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30.11.2022

To Give Is To Receive | Generous | Future-Self

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: something that’s creating an energy and positive impact
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

Have you taken the GLAS Understanding Assessment
and received your free report?

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

To Give Is To Receive

Finally, after almost three years I had the great pleasure of hosting a very special afternoon tea for a group of elderly people last weekend. I joined a charity called Re-Engage (formerly Contact The Elderly) about 5 years ago with the aim of being a voluntary ‘host’ - the idea being that you join a local group and host a couple of afternoon teas each year, each lasting about 2 hours and for 10-14 guests. Obviously we had a couple of years where the afternoon teas couldn’t happen and then my group leader left resulting in our group disbanding.

However, thanks to the determination of another group leader - the fabulous Lisa - we managed to get back to being able to host these amazing older folk. My learn this week is almost a ‘relearn’; when we give kindness - whether that is time, baked goods and afternoon tea or anything else for that matter - it comes back to us ten times over.

I spent all weekend baking quiches, victoria sponges, biscuits, scones and much more. We laid the table with fine china plates, cups and saucers purchased from charity shops. Finally on Sunday afternoon the first of 11 guests arrived (via volunteer drivers). Having warmly welcomed everyone, we poured the tea and passed round the finger sandwiches getting to know this new group of people. Time passed quickly as the conversations flowed seamlessly. There was much laughter, story telling, reminiscing and delight.

At the end of the afternoon, people began to gather their coats as we boxed up parcels of cake and biscuits for the guests to take home with them. One of the guests, Rosemary who will soon be 86, stopped me. I noticed tears gently rolling from her eyes as she pulled me closer to her. She said she lives for these afternoons, having previously been a district nurse and always around people. Continuing, she explained that the opportunity of talking about old Birmingham, her 9 siblings (all now passed as she was the youngest by a good few years) and her life meant everything. But the reality was that for all Rosemary got from her couple of hours with us, we got a whole lot more.

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or positive energy; a stand-out word / s

Generous

The word generous originates from Latin GENEROSUS meaning "of noble birth" figuratively "magnanimous".

It is formed from GENUS meaning "race, stock" (from PIE root *gene "give birth, beget". It has a secondary sense of "unselfish" and "plentiful" - as used in English in the 1600s. To be generous has a human - kin - association. To give to those around us. Of course we can be generous with many things and in many ways - two of the most important being time and attention.

ACTION
Something small that you can do that might make a big difference

Time and Attention

You may have noticed a developing theme this week! My suggested action is simply to give some time and attention to someone - whether they are someone close to you, at work or a stranger. The only thing I’ll say is: make it genuine, real time and full attention - no phones on tables, be 100% present!

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“What would my future-self advise me to do?”

Think about next year - to 2023 - and the things you’d like to achieve, to try, to change and to stop. Now think about yourself further into the future (let’s say 5 years ahead). What would your future-self advise you about 2023?

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

Volunteering

I remember being in awe of the Commonwealth Games volunteers - one of my best friends was one of them and she loved every minute of it. I’ve certainly volunteered for a wide range of things over the years and always enjoyed it and learned many things as a consequence. I’m shouting out the basic and vital act of volunteering. Stepping forwards, often into something unknown in order to help, is a very special and important thing. Everyone can benefit!

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week I’m providing you with a free download (using the code below) for my visual synopsis of, All You Have To Do Is Ask by Wayne Baker.

The visual synopsis below is gifted to you for free (for 7 days) using code: ASKFORHELP when you check out. Access is via the link below.

The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

*** ORDER YOURS NOW READY FOR 2023 ***

Order Your Deliberate Year Calendar & Logbook Set

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?