Are you Too Sensitive?

A few months, back a tearful person was very upset with me because I had written to their friend twice in the previous week, but not to them, and thus confronted me about my neglect of themselves. However when I explained that I only wrote to their friend rather than visit because I had not been too well, and explained that despite the fact that I hadn’t written to them, I had not only rang but had visited that upset person personally twice in that same time, even once when I was still not really that well, they were much happier.

As well, I explained that I felt it was the person that only got the letters that should have been upset at only getting letters and not personal visits. (Yeah well maybe a letter from me may be preferred to a personal visit!) Anyway, when it was explained properly, the upset person was happy again, realising that there was no real slight but that the perceived slight was only in their own perception and not in reality.

Recently in the papers there was a story about Paul McCartney and his wife having a spat, as she perceived that his expression of “Have a Merry Christmas” was sarcastic and aimed at her. I wasn’t there so can not say one way or the other, but I do think it dangerous to make drastic conclusions on just one or two examples and we always need to see everything in the wider context of things.

In the case of the McCartney’s going through a bitter and prolonged divorce, there may be some strong reasons to see it as sarcasm, but not necessarily. In my own case with the upset person, although they too were extremely upset, when all the facts were known was able to see the truth as it really was.

Forget the McCartneys and my upset friend for now, and look at yourself. Are you too, a little on the too sensitive side? Maybe with some good reason in the past too? But don’t let the past colour or influence the present and future. Before you judge now, even based on past experience, please check everything out according to present realities. Sometimes your first impression will be right, on other occasions wrong. On other occasions, often your initial reaction will make it happen when it otherwise wouldn’t.

My upset friend took the letters as a sign of my rejecting them, when in fact I had given her more than the two letters that her friend received in lieu of my not being able or well enough to visit them. So before you react or make judgement based on perceived slights or rejections, get all the facts, because just maybe it is not them rejecting you, but you rejecting a genuine friends genuine but clumsy attempts to reach out to you. What say you?

Johnny Depp’s Gratitude.

I like stories where people give a little back of what they have received. I like it even better when they try and do it quietly and without publicity. It doesn’t always work out that way as Johnny Depp found out recently.

He recently arrived unexpectedly at a renowned London Hospital that saved his daughter’s life last year. A week earlier he had 5 of their Doctors and Nurses to the premier of his latest film in England. (Sweeny Todd.)

However his most recent spontaneous way of saying thank you, was nearly a Million times better. Yes, unannounced and unwarrantedly, he donated One Million English Pounds to the Hospital. Now that is really saying thank you isn’t it? I mean he didn’t have to give them anything, did he? I’m sure he paid his Bill last time around and therefore there was no real need (Other than genuine gratitude) for him to do what he did is there?

How can we learn from Johnny Depp? Sure, very few of us are ever going to have a spare Million quid or two, hanging around to give away, but I am sure all of us can show our real gratitude to others in a tangible way, even if not with money.

The thing is, in my view at least, is to do it, or at least try and do it, quietly and not for show or publicity like many do. If someone has helped you in the past, even if (like with Johnny’s daughter’s Hospital Bill,) you have paid for it, try doing something extra. Not for publicity or to big note yourself, simply out of gratitude and do it as quietly as you can. What say you?

English Grown Coffee.

A few weeks back I read in our Daily Newspaper (Herald Sun), how English Chef Jamie Oliver was going to dispense from one of his restaurants, about 50 cups of coffee made from the beans of the first coffee ever grown and harvested in England. In case you didn’t know, the cold climate there is not conducive to growing coffee and special efforts had to be made to do so.

This does not prove that it is profitable or practical to grow Coffee in England. Only that you can do it if you set your mind to it and can afford the cost of both money and time to do it.

And for what? 50 cups of Coffee!

Many things are possible in this day and age, but not all are practical or worth the effort are they? What about what we are doing? Sometimes it is good to try and do things that have never been done before but often they have no other value than self gratification and one has to wonder why they are done and to what benefit? (Much can be achieved from initial efforts but I have already covered that in my recent blog on Sir Edmund Hillary.)

So yes, it is quite an achievement to grow Coffee in England, but what good is that going to be, if it is not viably profitable to continue to do so? Doing something to show that it can be done is one thing but to what ultimate end? What long-term achievement, will come out of this achievement? I can’t believe that it will ever be viably economical to grow coffee commercially in England, so apart from proving it can be done, and the immediate novelty value of it, what real benefits will arise from this venture?

I guess time will tell about that, but what about our achievements? What are we trying to achieve and to what benefit? Ours or the communities? Will we do things for the benefit of others or just for our own? Will we do things for their novelty value, or for some real value? Will we waste resources on doing what has already been done or will we try something new? These are the questions that I will be asking myself about all my endeavours for this year. What about you?

Sir Edmund Hillary.

The man regarded by some as “the most famous New Zealander in history”, Sir Edmund Hillary, died on January 11^th at the ripe old age of 88. In case you can’t remember back that far, on May 29, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, were the first people to climb Mt Everest and return alive to tell the world. (For a while no one even knew who was really the first to reach the summit as the two of them made a pact to say they reached it together.) People today still climb Mt Everest, because in the words of George Mallory an earlier climber, (who died trying to conquer it), “Because it is there”.

Many have climbed it successfully since. Some 1,700, I believe, but some still die trying each year. Much money and effort and even lives are spent on trying to climb it again, but to what advantage, other than to say that you have done it? (Which I have to admit is something most of us will never do.)

However Sir Hillary (Or Sir Ed as he was afffectionaly known by his friends,) was different. Not only was he the first to climb it, but also he seems to be one of few, who really cared about the mountain or the people there. Not only did he climb it 1st but later he went back and did charity work in Nepal, including cleaning up some of the mess left by later climbers. He also set up a trust called the Himalayan Trust that established many schools and clinics in the remote Solu Khumba district of Nepal and which also helped establish the region’s two main airstrips.

Sir Edmund was not only the first to climb Mt Everest but one of the few (along with his son Peter, who also climbed Everest many years later,) to do something constructive with his fame and achievements, for the others involved in that endeavour. He never forgot all the Sherpas and local people that helped make his climb possible. And in the 50 plus years since, he had worked tirelessly and largely unannounced, to help them in practical life changing ways. So much so that the people there, think of him as their second father still!

What about us? We may never climb Mt Everest. (Well I won’t that’s for sure!) But there are many other things that we can do, and when we have achieved them, what then? We can either keep all the glory and all the gold, for ourselves? Or we can be like Sir Edmund, who grateful for the help he had received in achieving what he had, not only reluctantly accepted that he was the first but also shared his glory and Gold with others in practical ways.

In what practical ways can you help those around you that have helped you over the years? No matter how many years ago!

New Zealand’s Prime minister said this,” He was a heroic figure who not only knocked off Everest but lived a life of determination, humility and generosity.” We may never “knock off” Everest or any other mountain for that matter, but let people say of you, that you too “ lived a life of determination, humility and generosity”. Life is more than one single achievement, no matter how big; so like Sir Ed, let yourself be remembered more for your whole life, than for just one single achievement. What say you?

Politics

As said in previous Blogs, my Blogger friend Lynx and I exchange e-mails on occasion, and part of the most recent was this: “Between the two of us we've tackled almost every issue there is to tackle, big and small. It's not something two little bloggers half the world away from each other can normally say, but between the two of us, we've tackled it all. You stick to the small stuff normally, which is good cause I'm not so good on that end (part of my personality I guess), and I go after politics etc.”

In my last item I spoke of the importance of the small things. Here I wish to look at the Subject of politics. As I said in my first blog on this e-mail, there is only so much and so many subjects that one person can successfully cover by themselves. So there comes a time where you have to decide what is the most important to you and spend most of your time covering that. Sure if you have time to cover other subjects too, then fine, do that too, but not to the risk of your preferred field.

Thus the reason I don’t normally discuss political things is not that I don’t have strong political view, but that the things I do find time to write about, are more important to me than many other things including Politics. (In fact it is probably good that I don’t write on things political, as Lynx and I are basically at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to our personal political views.)

As well, it is not that I have no interest in politics, but that I have seen in my nearly 40 years of voting that, even when the party you prefer wins, they don’t always do what you agree with either, and so unless you are prepared to be really involved and join a party or such, one really has little chance of changing much, no matter who you vote for. (And here in Australia, you have to vote. It is compulsory!).

So rather than waste my time and energies on subjects I have little real influence on, I much prefer doing and taking care of the little things that I can directly influence, rather than comment on something that I don’t have a strong connection too or feel as strongly about.

What about you? Are you directing your time and energies into areas where you can have a direct influence, like me with my little things, and Lynx with her political views? If you want to make a difference and a change in this world, don’t just talk about it but get involved personally and practically, even if only at a small level. So continuing the New Year’s challenge of late, “What Little thing can you do now, whether for a political Party or some other cause?”

Small Stuff In A Big Way.

As said in a previous Blog, my American Blogger friend Lynx and I exchange e-mails on occasion, and part of the most recent was this: “Between the two of us we've tackled almost every issue there is to tackle, big and small. It's not something two little bloggers half the world away from each other can normally say, but between the two of us, we've tackled it all. You stick to the small stuff normally, …” In my last item I spoke of the advantages of Teamwork. Here I wish to look at the Subject of small things.

Some have said that if you take care of all the little things while they are little, then there will be no big problems later. I think that this is great advice having seen what happens when living in a culture where maintenance seems to be a foreign concept. When the first screw fell out of the hinge, nothing was done. When all the screws fell out of the Hinge nothing was done. When the hinge came off, nothing was done. When the other hinge broke, again nothing was done for as while; until someone did do something. They stole the door! This was on a schoolroom used daily and it was without a door for a couple of years after that, so don’t despise or neglect the small things.

Many years ago, shortly after I became a Christian at the age of 29, I bought a wall hanger that resonated with me. It said, “Lord, I may never do any big thing, but help me to do little things in a big way.”

That has always been part of my philosophy ever since and I have found that it works for me.

Oh sure all of us would love to do or to have done, something big that others will always remember, but remember many people also notice and appreciate the small things you do too, and judge you more on them than on any big thing you may do.

So never despise the little things and take care of them before they become large problems. Do the little things as of they were big things and see what happens.

So again as we are starting of another New Year, ask yourself, “What little things can I do this year or even this month, in a BIG Way?”

Teamwork verses Individualism.

My dear American Blogger friend Lynx and I exchange e-mails on occasion, and this was the most recent that intrigued me:

”Oh it's no problem Walter. Between the two of us we've tackled almost every issue there is to tackle, big and small. It's not something two little bloggers half the world away from each other can normally say, but between the two of us, we've tackled it all. You stick to the small stuff normally, which is good cause I'm not so good on that end (part of my personality I guess), and I go after politics etc, and here in the US there's no shortage of that! I'm trying to compose a piece about what's going on in Pakistan right now but I just don't know where to go, it's so confusing. But that just may be where I end up going with the blog.”

Just reading that has inspired me with a few thoughts that I will blog on. The first one will be as the title implies on teamwork.

As Lynx says we hare half the world away on different continents and in different Hemispheres. We are not only of different nationalities but also of different gender and even generations, and even different political leanings; yet we can still work as a team encouraging and inspiring each other with thoughts and ideas for further blogs. As also stated, we cover different topics or fields and thus cover a wider area with our blogs than if we worked independently or competitively.

Not any one person in this world can cover every area that often needs to be covered and so it helps not only the work but you too, if you work co-operatively rather than competitively.

It is not that we have set out to work together or to a certain plan, just that our two styles and general concerns, compliment rather than conflict with one another, and between the two of us we are covering a wider area of content than either of us could individually. And as we are not competitive to each other, we encourage and inspire, rather than contradict or sabotage each other’s inspiration.

By and large our reader market are markedly different too but between us, we are able to encourage one another to continue in our chosen areas of interest and concern.

What about you today? Are you fighting a lonely battle without support and need a little help and inspiration? Well look for and be open to, help from others.

Hopefully you will be able to find similar kindred spirits to you a little closer than the other side of the world, but accept it form wherever and whomever, it comes.

Who can you team up with this year, to both encourage and inspire your present sphere of influence and who can help you spread that present field of influence further? Don’t look for carbon copies of you but for those who compliment and fulfil your present talents and dreams. What say you? Walter

Is being Busy Good?

Recently in reply to my “Motivation “article I received the following reply.

“Hi, Walter; This reminds me of the other day when I went to the doctor. I said to him, "I may be into too many things. I stay so busy." He said, "No, keep on about it. If you are busy now, you will continue to be busy. If you sit down and do nothing, you will continue to do nothing".

This is very good advice my Friend’s Doctor gave, but do we follow it? Do you? I must admit that I struggle with it. I don’t know about you, but when I have little to do and all day to do it in, I find that I struggle to even do the little I have to do because I tend to put it off to later. You know when it is a bit hotter (or cooler). Or, when it is a bit drier (or wetter). And so on, the excuses seem to be endless.

However when I have a lot to do, I tend to do things straight away and, surprise, surprise I find that although time is short I get a lot more done and feel the better for having done so.

What about you? Are you like my friend and busy now? Or are you simply like me on my off days and busy doing nothing?

So to answer my own question above about, “Is being Busy good?” The answer is yes, so get out there and get busy doing something useful. Find something that motivates you. Whether it helps you or simply someone in your community is immaterial, just get out and get busy and keep living healthier. Walter

I Am Not The Only One, but what about you? 13/4/2007

Although it doesn’t happen very often, (that’s my story and I am sticking to it.) I occasionally run out of the most popular Daily Paper at my Kiosk. If it happens or looks like happening early enough, I can ring up and have more sent up. However if it happens towards the end of my stint, then it is not worth doing.

When that happens, people either have to go without or if they have time, go to a little Café nearby and buy one there. The Café is only about 60 metres away but as it is at the back of the shops on Main street and on the end of a small lane way that few know is there, a lot of the Railway travelers, although most pass it every day, are often not aware it is there and I have to direct them to it, which is funny, for if you stand outside my Kiosk, where they stand, and look in the right direction, one can see it clearly from there.

Anyway one day recently, I ran out of the main Paper and I was on the outside of my kiosk bringing in the “Headline display sign” when I saw an elderly gentleman using a stick come up the ramp to the Platform, asking for a paper as he neared me. I showed him where he could get one, but understandably he decided it really wasn’t worth his effort.

At that precise time a young man in his 20’s arrived also wanting a Paper, so I also told him where to go. (nicely though!) Commenting that he never knew it existed, he pronounced that he would indeed go and buy a paper there. To our surprise, he asked the older gentleman if he would like him to get him one too. Of course he agreed and gave him the money. As the young fellow went off, the older man said “What a nice young man”. To which I agreed. Then he went off. To buy a Ticket I think.

In due course the young man came back and went looking for the other chap, finding him around the corner.

Well was the old chap pleased? He spent close to five minutes thanking the young man for his outstanding kindness to him.

All of this overheard by me around the corner, which left me again wondering, is our society so uncaring in general, that something as simple and un-troubling to the doer, could bring such surprise and joy to the receiver?

It was also good to learn that I am not the only one in my suburb who still does normal every day unthinking acts of kindness.

I am not talking about big efforts here, but just simple ordinary, everyday actions. I mean the young fellow was going there anyway. It wasn’t as if he deliberately went out of his way at any cost, for this other chap.

Again I will ask in closing, what little thing or things, at no real cost or effort, can you do every day to help those around you, whether it is verbally appreciated or not? Walter

For nice, as well as for practical.

Many years ago I read a small novel by James A Michener (called, “The Novel”, I think.) In it he spoke of a very practical American Farmer with a Dutch background who only ever did things that had a practical outcome for him. One time a Local Nurseryman tried to sell him 3 big trees that he needed to find homes for, and offered them to Herman at a price well below their real value, but Herman wasn’t buying. Literally! He said something along the lines of, “Why should I buy them?” His wife, not the Nurseryman said, “For nice Herman, for Nice.”

What about you my friend, do you ever do anything, just for nice? My father was a man of the land who took it over from his father and grew his vegetables for very practical reasons. His Sebago potatoes and Queensland Blue pumpkins, for their “keeping” qualities so that he had Pumpkins and potatoes for three quarters of the year, instead of just during the growing season. His Drumhead cabbage because of their tightness and thus good cutting qualities, making them ideal to cut into halves and quarters.

I could go on and on with other vegetables but I think I have made my point of the practicality of what he grew in the veggie garden.

When it came to the Mum’s flower garden, it is true to say that he would get stuck into the weeds and such at the end of winter and turn over beds for her when asked, but flowers were not really his thing.

Except for King Alfred Daffodils. For Dad, they were his, “For nice Plant”. I won’t mention them in more detail here as I have done so elsewhere all ready, but what about you? What, “For Nice” thing will you be remembered for?

Again I am not saying you should stop being practical, but that you find what your, “For nice” thing is, plant or any other object, and do something for others as well as yourself. Over to you: Walter.

Offered Rewards vs. Real Rewards?

In my last blog, “Red Letter Day”, I told about how something as simple as writing a letter to the Paper’s letter column played havoc with my emotions. I also told you how my second attempt not only got published but was awarded a Pen as the prize for being the Letter of the Day.

Well yesterday the pen arrived in the post. A very nice Parker Sonnet fountain pen, in a very nice presentation box.

As I admired it, the penny started dropping. A very nice pen indeed but a fountain pen none the less. Now I don’t know about you, but it is difficult to remember the last time I seriously used a fountain pen. I did do a little Calligraphy one time during our time in South Africa, but I think the previous time before that would be over 40 years ago, whilst at primary school.

So here I am with a very nice, and a reasonably expensive pen that I will probably never use. Although I never really expected either of the girls to have a use for it either, I did offer it to them first, before offering it to my/our boy. He reluctantly accepted it saying that he might use it sometime.

So that was my dilemma. My prize was a very nice, even an expensive one, but one that was largely worthless and useless to me.

This led me to thinking about why I wrote the letter; what my real motivation was. I guess the main reason for writing, was to express my response to something I had an opinion on and as no one else was sharing it, I wanted to get the other side out there for people’s consideration and /or inspiration. The other reason for writing was to get it before a wider audience, hence the need/desire to have it published. The reward for the letter of the day was a very nice “Cherry on Top” but not the reason for writing. (And again, a totally unexpected one!)

What is your reason or motivation for doing what you do? Is it simply to win rewards, even if like my pen, they prove ultimately useless to you? Or is it to get a previously unheard or ignored message across for the consideration or inspiration of others?

What is your motivation? To get published? Or to be rewarded? A view shared, is far more rewarding than a temporary award or prize, irregardless of its temporary usefulness or not, to you.

My goal was to get the letter published and out there before the public irregardless of their response. Mind you, having said that, it was nice to find that I was not alone in my view! (Encouragement is always appreciated!) However whether it was accepted by the wider public or not, was neither here nor there in my reasoning. Just getting it out there for others to ponder was my motivation in doing this. Again what is your motivation for doing all that you do?

What say you, is your real reward? The prize, or the achievement? Walter

What One Person Can Do.

Recently I received an e-mail about a lady in America who had a five acre garden filled with Daffodils of all sizes and colours. People came from miles around to view her garden. On her front porch was a sign saying, "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking".

1. 50,000 bulbs.
2. "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain."
3. Began in 1958.

The moral of the story being that one person can bring about a great thing of beauty and design that others can enjoy, if they are prepared to make a start and move one step forward at a time.

This story of Daffodils reminds me of another closer to home. Around the time this lady in America started her daffodil collection, my father started growing daffodils too. Or rather one specific variety of Daffodil! Sometime in the 1950’s, Dad brought home a dozen King Alfred Daffodil Bulbs from the Queen Victoria Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market. He paid the then princely sum of 2 shillings and sixpence for them. These days that is only 25 cents but in those days a goodly amount.

These bulbs were proudly planted in the front garden and went forth and multiplied. So much so that in the mid 60’s they had multiplied so much that they were dug up and moved to a bigger site. At the same time, many of the excess bulbs were either sold off, on his veggie Round or given away to family and friends. A habit that was practised a few times over the years, as they have been dug up and moved a couple of more times since then.

As the number of bulbs multiplied, even after getting rid of a lot, so did the need for more space to grow them. First, from the house garden, they went down to a large area on the furtherest edge of the 1 acre Veggie Garden next to the house; and then later brought up closer to the house again; and then over the creek and along the drive, beside the stock yard; and later again along the outside edge of another veggie garden, also along the then drive, (by then I think that garden had been turned into a Hay paddock,) where they still grow and every year bloom in golden profusion to the pleasure of all who drive by. As well during flowering season, all visitors are offered a knife or pair of secateurs and told, “Go and pick as many flowers as you want.”

They have not been moved for many years now and are suffering from over crowding, but with every previous move, many bulbs were dispersed all around Melbourne and parts of Victoria. Even now people are encouraged to go and dig as many bulbs as they want during the dormant season. The only requirement is to spread a few back in the empty spaces, so they can multiply again. If he couldn’t sell them dad would give them away. There was no worse crime than seeing the bulbs wither away because no one wanted them and he had no room for them. Although dad passed away last year, that principle still holds for Mum.

Unlike the American women who kept all hers and added to them, and had a magnificent display for others to see, dad dispersed his along the way, so that many others could share in a little of the joy that these flowers gave him. Both methods have their merits. One large display is truly a magnificent sight and one to behold and long remember, but smaller displays spread around among hundreds, if not thousands, is also a very good thing.

Now daffodils may not be your thing. No plant may be your thing, but what can you do, one bulb or one piece at a time to impact on others, if not the whole world? Like me you may not have another 50 years in front of you to achieve what this lady did, but if you start now you can make a start or you can encourage others to make a start like my dad did.

Now you may not have the space that this lady or my dad had and so you may need to regulate on a scale to the space available for your project, but those excuses aside, there is no reason that you can not do something, whether it be a craft of woodwork or needle work (like my wife) or even Daffodils. Again, this is not so much a question of what you can do, but more of what you will do. Over to you: Walter.

Can one person change anything? Can You?

Recently our Pastor at Church did a series on Change and on how we can either assist or resist it.

In the Melbourne Herald Sun Newspaper on 20/1/07, there was an article on how the attitude and resistance to male Nannies in the UK has been changed positively by the negative actions of a major actor having had an affair recently with his children’s nanny, and how now many other women, worried that it might happen to them, have suddenly and warmly accepted Males as Nannies wherein the past they have strongly resisted them.

Then in the Herald Sun on 21/1/07 there was another article about how individuals by doing simple things, like not using plastic bags, using low energy light bulbs, walking or biking where possible instead of using the car, could conserve our resources and help the environment. It seems again some of the old sayings hold true! The old rule, of every little bit not only helps but all the little bits put together become one big change agent!

Having all this talk about change by just one person, in triplicate, I thought maybe someone is trying to tell me something and maybe I should look into this subject of one person being able to effect change, effectively, if not alone, certainly collectively.

A couple of points obviously jump out. The first is that it helps if that single person is someone in the public eye and thus can garner easily, public attention, even if not public emulation. Thus this type of change, like with the acceptance of male nannies can be easily seen and easily appreciated and or recognised.

Others, like with the reduction in the number of plastic bags used or the amount of electricity used, is not so easily observed or recognised, nor appreciated, but none the less is still worthy and worth doing.

Often these changes are more effective and longer lasting than some of the more flashy, showy, more observable changes.

So we see, one person, even you, can bring about large change, but that change can be good or bad depending on your own personal behaviour. Every thing you do, both big or small, impacts on others, whether we recognise it or not. For either good or bad. So what agent of change are you. Good or bad. More on this subject later: Walter

Helping others as you have been helped.

I saw in the Melbourne Herald Sun on Feb.20 that a guy called Larry Stewart passed away in America. Larry who you might ask? And a good question too, because to most Larry Stewart might not have existed as far as they were concerned. Me too, for that matter, because before that day I had never heard of him either, yet his life story now inspires me.

Unknown to most, even in the city he lived in for much of his life, yet to a lot of people, for a lot of years, this unknown Larry made a big difference in their lives. Yet his story is very simple.

"In 1971, without money and not haven eaten for two days, he had breakfast at a Roadhouse.

When Stewart pretended to have lost his wallet the owner handed him $20, saying, “Son you must have dropped this.”

As he drove off he realised no one dropped the $20. The man was sparing him the embarrassment.

He decided to help others if he had the chance, which came in 1982 when he became a millionaire through a communications company he established.

In December 1999 he tracked down the diner owner, Stewart who died at 58, told him, “I’ve come to pay you back”, and gave him an envelope with $10,000.”

Prior to that, for the last 26 years, he also gave money” to the homeless on Kansas City streets at Christmas time. To the tune of $1.3 Million! This was done anonymously until late last year when he knew he was dying of cancer. He only revealed himself then, so as to raise awareness of the plight of the destitute at Christmas, and in the hope that others may be inspired to do something similar, even if not to the same degree of generosity.

A few thoughts came to mind.

!. It may not be much now, but in 1971, but $20 was a lot of money then. So how generous are we to the really needy? And do we do it quietly or do we try and make a big deal of our “Generosity”? Are we truly concerned with their feelings? Or only our own?

2. Do we make any effort to pay back the generosity of others to us, either to them or by doing the same for others in need? Unlike the diner owner we may never be reimbursed, and even if so, not to the same degree of generosity. But that should never be our motive. We should do, because we can, not because we have to. We should give because we want to, not because we are forced or coerced to.

3. It is not always necessary for us to advise of our good deeds. Often it is far better to go around and do things quietly like Larry for 26 years. This way he was able to help the truly needy without being buried by all the requests and demands of “Professional Beggars”.

4. Yet! There does sometimes come a time when we do have to advertise, not for our glory or recognition, but to find someone with the desire to continue our efforts, and to inspire others, when we know or feel that our involvement there is about to end, whether through death, illness, or simply moving elsewhere.

So to all the “New Larry’s “out there, “Who can you help today and will you?” Walter

Madonna

I saw in the Melbourne Herald Sun on Feb.20 that the “Material Girl wants to be like Gandhi”. In the article, Madonna is quoted as saying, “I want to be like Gandhi, and Martin Luther King and John Lennon … but I want to stay alive.” Two thoughts come to mind.

Firstly I wonder whether Gandhi or Martin Luther King, woke up one morning and decided that they wanted to be somebody famous or even somebody important in the world’s eyes? Unlike Madonna, I believe they never set out to change the whole world, simply to right the wrongs they experienced around them. When Madonna (and we} start to correct and change the wrongs around us, then we to will be doing something wonderful and life changing for others. We may never become famous or even recognised but we will have done something worthwhile.

Secondly I wonder why she didn’t include Nelson Mandela in her list of heroes to emulate? After all he is still living! Oh yeah! There is that little matter of spending, what was it, 28 Years in jail? It seems a lot of us want the glory, or some of it at least, that others are getting, but are not prepared to pay the price, if that price is physical pain or incarceration or even death.

Again I don’t think any of those men and many, many other men and women who helped change the world, did it for personal gain, favour or reward. They simply did what they could do irregardless of the probable consequences. I’m sure many of them, like Nelson Mandela, never expected to survive the first few years, let alone become President of his own country.

I truly think it is great that Madonna wants to do something world enhancing like the others but I believe she shouldn’t talk about it but start doing something with her life and not just her money.

I say the same to myself and to you. Walter