27th October

This blog is meant to be daily.  I haven’t written for 3 days – should I write more to make it up?

I am not sure, we’ll see how we go.

A few years ago I decided I wanted to write a book.  I don’t think I even started but the idea has been formulating in my mind all this time.  It really started after I read a book called 365 Ways to Change the World by Michael Norton.

It’s a selection of small things we can all do to make a difference to the world.

Firstly, KINDNESS.  It doesn’t cost anyone anything but can really make a difference.

You don’t have to go overboard with this one – it’s simply using manners and sharing the earth with other people – you don’t have to even like everyone – but you do need to practice kindness.

Manners have been forgotten with this generation.  We applaud young people who are kind and use manners, but shouldn’t this be the norm – not the exception?

Yes the generation X, Y or Z or whatever have a different way about them than prior generations.  Apparently they are more self absorbed, rebellious and more likely to argue back than other generations.  I think these are all great traits – used appropriately.  Arguing with your boss about workplace procedures can be okay.  But it is not an excuse to be rude or disrespectful to the person paying your wages.

So my first page on this topic is Kindness.  I have just been sidetracked on generational differences which will probably be more indepth later on but seriously, Kindness is lacking in so many capacities and it is so easy to do.  I am not talking of solving the refugee crisis or adopting puppies (Although these are all good things to do); it’s more about showing respect; being appreciative and helping others when you have the opportunity to do so.

Make it your goal today to just spread a little kindness.

24th October

At work on a public holiday.

Social welfare has come such a long way in the last fifty years.  Most people work 40 – 50 hours per week.  Minimum wage is now $15.25 per hour.

On top of this, employees have 4 weeks paid holiday per year, 5 or more sick days per year and 11 public holidays per year where they either get paid for a day off or are paid time and half plus a day off.

Pretty damn good I think.

If you are a student or a young person this is awesome.  As a parent bringing up children on minimum wage it sucks.

Both parents have to work full time (assuming there are two parents) just to pay the rent.  And at minimum wage, buying a house is a dream beyond reach.

One third of the children in New Zealand are living below the poverty level.

You know, there are a lot of adults of there who have made or are making bad choices in their lives, keeping them in poverty with low education levels and little hope.  Sometimes this also means they are unable to work at all.

I am not writing this post to enter into any political debate.  In fact, I really hate entering any conversations where a whole bunch of problems are outlined with no solution.  And I don’t think any one way is the right way to address this except to say people in ivory towers shouldn’t judge so much.

It’s interesting – talking to the older generation who see the world as so much harder and more violent.  I disagree.  I think life 100 years ago and before was hard.  Poverty was real and a matter of life and death – not just the suffering we go through in poverty now.  So I am grateful for the progress that has been made.

So what am I trying to say?

• Life is hard.  And poverty makes it harder.  And there is always someone worse off than you.
• We as a society have been huge leaps in providing for our people.  This needs to be acknowledged.
• In saying that, when it’s really hard and life seems unfair – how can we help? What can we do?

A little kindness goes a long way 🙂  This is a discussion for another day.

23rd October

It’s Labour weekend.  I am in the office – meant to be working and doing a whole lot of data entry and preparation for the week ahead.

Already the morning hasn’t gone to plan, with unexpected HR issues at one of the companies I contract to.

I really love my work – I love talkingwith people, troubleshooting and coming up with plans to make everyones lives a little bit easier.  And I am good at it.  It’s interesting – so much of what I do involves really listening to people.  I like it but I find it interesting that so many people don’t have the skills to actually listen to what is being said to them – always thinking about what THEY want to say next instead of paying attention.

I once heard a quote “You learn more from listening, than from talking”.

And Richard Branson, one of the most influential people this century “Most of the successful people I have known are the ones who do more listening than talking”.

So, is this a forgotten skill?  Or an inherent quality that some people have and others don’t?

Either way, I think its good practice for all to learn how to really listen effectively.