A B C... Easy as 1,2,3

Hello friends!

This week I have started to become really grateful of all the conversations I am having while travelling. There are so many wonderful people around the world that have weird and wonderful interests, hobbies, jobs, opinions...

I had a brilliant conversation with a guy from Vancouver Island, Canada. Being honest... I wasn't in the mood for having a chat but he introduced himself and I was didn't want to be a bad guy for saying no.

Within 5 minutes, I am talking to one of the Youngest tree specialists in Canada and finding out about root structure, algae networks supplying nutrients and Sequoia tree roots. This is not the only interesting conversation I have had so an idea came to me to start maybe recording them and seeing what happens. This is not part of this but maybe both interconnect somewhere along the road.

I'm currently in Wellington and met two boys from England and Schoolie from Canada. A spontaneous dip into the Bay of Plenty at 8pm at night. A bit of a metaphor for jumping right into things so this is why I am writing this newsletter.

One scot, One Canadian & Two English Seals enjoying the water at Sunset.

I am going to write about three things I have learned, that is helping me improve or that have stuck with me and would like to share in the hope it might help somebody. I'm far from perfect... this will be me sharing things that make me slightly less imperfect.

#1 - "The quality of my life is the quality of my habitual emotions" - Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins is an American motivator/businessman/entrepreneur/speaker.

This has hit me deep being honest. My daily habits are pretty poor. I have usually been just been on time or late to things previously in life. Pretty irregular with going to bed at the same time. Easily distracted by phone... (typical millennial).

I have read James Clear Atomic Habits recently and would like to implement a bit of accountability on myself.

Things I am committed to this week are:

Drink some water as I wake up

Exercise before 10 am every morning

Read before bed every day

Gratitude Journalling before bed every day.

#2 - Tree roots

General Sherman is the largest tree in the World and can be found in California. It is a Giant Sequoia and has a height of 83.5 and has an age of 2,300-2,700 years old. You would think the roots for such a massive tree would be very deeper however it is known that Sequoia trees are relatively shallow underneath the

"Sequoia redwoods function as a community. Each tree is dependent on the other trees as their roots are intertwined. Through these dense networks of roots, they share support and nutrients. Because of their root systems, sequoia redwoods can withstand wind, fire, earthquakes, and storms. They have been doing all that effectively since before our calendar started counting forward" (p.27) - John Eckert in Just Teaching

This has impacted me that travelling is not the be all and end all... this is just a short phase... building roots and being part of a community that you engage in and participate with regularly is the most important to the meaning of life.

I know trees are not a new phenomenon with talking about roots but this stuck with me and also particularly that they manage to share nutrients. If one is dehyrated... the roots and ground network sends messages to send water... MAGIC!

What are you doing to connect with your local community outwith your job?

#3 - Cover the roads with leather

Excerpt from Zen Golf - Dr. Joseph Parent - p12-13

In ancient India, there was a kind whose feet were very sensitive. He complained constantly about the kingdom's roads, which were rough and rocky. Finally, the king decided he would have all the roads covered with leather so that he could walk on leather anywhere he wanted to go and his feet would be comfortable.

He invited the best craftsmen in the land to bid on this formidable project. One replied, "I can do the job, but it will cost all that is in the kingdom's treasury." Another said, "I can cover the roads with leather for half of what is in the treasury." Then an old woman came to the king and said, "I can do the job for ten rupees. I'll just strap a piece of leather under each of your feet, and you'll be walking on leather wherever you go"

This is used in a golf mindset textbook however could be used for self help as well.

I have been prone to being a complainer... even internally about wanting the conditions to be absolutely perfect... however that hasn't lead to anywhere apart from more inner frustration. Instead of that, recognising that everyone has to play the same course of life. Sure there are times when people have a bit of a head start, whether it be upbringing, financially, body shape, etc... So what? Life isn't fair on a day to day basis. But those good and bad break even out longer term so the purpose or even the test is to adapt yourself to play whatever conditions you find yourself in.

Cover your feet with leather and you'll be walking comfortably no matter what the conditions are...

DO RE MI - Music

3 chief clansmen with leafs as tokens of piece with the Clan Chief of the Maori tribe after Haingi.

Being from Scotland and musical, I am a big fan of Scottish Music and find it is vitally important to our National identity. Being in New Zealand and understanding the Māori culture and also realising there is a big Pipe Band culture here due to immigration... I am finding the average New Zealander knows more about their musical culture and heritage/heritage of immigration than that of the average Scot... that's disappointing.

I am also classically trained as a Violinist and have been a conductor previously. I feel if I could share a piece of traditional and classical music to something that I have listened to, my hope would be that somebody who hasn't listened to it would enjoy it.

Plan:

One Classical Piece of Music

One Traditional Piece of Music

One of podcasts

Doh - Dvorak 9th Symphony

This piece was written about the USA! Have a read of my article about it relating it to politics of USA today here

Re - No Way Out by Assynt

Award winning instrumental folk trio ‘Assynt’ are former BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year finalists, Graham Mackenzie (fiddle) and David Shedden (pipes/whistles) alongside BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Innes White (guitar).

2018 saw the official launch of the band, the release of their debut album ‘The Road to the North’ and were awarded ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. Inspired by the great piping, fiddle and Gaelic traditions of the Highlands of Scotland, Assynt’s self penned melodies are “refreshingly contemporary” (Folk Radio UK) while remaining true to the music traditions they are rooted in. 

The group have come to be recognised for their tight-knit fiddle and pipe playing blended with intricate guitar lines and grooves. This powerful and intuitive musicality continues to be showcased throughout their second studio release ‘Where From Here’.

Mi - Dan from Germany

I have started what could be a podcast... (depends if people actually listen to it...). I am interviewing random people that I have met then asking them "This is mental... would you like to be on a podcast?" Some have said yes funnily enough... here is my first one... Let me know what you think?

The fade out...

Well this has been the first one... firstly if you have made it to the end. Thank you! I hope it has brought something of use to you.