to be. So it is true, that by altering this perception we can alter our reality.”- William Constantine.

A Bag of Puzzle Pieces

This week I felt that everywhere I turned I faced bad news. Reading the local news, my sniffing and coughing children (and wife) and hearing even worse health updates from friends has not made this a hi-light week for the year. The compounded effect makes me want to run away, escape to a calm quiet place where everything is just right with the world. Even if that were possible, it would only be momentary and the weight of reality and responsibility would break through the stillness of that place. Starting with a small voice but eventually being shouted so loudly in my thoughts that I could no longer ignore them. It would be best to face them head-on. Deal with them, move forward and make the best out the circumstances.

Perhaps I think too much. (I know that I do.) Perhaps I am far too sensitive with other people's problems and my level of empathy is detrimental to my own level of happiness. Perhaps that's why I developed my quirky sense of humour; maybe as a coping mechanism or as a way of 'doing my bit' to bring some laughter and joy to others. Maybe I'm over-thinking it, again.

Within all of this I continue to look for my purpose. What am I meant to be doing? I know it's far more than some humorous photo-shop images I put together for laughs. I know that I learn from every experience, every encounter with others. But what is it that I am supposed to do with all of this input? I don't want to reach my last breath still wondering what it is, but rather if there was something over and above what I had done that I could have done more of. I want to have put in the effort to make a difference, to add value. I don't want to waste a single moment on trivial things. I want to be productive, I want to improve myself, I want to improve my surroundings, I want to make the world a better place! Pretty bold purpose, in anybody's book but I believe we all have a role to play in that purpose. Everybody has a bag of puzzle pieces that need to be used at a specific time to make the whole outcome come together. Different puzzle pieces to contribute to different circumstances. You have them all, you just need to decide to use them at the right time. Not putting your piece down may delay somebody else from putting theirs onto the table with a domino-like stalling effect on others and an overall slowing down of the process. When you realise it is time to put your piece down, do it without delay. Play your part, fulfil your purpose and it may just help someone else fulfil theirs. It may also inspire others to look into their bags of puzzle pieces and see what they actually have. No-one has an empty bag! There is always a puzzle being constructed and although interesting to just watch and see how it comes together, how much more rewarding to contribute a building block to that outcome.  Reach into that bag and use your gifts!

Random Lottery-Style Effort

Looking at a blank "sheet of paper" reminds me of starting a new project. You know you have some ground to cover (or white space to fill in the case of writing a blog) but not sure how you are going to get there. I could fill the space with a whole bunch of random letters: ashhgushdnsboign and see if something of value comes out. There is a story about taking an infinite number of monkeys each with a type-writer and given an infinite amount of time, one would reproduce a classic literary work. My alternative to the random effort of lottery-style keypressing, considering my monkey-time is quite limited, is to put something of value into what I need to do. 

I have previously written about making every moment you have count, being positive and an encourager. None of this can be effectively achieved by random action. There has to be some plan and purpose to drive you forward. I can honestly say, it is not easy to write something, I think, has some value. The random keyboard dance seems like a great idea when facing a blank page, or even shutting down the computer and seizing a few more moments sleep. (Did you see what I did there?) Last week was very much one of those moments, but leading up to this morning's blog, I have had a number of comments that made me realise that there is a purpose and a function for these writings that has driven me to continue. Similarly with your new projects, find the purpose and it will give you the fuel to start, as well as to keep you going through the tough and mundane. Keeping your eyes focused on the end objective will give you means to the end, to coin a phrase. It is "Goal Setting 101", something we all know about but don't exercise enough in our personal lives. All of us have the big-dream type goal that is shrouded in mist and usually accompanied by the sound of harps and a choir... I'm talking about setting some realistic goals and putting in the purposeful effort to achieve them. Do some soul-searching, decide what it is you want to achieve and why. The why is probably the missing key for so many goals being missed or left along the road-side of life. You need the purpose to drive you towards the goal. Write down your goal in as much detail as you can. It may change along the way but you have to start with a clear target. Write done the "why". This must be straight from the heart and not based on what others want of you and for you. You can be motivated by others to a point but only your "why" can fuel you for the entire journey. 
As with any objective you must plan how you will reach your goal (no randomness allowed) and also set a date by when you think you can realistically achieve it. 
Revisit your "why" often, like going to a petrol station for a top up of fuel. For this reason, the "why" must be explicitly written down to remind you of your heart-felt desire for the goal. Re-reading your "why" should get you excited all over again and ignite the fires driving your engine when the toils of life have caused you to stall in your journey.

So much is changing and yet so much is still the same...

Unbelievably, another week has come to an end, another month is over and it is also our company's financial year end. 

So much is changing and yet so much is still the same. 

I don't know if I am just becoming less naive or just more aware or if there is truly a growth in the number of despicable people in this world. Around me, I see so many people being hurt by self-absorbed individuals with little or no regard for the other's emotions. There are so many people who believe their importance is paramount and nobody else's needs are considered in their pursuit of their goals.
Similarly, our country is in turmoil over the government with a constant barrage of abuse from opposition parties and disillusioned supporters. How will this chapter of South African history pan out? 
Internationally I read of extremist parties beheading groups of people for their faith and the rest of the world does nothing. I still can't believe that a person can actually cut off another's head! What hatred must there be to be able to perform such deeds. This is meant to be the "modern times"; look at the knowledge and the technology we have all around and yet we seem to be regressing in so many areas. Surely what we have learned over the years of war and killing, that no one really wins in the end. The loss of life, broken families, devastation of cities and infrastructure. The cost is immeasurable. As a child, I often thought that disputes should be settled over a game of chess. A war on the chess board, where the only casualties are the chess pieces. Each dispute is tabled with agreed stakes for the "war's" outcome. Whoever's King remains, is the victor and claims the agreed prize. Simplistic, I know but why can't it be? Of course those with the best chess players would become greedy and use their advantage to take more than what is fair. A super-power based on chess prowess if you will. I guess when there is a human element involved, the basic needs of survival and equality are justifiable to "fight" for but when the intolerance of others and hunger for more permeates the ranks of the leaders, that is when the real trouble begins. 

My Christian belief says that we should love one another, with all our differences. Loving, however does not mean accepting the injustices imposed on others. I can't for one instance imagine myself sitting down with ISIS members to have a cup of tea and a group hug. Somewhere in their life they have been brainwashed and lost their way. Probably no fault of their own but radical leaders who are passing down the same distorted beliefs and objectives enforced in their lives. They were not born hating others who did not follow Islam, they were taught. No-one is born a natural hater. As children we are innocent and open to everything. It's as we get older, the people we surround ourselves with, mould our character and alter our beliefs. This can be moulded to such an extent that radicalists evolve.

All is not lost though. There is a greater plan in all this confusion and turmoil. Desperate times, pulls people together; develops a spirit of unity and that is exactly what we need as a community, a country and as global citizens.

No short-cuts to Mars!

This week I learned about a planned mission to mars called Mars-One (http://www.mars-one.com/). Interestingly, the crew will comprise "normal" people, not the NASA academy astronauts. These people have volunteered to go. The catch? It's a one way trip, they don't have a way to come back to earth. They have decided to give up everything and pursue an absurd challenge of living in a capsule on another planet. I think it is incredible, and turn back the clock a few years, before I was married, and I would have signed up. Maybe it's a mid-life crisis state of mind driving that opinion to take on such a crazy life change, but I still think that it is a fascinating project and will be watching the progress with keen interest over the next 10 years when they expect the first crew to settle. 

What changes are you currently facing and what are you willing to give-up to achieve them?

Change is inherently a process of something being displaced or replaced with something else. The former condition is no more. It has been transformed into something different. Sometimes this process is uncontrollable and we are simply passengers in the transformation. In other instances we get to choose to make the transformation. We have to weigh up the former condition against the desired outcome and then decide which we desire more. It almost always involves giving up something familiar to make the transformation. It's often the value we place on the familiar and the fear of not achieving the goal that keeps us exactly where we are far longer than we should be. Personalities are so varied that some thrive on change and are frustrated by the "familiar", but I think the generalisation holds true. Those volunteer astronauts are giving up everything they are familiar with to pursue an incredible expedition that could potentially change the way we live. The cost versus the outcome has been weighed up and they have decided to go where many of the chosen applicants opted the other way, believing the sacrifice was too great. How do your current possible changes and sacrifices weigh up in your life?
The actual trip to Mars is 210 days, which is a long time to be in close habitat and that's what they have to endure before they even get to their destination. Even before that, they have to go through vigorous training to be equipped for the mission. It is still 10 years before they reach Mars. Similarly, our changes will require time and equipping to get the desired outcome. No short-cuts to Mars! Once again, these efforts have to be considered when embarking on the mission of change. Whether you are an A-type personality, where every last detail is listed and categorised, or a free-spirited creative-type, some consideration of the effort required to make the transformation must be made. I'm all for comparative tables, to-do lists and schedules when it comes to making decisions as I need to visualise the entire situation to make my choice. Use the tools and means best suited to you and the level of change required. No need for a full desk-top study to decide to change your blue shirt for a white one! However, choosing to buy a house, change of job or career, relationships would all require some due consideration. Make sure you have considered the sacrifice, effort required and the outcome very carefully. 
Don't fly to Mars on an impulse decision.

Leverage the Potential

How can I not start off by commenting on our country's state of the nation address proceedings last night? I think the way in which the event rolled out, painted a better picture of the actual state of the nation, than did the words used in the president's speech. Not a very inspiring affair at all. I must admit I did not get to watch the speech through to the end as my recording was cut short just after the land repatriation delivery, so I may have missed out on the uplifting gems...

After what I watched, I realise we have a long hard road ahead of us in South Africa. It will take a few men and women with Mandela-like attitudes, who want to serve the country rather than being served, to bring out the best in what our country and people have to offer. Until then, only a minority will actually benefit and the division and segregation we see today will continue to escalate. Not a very positive outlook I know, but a reality snapshot. I immediately had thoughts of my friends in Australia, and wonder if they have felt a bit torn about renouncing their South African citizenship to become Australian citizens or if watching last night's address reinforced that they had done the right thing and perhaps it is something I should be considering for the sake of my children? I love South Africa and its wonderful potential it has to offer. I love the lifestyle I have and the freedom to do the things I enjoy doing. I wish every citizen could enjoy the standard of living I have available but with almost a quarter of the population unemployed, that is a huge gap to close. Only by pulling the people of our nation together, not driving them apart, can we achieve common goals for the betterment of all. How then can we turn things around? Firstly the leadership of the country is what we have at the moment because they have been chosen by the people. When the people are educated and their eyes are opened to the corruption and misappropriation that is now the norm, leaders of suitable character can be elected. There are already those people in the ranks trying to make the difference we so desperately need. That is no quick process and I believe we have to pray for acceleration of that change in the leadership. We also need to stand together as communities for what is right. Bemoaning conditions and spreading negativity does not help any situation but only breads hopelessness. Do something to start making the difference you desire. Come alongside other like-minded people and as a group with aligned voices, surely your message will be clearer than a group of individuals all shouting differently. Once a group with a clear direction of positive change is heard, others will join until the message cannot be ignored and change will be brought about. The choice is yours to continue complaining in small groups or halt the negativity and turn it into an catalyst for change. As a country and as a people we have everything we need to be a very successful nation. We just need to leverage the potential that is already there. Here's to road ahead and strength to all who will join me on that road.

Your Flight Plan Has Been Rerouted

A good few years ago, my wife and I decided it was time to pack up and see what there was in the rest of the world. It wasn't because we had had any traumatic violent crime experience in South Africa, nor were we expecting the imminent outbreak of civil war, we purely desired change in our lives. Incredibly, change was provided, not in the format we were anticipating, but change nonetheless. After a long 24hr trip we found ourselves back in South Africa, feeling a bit like naughty children who had been caught out by our parents and had been sent to our rooms.

Why am I sharing this with you? Well, I believe at some point or other we all desire and even need change in our lives. The change we desire isn't always the change we receive. What you do in that circumstance is purely up to you. You can be miserable about your outcome, fight it and try and force the change you so desired to come about or accept where you have landed and make the best of your circumstances. I am not for a moment implying that we be complacent and accepting in all that happens to us, but just to recognise those situations that are beyond our control and work within them to extract the best possible outcome. Our relocation journey, took me out of a comfort zone and enabled me to enter the consulting world, where I have been for 13 years now. Do I regret what happened to us back then? Not for an instant. Do I wonder how different our lives would be now? Of course, but then I also wonder if  yesterday I had toast rather than muesli for breakfast, how different my day could have been...

Change is inevitable. Sometimes we initiate it and sometimes it is imposed on us. We are fortunate enough to be so versatile that we can adapt to our environment. It is the attitude with which we adopt that can determine the level of happiness through that change. Look for the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, it is always there, you just have to keep on moving forward and looking. You may be only a few steps from the turning point, if you give-up now all the effort would have been in vain.

My journey is far from over and I am still expecting so much still to change. No matter how much I plan and map out this journey, there will still be those unexpected changes that have to be dealt with. I hope I am always able to see the positive in all the changes.

"Just 8 hours"

For most, a  typical workday is 8 hours. How many times have you started the day and said, “Just 8 hours to go…”? Admittedly, I have done it on occasions when there has been nothing really exciting or challenging to work on. I think every person, at every level has felt that way, even if they haven’t verbalised it.

In a way, a very real way, we are wishing away part of our lives and the time we are wanting to pass in an instant, can never be recovered.

Imagine if we had to pay a fee for each and every hour we lived. How different would our attitudes be? Say we had to pay an additional tax of R100 per hour to be at work, would we still be just wishing our R800 away because we didn’t feel like doing a particular task assigned to us? My approach would be, instead of feeling like I am wasting my money, I’d rather finish the activity as quickly as possible to be able to move onto something different and see my money spent on something I actually enjoy doing. I only have a finite supply of funds and would rather be spending it wisely.

Well, think of your bank account of time. It too only has a finite supply. As you make a withdrawal, it does not get replenished. You only have the allocation that you were born with.  The “just 8 hours” is a commitment that will not be refunded, so spend it wisely. Invest it in making your workday the best 8 hours possible. I’ll admit, that’s not always easy, especially after being on holiday and now returning to an office routine again, but ultimately, we get to choose the attitude we adopt to face those 8 hours.

I was also reminded that within the “just 8 hours”, how many opportunities there are to impact on other people’s lives. We can live in the wasteful clock-watching mode, waiting for knock-off time and just getting through in a survival mode, or we can be vigilant in identifying needs in people around ourselves. See where others need encouragement, a positive word may be just what they need to boost them through their 8 hours. So many people are suffering with hurt, depression, anger or rejection. See how you can make your “just 8 hours” into an investment by influencing your immediate surroundings. If you see your workday in that way, 8 hours can actually seem too little…