The force for good

We have had a charming house guest these past few days - one of those people who simply fits in and scatters calmness and compassion.  He is vastly knowledgeable in a wide variety of fields and a born story-teller.  One of his work lines is acting.  A few years ago he played Alfred Nobel in a short piece on the Smithsonian channel.  He looks the part!

Alfred Nobel

Alfred Nobel started his world famous prize to recognise people who add to the collective goodness in the world – those who become a force for good. He did this because his death was greatly exaggerated; so much so that he got to read his own obituary on the front page of the newspaper, and the heading called him the “Merchant of Death.”  (his brother had died, but the papers had got the wrong information.)  He was so horrified that this perception of him would be his lasting legacy that he set about using his huge wealth to create good.

Nobel prize winners are all great and famous, and all have been chosen for their good work in creating a better world – through peace, science, medicine, literature.  Not everyone who helps create peace and a better world gets international recognition though.  Some people don’t even get a nod of encouragement, and I wonder if they even know how important they are,  because every act of kindness creates ripples of goodwill that are far reaching and essential to world cohesion.  Seemingly small acts can breathe life into a difficult day. 

The kind whatsapp messages checking up on us, the people who bring beautiful flowers, the people who listen and hear us, the people who phone and chat, everyone who reminds us that community is strength and peace is a group project – thank you.

I have always been over awed by the butterfly effect: The saying goes that when a butterfly flaps its wings in some part of the world, it influences the greater events on the opposite side of the world.  It is used as a metaphor that a small change in one state determines larger changes in other spheres.  Small acts of kindness influence the whole world.  Never underestimate the power of good.

If you would like to see the clip about Alfred Nobel (it's under four minutes in length and very interesting!) here is a link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz_c4j8NcDI   or type Smithsonian Institute Alfred Nobel into Google.

Maintenance

It is gutter cleaning time!  We have been promised rain next week , and I intend to be ready.  TD had been invited to a weekend away party - much excitement for her, and as usual, a little trepidation for me. We dropped her off at the brave parents' home and had the morning to ourselves.  What better way to spend it than cleaning the gutters!  I am not particularly comfortable up a ladder, but the view from up there is worth the angst.  I felt - um - elevated. And it cleared my head to think about things.  Firstly, sometimes we need to rise above some situations to take a better look at them. From the top of the ladder I could see which gutters were full of leaves and needed to be cleared and which were clean.  And taking a top down look at this weekend  party I could see that my anxiety at TD spending the night far away is just that - MY anxiety.  She is 15, and adulthood is just around the corner.  She is confident about managing her diabetes, and I need to allow her to enjoy her independence. (Although my angst is not unfounded, and I need to cut myself some slack too.)

The second thing I learnt up on my ladder that sometimes we do become overconfident and that can be dangerous too.  I thought that while I was up there I might as well cut off some overhanging branches.  They were just out of reach, so forgetting I was on a ladder, I leant across to grab the offending branch, and felt the ladder wobble sideways.  No harm done - I managed to regain my balance and steady the ladder, but I did realise I had reached too far.  I could have fallen off, and it would have hurt.  Similarly, diabetes needs constant vigilance.  It is not a disease that allows you to forget where you are or to over reach the limits of the support system.  Falling is dangerous and life threatening.  Even if no one is holding the ladder (us for TD's diabetes at the moment) it is important that she explores

her independence safely.

Thirdly, it was oddly satisfying cleaning those gutters and knowing we would be prepared for the winter rains (please please let it be a good wet winter to fill up the dams.)  Routine maintenance is important - whether it is looking after yourself, or making sure that you are ready to face whatever is coming next.  It is worth taking the time to clean the dirt away and start the season with debris free support systems.

Fourthly, I learnt that from above it is easier to see what other chores need to be done - wood work that needs revarnishing, a bench that needs fixing, a bush that needs trimming and a path needs sweeping.  It is good to get different perspectives of how things are doing and what needs to be done next.  It will be good to chat to TD about what we can do next to help her tweak her diabetes management to make life easier for her.

I am looking forward to hearing all about her adventures when she gets home this afternoon.  I am sure she will bubble in in a cloud of excitement and enthusiasm, as usual.   I just have a few hours left to tackle some more of the jobs I saw needed doing yesterday.   But first, it is time for tea.