So it's the 4th of July today, Independence Day in
the U.S. of A. I've also considered it my own
independence day for a long time, as it's the day
thirty-one years ago (blimey, that's scary) that I left
home and headed off to Canada for a 3-month trip,
getting my ear pierced as soon as I arrived in Toronto
just to mark the occasion.
So, what is independence all about? Well, one way of
looking at it is that it's about freedom from being under
the control of someone else. Freedom to be in control
of your own destiny and to do whatever you choose
just because that's what you want to do.
With all these thoughts of independence and freedom,
synchronicity seemed to be in the air when I heard that
Alan Johnston, the BBC correspondent who had been
held as a hostage in Gaza for 114 days, had been
released early this morning.
But along with choice, independence also has
connotations for me of doing it on my own, which
could also be perceived as somewhat lonely.
What I found interesting listening to Alan Johnston's
press conference this morning, was that apart from
describing what it had felt like to be held captive for
so long and to not know whether he even had a future,
the rest of what he said was not about him now being
free and able to do whatever he chose to do.
No, he talked at length about all the people he had to
thank for being where he was this morning. Amongst
others he thanked the Hamas leadership, the people
all over the world who marched to demand his
release, the Palestinian people and fellow journalists.
It all made my trusty pen and me think that however
independent we think we are, for me the "beingness"
of a human being, unless you happen to be a hermit,
is best reflected in how we interact with other people.
After all, like Alan Johnston, we all have many people
to thank for being where we are today.
The lesson I learned from Alan Johnston this
morning is that I didn't get where I am today without
the help, support and assistance of a lot of people. I
also know that I am very rarely even aware of that help
and support, and it's therefore even rarer for me to
acknowledge it.
So my commitment over the next few days is to
acknowledge and thank the key people who have
been instrumental in me being where I am today in
terms of my life, my career and my emotional
wellbeing. They have helped me build the platform on
which I now stand and prepare to launch myself
onwards and upwards.
So, my challenge for you is to identify 10 key people in
your life that have been instrumental in helping you get
to where you are now.
Who knows what will open up for me and for you by
taking on this challenge. It is all about putting energy
out into the world, not for the sake of getting anything
back, but just for the joy of doing it. What could be
more uplifting and inspiring?
I would love to hear any of your experiences in taking
part in this challenge.
Thanks for reading. The next issue will be on the 1st
of August.
" by Simon Woodroffe.
One reviewer on Amazon hated this book, but all the
others loved it. I'm firmly in the second camp. At only
60 pages and with lots of pictures and white space,
you could read it in an hour or two. It's also the type of
book you can pick up and open at any random page
and read a short story, a philosophy and some tips.
*****
" - Crowded House. What can I say? You
know damn well I'm going to give it 5 stars whatever.
Just read the reviews, listen to it and make your own
mind up. This band, and their music, represents
everything that is good in music to me! *****
" - Captain. As well as being really nice
people, this is also one of the best new bands around
at the moment. Everyone that I have played this to,
loves it. To quote one of the Amazon reviewers "I have
never listened to such uplifting and inspiring modern
music." *****
