Gratitude to others and those around us:

I wrote during the month of December how lucky I have been to be surrounded by great people doing their best to build businesses and well-intentioned individuals whom are working their enterprising backsides off. Driven people whom are determined to bring better products, services and systems to the world we live in, making other people’s lives better, easier, perhaps more enjoyable or extraordinarily adding value simply through product brilliance saving people time for other more important activities. I love products that save the most valuable commodity on earth, time.

It has made me think hard about the way I live, my self-created freedom to choose how I spend time and how I should spend the time I have more wisely on priorities for now leaving less important matters for another time. In searching for the things I would still like to teach my own children, during consideration and review of my own performance as a parent I constantly question the most valuable investment I am trying to make, that which is my approach to parenting. I want to bring great people into the world whom know right from wrong and whom also pay back to the society we live in. That’s how I was brought up, I was challenges to always put my best foot forward, to be the best that I can be and to be considerate of others as I strive to win...extracting the most from life.

 I came across this list: Achievable activities we can do, as a family, to enter into the real spirit of gratitude. Inexpensive and fun whilst also perhaps teaching others the value of gratitude. Giving time alone can be exceedingly valuable…what skills do you have that you can share with others? 

? Whilst I could make biscuits for your local police/fire station – interesting, actually as I saw the village lights for Christmas taken down, I still worked out that my time, my skills were better reaching out to offer my help in a different way helping a friend with their own shareholder troubles.

? A good idea, whilst in the supermarket, each child in the family can choose something from the weekly food shop to donate to the local food bank (most supermarkets have containers at the check-out) Then discuss the merits of how luck we are – I think my children know this as we have enjoyed the student troubles and budgeting of the eldest daughter at University. Perhaps that experience is teaching her something.

? Take a bunch of flowers to your local nursing home. The nurses will know who needed them the most, actually I gifted a massive box of chocolates I was given in the same way.

? I have yet to wrap up a pair of gloves and give to a homeless person this winter, in-fact I have a better idea to see if we can acquire some at cost and then one night in Victoria where I live in the week I will walk round and gift many pairs.

? Given my skill set, I will resist drawing a picture for someone; like perhaps my local dentist,GP, instead I took a picture of work in the dentist surgery showing the hideous amount of sugar in soft drinks that I feel proud my children do not drink

 ? Give a compliment, seems so simple and I see many people struggle with this but practice makes perfect and you can completely change someone’s day giving credit where credit is due. My grandfather used to say, it costs nothing to be polite. My father said manners maketh man..

? Do a good deed for your neighbour, indeed better than this, I have managed to get some of my team to join me for circuit training, helping me stick at it and I am informed making them feel energised and fitter..

? Put others first – I am trying to do better and have made huge strides getting my team in order around me, better focused on goals and agreed targets and with a bounce in their step. All things boding well for the year ahead with a wonderful momentum of positivity. Not everything will go well but we have got a great culture and we really produced remarkable outcomes last year.

? Smile. Perhaps more than this, get out of the right side of the bed each morning and make the effort to engage with others, look at those that serve your coffee, be cheerful, be engaging, when you smile often the world smiles with you, or so I have found.

? Help at the local soup kitchen is something I will do, perhaps next Christmas I will serve at Crisis, in fact better than perhaps, I will sign up now?

? Little pick on the beach or in your local park../ Make a bird feeder.

? Partake in a 5K run/walk for a good cause – do couch to 5k / make the effort to look after your health and rewards will far outweighs the sweaty effort, it gets better each time you persists.

? Say “Thank You,’ always.

 Enjoy your day and make it so with a positive mindset. It is your choice, your mood, you can control it.