To the Rescue

Thereโs a tenderness comes stealingOโer this heart of mine todayAnd a warm and happy feelingThat can never fade away;Just a feeling that is growingEvery day each long year through โItโs the joy that comes through knowingThat I have a friend like you.
Round my heart are memories clingingOf the golden days of old.And they set my soul a-singingWith a happiness untold.Yes, our pulsing heart throbs, treasuredThrough the years of friendship trueMake me prize the love unmeasuredOf a good old friend like you.
Every passing day I wish youAll the joy your heart will hold;May success be always with youAs the coming years unfold.That the fast-approaching morrowsMay see all your dreams come trueAnd contain but minor sorrows,In my wish, dear friend, for you.
May our friendship grow and strengthenIn the misty years to come,So that when lifeโs shadows lengthenAnd our mortal race is run,We may still be friends united โStill be comrades staunch and true;That our ways may eโer be lighted,Yours by me and mine by you.
And that’s the end of our first full month (already!), back home in the Netherlands.
One thing that has struck me is the importance of ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ.
We have spent a large chunk of our first month making lots of new friends and reacquainting ourselves with many old ones too.
As we have visited together, we have laughed, cried, talked, sung, enjoyed meals, walked, played games, hugged, encouraged, helped and above all really listened to one another’s stories and experiences.
It has been a real joy to be with such wonderful friends.
My experience is that all of our interactions together are made more enjoyable and productive when they are accompanied by genuine feelings of friendship.
I remember years ago the counsel from Ralph Waldo Emerson who said โ๐๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐.โ
To be a good friend, show genuine interest in others, smile, care about them, be kind, be grateful and show respect. Above all…
– ๐๐ Real
– ๐๐ You
– ๐๐ your authentic self!
Being who you are is key!
What kind of friend are you?
When you think of a generous person, who first comes to mind?
Generosity – “a willingness to give help or support, especially more than is usual or expected.”
Who has inspired you the most to greater generosity?
I hope that it won’t be some famous celebrities or philanthropists, rather it’ll be a family member, a friend, someone in the community, or a co-worker perhaps.
โYou can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” said Debbie Macomber.
One by One.
Act by Act.
Service by Service.
Little by Little.
Each of us can make a difference.
I am encouraged by the words of the Dalai Lama who said – โGenerosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and loving-kindness.”
We simply don’t talk about generosity enough.
We desperately need more men and women in society at large to look around, to look beyond themselves and consider the needs of others. To become more selfless, outward looking, to give more, to be more compassionate and much, much more generous. Some will think it airy-fairy. Yet, it is a powerful, personal, potent, peace giving potion.
What can you do, who will you help today?
When was the last time you were “out of your depth?”
Out of your depth – “not having the knowledge, experience, or skills to deal with a particular subject or situation.”
This week, I have experienced major IT problems with my laptop. My own efforts to resolve the matter, just seemed to make it worse. I was out of my depth for sure! I had no idea what was going on with Outlook, and it was just going from bad to worse – causing me all kinds of frustrations and major communication issues.
There is never a good time for technology to fail.
So, I decided to go for a walk, got some fresh air realising that I needed some help.
I contacted Managed IT Experts. I love their strapline “We make technology work for your business” – that’s what I needed. Within minutes he was onto the problem, doing some IT wizardry, resolving the issue at hand and had me back up and running once again.
Lesson learned – sometimes its best to call in the experts when you are well out of your depth!
Thank youย Sergio Andre
“All it took was a little push” said the taxi driver.ย Let me turn the clock back to one week ago.
My taxi didn’t arrive at the hotel.ย Reception ordered me another one – it didn’t show either.ย So, I walked to the taxi rank a few minutes away and took a taxi to my business client where I was delivering a workshop that day.ย I always pay by card, but it turned out that he didn’t have a card reader, and I didn’t have any cash.ย On the way, we stopped at a cash machine.ย Then we talked.
Our conversation went like this…”So why don’t you have a card reader” I asked. “Well, I have been meaning to do that for a while now” he replied.ย Probing further “How long is a while?”..”Oh, a few years I think.” Weย then discussed the benefits of card readers, for his cash flow, for his customers, new business opportunities and his resistance to change.ย I committed him to get the reader.
Back with the same client this week, I followed up with my taxi driver.ย He is now the owner of a new card reader.ย He is also benefiting in lots of ways and loves the new opportunities at hand.ย For starters he’s had 6 fares from me to help him on his way! “Thank you again for the little push” he said.
Who can you help with a little push to get them on their way?