Category: Time

CategoriesActionObserveReframe your thoughtsTime

Don’t Bring Scrolls To A Gun Fight

Posted on February 24, 2022

How many movies does one need to watch? How much military history does it take? Diplomacy solves a lot of issues, but it needs to be backed by the full force of something more. We need to know when to switch from tough talk to being tough.

It really is striking how, ‘It’s all the same, only the names will change.’ History repeats itself or at least rhymes.

Like the German fella, Mr Putin is a bit bitter about how his country has been treated or seen in the eyes of Cold War challengers. He may have a little chip on his shoulder, placed there by name-calling, can’t let it go’ers.

So he wants to show the world he has a winning team. He seems to want to flex and show his power pose. Clearly he’s serious.

So Russia looks like Germany in 1939. ‘Denazification’ sounds acceptable to Russians and NATO so we can allow it. Ukraine is the Poland move. Biden plays the Neville Chamberlain / appeaser character. China is Japan. His tactic is Blitzkreig and Putin has the next 80 moves mapped out. Does NATO and her Allies? What options are on the table such as cyber attacks, dirty bombs, NCB weapons or simply a war machine not seen in almost 80 years?

A fascinating game of chess is being played. Unfortunately, real people are the pieces. Will NATO accept an Iron Curtain II? Will social media play a part or will the grids be neutered?

Will anyone bring guns to this gun fight?

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CategoriesGratitudeThink About ItTime

My Friend Passed Away Today

Posted on February 23, 2022

Almost 7 hours ago, at the time I started writing this, she passed. You may be reading this hours, days or years later. You may have had a friend or family member pass too. Maybe it was recently or some long time ago. Perhaps it’s in the known future. If so, you know what I’m talking about and how this feels.

Death is a tricky thing. I feel as though we try to keep the topic at bay, as if we’re going to catch it ourselves. Otherwise we might launch into dark humour or bravado. We tend not to spend a lot of time discussing it, so many of us are not particularly well versed in the dos and donts and best practices.

She said in some ways she was lucky. She could have been hit by a bus and never had a chance to say or hear goodbyes. She was pragmatic with a good sense of humour…

Well we’ve had some, though not much, time to say goodbyes. We even had a Zoom Celebrity Toast in her honour on Monday night. That was quite a beautiful and lovely event. Some fabulous friends organised that and many other things. Hearing how she touched the lives of so many people from around the world was wonderful and inspiring.

Why do we wait to have an event like that? Or never have it, at least when the person is alive?

We were at university together, and on the AIESEC exec team, back in the 1900’s. It was ‘93-‘94 to be precise. So almost thirty years ago.

We were more in touch again these last couple of years, which was nice. It’s a nice thing to chat more with friends from long ago. Contact one today and just say hi. See where it goes.

She recently returned to Canada to spend her final weeks with family and dear friends. She decided on the date and time of passing. You can do that in Canada.

So today, spare a thought for someone you would miss and tell them something nice about themselves. And think of someone who has passed too.

This note is in fond memory of Christina Bowe of Peterborough Ontario (also Ottawa, Vancouver and London/Maidenhead, England)

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CategoriesGratitudeObserveThink About ItTime

Not All Weeks Are Created Equal

Posted on February 22, 2022

You would think they were created equal. Perhaps they are. When you open the calendar they all look the same. All 52 weeks look identical.

But then we put meaning to some. The week with Thanksgiving in it, Christmas, Easter, your birthday, kids birthdays and school holidays.

We add in all the hope-filled weeks. The ones where we expect to find happiness, joy, love, family, community and success.

Then there are those other weeks. The one before you go on holiday, the one with the passing of a loved one, those with challenge, strife or heartache.

Perhaps weeks are born equal. But then we create stories around them which give them colour and emotion. So once they’ve been through some life, they are no longer equal. They are different.

Some better. Some worse. But they all make the rich tapestry of life. Savour each one, for they are all that we have.

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CategoriesActionObserveThink About ItTime

How Long Do You Need To Wait?

Posted on February 21, 2022

If you want to declare a thought to be yours, how long do you need to wait after someone else says it?

Can you get away with saying you thought of that weeks ago?

It’s the old, ‘You can’t fire me, I already quit.’ Or, ‘I broke up with you three weeks ago. You mustn’t have heard me.’

We seem to be getting that from the provinces in Canada. They do not want the world to think that the recent protests heightened their awareness of the desire for the mandates to end nor that the protestors influenced their decision to end, or not extend, the mandates.

So they weren’t forced. But perhaps, maybe, just maybe, the provincial governments were made aware of the issue and it’s importance to a growing number of Canadians. Some other provinces haven’t made any decisions yet. Possibly, they are penalising Canadians with longer Covid restrictions, just so they don’t look like the protests had any influence.

So how long does it take before a decision will be sufficiently far into the future to not count as being influential or awareness-enhancing. Would a week do it? Probably more like two months. Maybe three. Just to be sure no one thinks you’ve been influenced.

Mr. Trudeau may also be considering how long he has to wait to change any Covid measures before he can claim it has nothing to do with the Truckers or Freedom Convoy.

Well, the fine citizens of Canada may have to live with many more months of Covid restrictions, just so Mr Trudeau, and some Premiers, can claim total control of the decision making. Oh, Canada.

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CategoriesActionProgressReframe your thoughtsTime

Don’t Continue – Finish!

Posted on February 10, 2022

It’s great to have projects on the go. But we need to keep a clear eye on these so they don’t last forever. It sounds great to be working on something, but sometimes we have to make that super extra effort and get items finished.

I have a handful of things that seem to get carried forward each day and have been for weeks, and months in some cases! There are various reasons for that. Some aren’t urgent. Some are nice to have but not critical. Others require input from someone else. Still others take more time then they seem to be worth.

Then occasionally I will have a burst and knock a few of these items off my list. Sometimes that means getting up earlier, going to bed later or switching priorities.

It’s been harder recently with completing the book, the book launch and some other pressing matters. However, I can see a time in late February / March where I can tidy up quite a few of these things. That will feel great!

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CategoriesActionGratitudeThink About ItTime

Cherish Old Photographs

Posted on February 8, 2022

A snapshot in time can be so valuable. It can remind us of how things were or we’d like them to be. Happier times can be captured. So can people we no longer see everyday.

We can look at old photos and hear the echo of the past. Sometimes the voices will inspire or haunt us. We can know the story or make one up. It’s a powerful medium.

Cherish old photographs, as that time will never be again.

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CategoriesGratitudeHealth & FitnessObserveProgressReframe your thoughtsTime

Canadian Truckers and The UK

Posted on February 7, 2022

As a Canadian, I am pleased to see the trucker protest in Ottawa and elsewhere being held, generally, in a good natured, peaceful way. These are unlikely protestors and there would be few, if any, professional activists among their cohort.

Of course, with any large gathering, there will be a few things that go sideways and a few people who do things that both sides would prefer didn’t happen. But rather than look at the sample size of one, or two, lets look at the vast majority and the positives.

It’s peaceful. It’s almost joyous in its nature. There are lots of smiles and hugs, dances and good manners and even well spoken leaders calling for continued calm. Bear in mind it is mid-winter in Ottawa and temperatures sink to -20C (-4F) at night and might only climb to -6C (21F) during the day.

There doesn’t seem to be looting, rioting or arson, which makes it a much better experience for all affected. They are on point. They are there to be heard.

The UK has dropped the mask requirements, along with a growing number of other OECD nations. Serious Covid infections are now about 0.1% of all cases, despite cases being almost 5 times higher than this time last year. This is all good news going forward.

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, Covid deaths here are starting to approximate those of the flu and pneumonia. If we could live with their annual deaths and challenges for decades, perhaps it is time to make this a win for the people over Covid everywhere.

I entered a shop without a mask this past weekend. It felt so natural and so good. And those that wanted to wear a mask did. And we all shopped and went on our way. No issues. But having that choice felt so good, after two long years. I missed that great, natural feeling. It’s so good to have it back.

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CategoriesActionProgressReframe your thoughtsTime

What If I could?

Posted on February 5, 2022

What if I could succeed at anything I truly wanted? How different would my life be, if I could reach my goals? How amazing could things get if I aimed for the stars but only landed on the moon?

Start creating your incredible life today. Are you waiting for permission? You’ve got it! Start to imagine the life of your dreams. Consider what you must do to get there. Then start. Start now.

In 5 years you’ll be delighted you started today. In 10 years you’ll be blown away with your progress. In 15 years, wonderful things you hadn’t even considered will be happening like magic.

What if you could? Consider the possibilities. Now go build that dream life!

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CategoriesObserveTime

Too Many Comms Channels

Posted on February 4, 2022

Ever feel like you’re playing wack-a-mole with your communications? I do. Especially these last few weeks. There are so many ways people can contact you, or me at least.

Several emails, DM’s, Messenger, WhatsApp, iMessage, replies on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc. And comms can be written, voice or video. It can get a little confusing around who sent what when and where.

I’m coping but I hope it gets easier as the network grows. ?

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