It’s humpday during the first week of the new year of 2010. I have been so flat out with our project portals that I haven’t had time to write a reflective blog and look back at 2009 or write any goals out for this new year of 2010. I will do so in the next 2 weeks and it will of course give me joy to do so.

What inspired me to sit down this morning first thing in the new office we’re setting up amongst the chaos of boxes, new equipment and organised clutter was an experience that gave me great joy this morning. Last week I was at the shops and was buying the standard stuff such as coffee, teas, sweeteners, utensils, tea pot, candles, office supplies and the normal stuff really. I was leaving and was loading the stuff into my Outlander and noticed a man sitting with his legs sprawled out on the sidewalk with a huge camping bag next to him. He was smoking a cigarette and looking up at every passerby with nobody making eye contact with him.

After loading my stuff I walked over to the man and asked him what his name was and he replied “David”. I said “David, why are you here sitting on the sidewalk smoking cigarettes and looking dirty?” His reply was “Well, I don’t have any place to go and I just sit here and smoke cigarettes all day.” I replied to him “If I were to loan you some money, would you make a purchase for me to help yourself?” He replied “What kind of purchase?” I told him that I would gladly give him $10 if he was content with sitting on the sidewalk all day smoking cigarettes or I would go back inside and give him some tools by spending $20. He said that he would like the $20 offer.

I went into the shops, purchased some generic baby wipes, a toothbrush, some toothpaste, some deodorant, some window cleaner and a box of dish cleaning wipes. I went back outside and handed him the bags and said “Make the most of this and figure it out- changing your life starts right now and it starts with changing your mindset of what your life is and how you live out your day each day. I will pay you $2 if you would like to come over and clean my windscreen on the car.”

He did it and I gave him $5 and went to work. This morning I had to stop at the BP for the usual gum and overpriced Pump water and I saw him. He was smiling and cleaning someone’s windows of their car. I walked over to him and he said “Hey it’s you! Good morning God bless you and thank you thank you thank you!” whilst shaking my hand. His hands were clean. He smelled like baby wipes and had a huge smile on his face. He said this spot is really busy in the morning and I’m making heaps!

Now… I can begin my day. I encourage you to do the same.

Website updates as well as new blog posts coming soon.