New Beginnings

Today I had the joy of presenting at a ladies luncheon at Ernst & Young. They facilitate regular luncheons for their staff called Conversations for Women.

I was overwhelmed with the reception. The ladies were warm and open - full of laughter and chatter.
Essentially, my presentation dealt with the principle of New Beginnings. That as we come to the end of a year we would look back and see highlights and lowlights, opportunities and disappointments. Each of these having lessons and points of discovery.

As we review these lessons we may well wish to change the way that we move forward. My exhortation to the ladies was to start 2007 with the focus on New Beginnings. My understanding is that New Beginnings do not have to start at the beginning, rather they are able to start at anytime and at any point in the process.

A quote by Carl Bard really inspired me in terms of this, he says,"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

What new beginnings do you think you need to make in 2007?

Memory like an Elephant

My nephew Lance is a treasure in my life.

Today I was reminded on how important it is to mind your words and to keep the promises you have made. Lance is 6 years old and a light mention of doing a movie on Friday is something that I did not realise would not be easily forgotten.

Chatting to him on the phone this morning, I said goodbye mentioning that I would see him on Saturday. His immediate response was, "But Rach, don't you remember... you were seeing me today!"

Some quick back-peddling and apologies and we are going to 'Happy Feet' tonight. One thing I am realising is that too often we say things flippantly not realising the store others put on the words we speak.

This incident with Lance reminded me that we are to mind our words and speak carefully, keeping in mind the person on the receiving end.

What's in a name?

My first Musings

I visited Uganda in January 2005. It was a fabulous time of exploration, adventure and self-discovery. The Kampalians (is there such a word?) are a vibrant and expressive people.

I blithely remember taking my International Driving Liscense, thinking that I would drive the team around Kampala. One look at the roads, or lack thereof, the mishmash of vehicles and the bohrabohra's (motorbikes used to transport people around the city), I knew that it would remain snugly packed away in my suitcase.

What's in a name?

My name is Rachel and the citizens of Kampala have a wonderful way of swapping their R's and L's around. So Rachel becomes Lachel and holy becomes hory - very, very funny! So for a whole 7 days my name was Lachel. At a humerous alteration, but after a few days a little irritating. I found myself wanting to correct the people as they spoke to me. I knew that I had to carefully consider whether it really mattered to me or not if I was Lachel or Rachel and was this battle I wanted to fight.

Now this may seem like a silly little musing, but interestingly enough most of my pondering focuses on silly thoughts and principles and alas there is no life changing formulae being derived or world class prose being constructed.

However, there is life being lived. I think that it is in the small considerations and discoveries that the true treasures are found. The fact is I grew to like being Lachel, it was a special name showing honour and delight in a friend and was spoken with such warmth that I knew that I was loved.

What special names have you been given or given others and how have these warmed your heart or the heart of those you love?