drop drop drop

“Ask yourself about the kind of life you want:
What would you do day to day,
and with whom,
and where?
Consider the life you have.
Do one thing today, however small,
to close the gap between the two.”
—Maggie Smith (1934-2024)

Rest in peace, Professor Minerva McGonagall of Hogwarts. 

When a personality leaves us, we might remember the impression they made on us. We might easily think, their life had purpose. What they thought, we may never know. 

What actually matters is how we feel - about our own life. 

Our circumstances, appearances, health or relationships might or might not be what we dreamt about. 

You know what?

Yesterday does not matter.

We only have today to make a difference in our lives. 

Radical change is usually hard. Hard things are usually unsustainable to follow through for an extended time. 

A bucket of water to be filled by drops will take a long time - but you know what? It will eventually get full - one drop at a time. 

Our impatience may be in the way of seeing progress.

Many drops make an ocean.

Yesterday I witnessed the power of many. I was even part of it. 

Thousands of people gathered in Eden Park (that's where the All Blacks otherwise play rugby) and made an attempt to break a World Record. A world record that had been held by the French for 10 years: The largest haka. 

To take part in this event, it was expected you learn the moves and words of the haka. It was an excellent experience. I had seen a haka being performed many times before: At rugby games, our kid's school or cultural performances. I had never done one before myself. Partly out of our cultural respect. A haka is a spine-tingling piece of Maori culture. 

I share the words here with you: 

Ka mate, ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Ka mate! ka mate! ka ora! ka ora!
Tēnei te tangata pūhuruhuru
Nāna nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te rā
Ā, upane! ka upane!
Ā, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!

English translation of the Ka Mate Haka

‘Tis death! ‘Tis death! (or: I may die) Tis life! Tis life! (or: I may live)
Tis death! Tis death! Tis life! Tis life!
This is the man (hairy person...)
Who brought the sun and caused it to shine
A step upward, another step upward!
A step upward, another… the sun shines!

My short version: Move and life force appears - one step at a time. 

Yesterday in Eden Park Maori and Pakeha came together. The supposed purpose was to bring a world record home. But was that really the important thing? What I got from it was the power of togetherness, of learning from each other and accepting each other as we are - and having a jolly good time with it. I got what fills my bucket: being with other people, moving my body and learning something new. I was fulfilled. 

What fills your bucket?

Are you ready to fill it drop by drop? 

Bringing the words of a quintessentially British person and Maori custom together may not be mainstream... but wai the heke not...

Maggie Smith's invitation to you today:

• Take three calm breaths

• Ask yourself about the kind of life you want:
  What would you do day to day, and with whom, and where?

• Then consider the life you have.

• What is the gap?

• What can be one thing, however small, you could do today to move toward closing the gap between the two?

By the way: We made it. The haka record is in New Zealand now. 

This is your time. 

With patience for the next step..

Mel