by admin | 4 Oct, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Pablo Picasso said the following: The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. So, what he’s saying is that every human has a gift. Yes, that means you. Yes, that also means me. The tragedy is that so many people keep their gift buried deep within, never to explore it, and never to bring it out to see the light of day. This week I want to encourage you, with all my heart, to let the world see.
Over the last week I was privileged to attend and be involved in three book launches. Well done Denise Mokadsi, Sue Carr, and Joel & Troy McRae. One of those book launches was for an amazing brother duo, Joel and Troy, who have written and now published two incredible children’s books. It has been an absolute joy to be able to help them get their books out, and now launched, for the world to see. Their gift is not just their talent, but also an incredible mission to inspire creativity, imagination, and healthy activity in young people.
These are two incredibly humble and introverted young men. When I first met them, I could see they had some doubts about whether or not their books were good enough and could really make it in the world. It’s been such a joy to watch them transform over the last few months. So much work culminated to the point in which we stood together at their launch on Tuesday night, and they were able to speak with such poise, confidence, and passion.
It could’ve been so easy for them to have talked themselves out of it, as so many people do, and for the world to not ever have been able to witness and enjoy the gifts these to have to share. Joel is a wonderful creative writer, and Troy is an incredibly talented illustrator and artist. Together, they’ve created children’s books that will inspire and entertain many young and older people for many years to come. I’m so glad the world gets to see their work and their joy.
Joel and Troy both displayed incredible courage to not just put their books out to the world, but to put themselves out into the public eye as well. What about you? What is the gift that you have, that is individually and inherently yours? Are you letting the world see it? Are you giving it away? Or are you keeping it hidden, buried, and forgotten about? I urge you with all my heart, let the world see.
Is it writing ability, musical ability, or some kind of creativity? Is it your ability to connect with and inspire other people? Is it the love you have for people and the desire to make a difference in their lives? Is it your business aptitude, or your technical ability? Is it just to be the best you can be, so that you can inspire the people around you? You have it, we all have it, it has been gifted to you, and now it’s simply and purposely your responsibility to use it and share it with the world.
There have been so many things in my life that I believed were my gifts. Starting with sporting ability, moving on to my fitness capability, then to the surprising ability I found as a writer. As proud as I am of all those achievements, when I found my true gift, my life changed. It is my desire and ability to empower others and help them feel like they’ve got incredible potential within them to do great things. My gift is my passion, and in any way I can, I will give it away and let the world see. I truly hope you do the same.
In my podcast this week, I speak with the wonderful Gina Yanovitch. It is called Radical acceptance, and it is a truly inspiring conversation about how a mother with a child dealing with Cerebral Palsy can still stand up and let the world see what purpose and inspiration truly is. As you get to the end of this blog and reflect on your gifting, I hope it inspires you. I have said it before and I will say it again; you are amazing, you are enough, and the world needs to know you, hear you, and see you.
by admin | 27 Sep, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Here’s an observation; most people walk around with their heads down. What about you? I’m not sure why that’s the case, maybe they’re feeling sad, depressed, lost, alone, or just getting through the day doing the best they can. All I know is this; life gets better when we look up.
When we look down, there’s not much to see other than things that are not that exciting. When I look down, I see my feet, and whilst I like my feet, it’s not doing much for me. When I look down and I see the ground, largely polluted with garbage, it’s quite depressing. When I look down, I start to get pain in the back of my neck. When I look down, I can’t see where I’m going, and I definitely can’t see possibilities that Life has to offer for me. So again, I really want to encourage you to look up.
I remember many years ago flying into Kathmandu, Nepal. I was with a group of friends, and we were going to trek through the Himalayas. As we were approaching and preparing to land, the person I was sitting next to prompted me to have a look at the mountains. I looked out the window, looking down expecting to see them. But when I looked down, I couldn’t see anything except clouds. He elbowed me and said, no not down there, look up. I looked up, way above the plane and the clouds, and there was the peak of Mount Everest and the Himalayas. It was awe inspiring and gave me a shiver up and down my spine.
The other week I had one of those amazing experiences as I was training at the beach one morning. This happens for me only once or twice every single year. I am blessed to see dolphins swim by, only metres from the shore. I looked up and I saw them. Not one, not 2, but three pods of dolphins, and I was so excited.
As I was watching most people walk past, guess where their heads were? Down, in their phones, missing the joy and beauty that was there for them to enjoy if only they looked up. My greatest urge for you this week is to make the most of everything that this beautiful life and world has to offer. The only way you’ll do it is to look up.
Did you know that your mental, emotional and physical state has a lot to do with your posture? Did you know that when you look up, you significantly improve your well-being. When you look up, many things shift. Your mood improves, your concentration improves, you are more creative, and you are able to find and see different perspectives to solve problems. In addition to that, it’s much easier to find moments of awe & wonder, be more mindful, and really connect to the world around.
As you can tell, these things are going to definitely help your physical well-being, your relationship with others, your ability to deal with challenges, and your vision for the future you want to have. All it takes is a decision to look up. Look up to see the beauty that’s around you. Look up to see the sky, the trees, and the different colours that this world provides. Look up to see people‘s faces and the smiles that you can bring to them. Look up and know that you are good enough.
Trust me, when you look up, your life will get better in every respect.
To help you on this journey, please enjoy my two podcasts this week. I speak with Jonathon Aslay in a podcast called Getting the vibe, and I speak with Sue Carr in a podcast called Start from strength. It’s such a simple thing to do, also a simple thing not to do. Be deliberate this week to lift your head, lift your eyes, and look up to see the beauty that’s all around.
by admin | 20 Sep, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Have a think about all the people in your life that you consider good friends. Think about all the people in your life who are important to you. Think about all the people in your life you help, do things for, go out of your way for, and invest time, emotion and energy in. Let me ask you a serious question, are you on the top of all of those lists? If not, my goal this week is that you will work on becoming your own best friend.
If you’re anything like me, and several of the people I’ve spoken to this week, their lives are absolutely full of doing for others. They have families they need to be there for. They have jobs to do and people they are responsible for. They have friends who they want to support. There’s nothing wrong with that, however, it leaves people with no time or energy for themselves, Why? Because they feel they are at the bottom of the friendship list. If you don’t prioritise yourself, if you’re not your own best friend, then you may think you are there for others, but you can never be what you want to be for the people in your life.
Putting yourself on the bottom of the list, always doing for others, always feeling you have to be productive, and leaving no time for you is exhausting, right? Not only that, it’s like chasing your shadow, crazy and a fruitless pursuit. Not only that, and here is a powerful one, particularly if you are a parent, you are setting an example and creating a ripple effect that will be copied by people you care about. Is that what you really want? Do you want those most important to you, the ones you are trying to help by running around after, to do the same in their lives? I am sure the answer is no. So, there is only one solution. That solution is to become your own best friend, ahead of your children, ahead of your colleagues, and ahead of all your other friends.
That may be hard to do, as it was for me. I remember days when I was a personal trainer working long hours with no time for me, because I kept thinking I had to do for others, or they would not like me or respect me. I was definitely not my own best friend, in fact, if I am being honest, I was my own worst enemy. I was always overly critical, I never lived up to my own lofty standards, and I really never felt good enough. If I ever rarely took time off, I would feel guilty and would quickly find something to do to be ’productive’ or help others. If things didn’t change for me, I knew it would be only downhill. Do you know what I mean? So, I started on the journey of liking myself, then loving myself, and then becoming my own best friend.
Initially, being my own best friend felt like arrogance and conceit to me. However, what I learned was that being your own best friend doesn’t mean thinking about yourself more, it means thinking more of yourself. Putting myself first seemed selfish. What I came to discover was that it was actually selfless, because it allowed me to have more energy when with others, and it was actually setting an example I hoped people would see. In my own life, prioritising me has helped me build stronger relationships, be healthier, and be more productive. Most importantly it has helped to find purpose and allow me to have a bigger impact on the lives of others.
So, what does it mean to be your own best friend? Great question. It means loving yourself for who you are, not what you do. It means talking to yourself in a way that lifts, encourages, and builds yourself. It means being forgiving and compassionate to yourself. It means prioritising time for yourself. It means taking care of yourself. It means doing things you love to do. It means saying no at certain times. It means making choices that will enhance your self-worth, your health, and your influence on others. It means knowing deep in your heart that by focusing on yourself, by being the best you can be, by being authentically and unashamedly you, by loving yourself, by becoming your own best friend, you are leaving a legacy that will live on for generations.
You are worth it. My two podcasts this week will help you in this area. Christine Sadry and I talk in a podcast called ‘Let it go’, and Andrew Davie and I in a podcast called, ‘Life happens’. You may be thinking to yourself, how can I do this? How can I make time for me when so many people and things depend on me? I understand that thought process. Think about this; the less you do for people, the more they will learn to do for themselves and the sooner you become your own best friend the quicker the people you care about will do the same. Be your own best friend today.
by admin | 13 Sep, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Inspiration
Have you ever watched a mighty tree, swaying from side to side on a day where the winds are gusting at high speeds? Whilst the branches and leaves are flapping vigourously in the relentless wind, the roots are deep, and the trunk stands firm. No matter what the weather delivers, it is able to stand firm in the face of any conditions. It is my greatest desire and encouragement this week that you will stand firm in the face of the storms in your life.
The actual fact is, not all trees stand firm in a strong wind. I went to visit my dad the other day, after a night where the wind was gale-force. As I got out of my car, I glanced and saw that a tree had actually been uprooted as a result of that wind. It was lying on the ground and clearly, its roots weren’t strong enough and it wasn’t able to stand firm. However, you and I are, if we choose and take root in things that are most important.
Last week, I spent an inspiring couple of days with Justine Martin. She’s working hard to finish her book, ‘Moxie’, and I spent some time with her to go through it chapter by chapter. I knew Justine had been through a lot in her life, including a challenging childhood, abuse, sickness, and many other undesirable situations. However, as we were reading together through her book, I really had no idea to the extent of what she had endured over many years.
I read about the challenging relationship she had with her mum and her dad. I read about her dad that left at an early age and was really not in her life. I read about a narcissistic mother who treated her poorly for much of her childhood, and beyond. I read about her lack of self-worth as a result of regularly being told and treated that she was never good enough. I read about the sexual abuse she experienced, the narcissistic relationships, and physical and emotional abuse she endured over many years. The thing that inspires me the most about Justine is that no matter what she went through in her life, she always stood firm. She believed she would find a way through the storm to live a life of joy, abundance, and happiness.
We didn’t even get to the part in the book when she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, when she was diagnosed with multiple cancers, when she had her arm broken by an abuser, when she found her partner dead, and many other things that she withstood throughout her life. As we were reading the book together, and as I looked at her, I saw vulnerability, but I also saw incredible strength. I saw a woman who had stood firm in her power, and who had used her adversity to make a massive difference in this world. She inspired me in many ways, as I know her book will do for many others.
So, what does it mean to stand firm? It means, to know what and who you believe in. It means, to not be swayed by the negativity of the world. It means, to not be influenced by the opinions of other people. It means, to not be distracted by things that could take your attention if you allow them to. It means, facing all adversity knowing deep in your heart that something great will come of it.
What is it you need to stand firm on and in right now? Do you need to stand firm to regain your health. Do you need to stand firm to resolve conflict.? Do you need to stand firm to ignore opinions of other people and do what is deep in your heart? Do you need to stand firm and be confident to be authentically yourself and not have to change your personality for the sake of others? Do you need to stand firm and grow personally to build a life of joy and abundance? Whatever it is, I encourage you to stand firm today and every day moving forward.
This week I speak with a wonderful Marita Littauer, in a podcast called ‘Wired that way’. We discuss many things, including personality and understanding the personality of others. I also speak with David Libby in a podcast called ‘Faith and food heals’. When we understand who we are, what our God can do, and what our strengths are, we can stand firm and live our best life. As you finish this week’s blog, I hope you’re inspired and encouraged. I hope you will see yourself as a valuable and worthy human, and you will stand firm to take back that which is rightfully yours and live the life you’re created to live.
by admin | 5 Sep, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Inspiration
We all want to feel that we belong. It’s one of the greatest desires of the human experience. When we feel supported, surrounded by wonderful people, and part of something, we feel unstoppable. When we don’t, life can be a struggle and a challenge. I know for me, in a loving relationship, as a member of a family, as a footballer in a team, as a part of a business group, and as a part of friendship groups, there’s nothing better than knowing that I am part of ‘one of us’.
Last Sunday afternoon, I was helping set up before our Church service. I was taking some rubbish down, and out into the back alleyway where the rubbish bins were located. As I walked out the door, I was confronted with quite a disturbing sight. The big rubbish bin had been emptied and the rubbish strewn all over the ground. I looked at it with disgust and thought, I can’t leave it that way. So, I went back upstairs to put on some rubber gloves so I could go back down and put all the rubbish back into the bin.
This, by the way, is the same venue that we feed the homeless on a Wednesday night. Often, homeless people in the area go through the bins to see if they can find anything of value for them. When I went back out to start refilling the bin, there was another guy who was picking up rubbish and putting it into the bin. He looked at me and said, I saw the disgusted look on your face when you looked at the rubbish and thought I would help. I thanked him, and together we started putting rubbish back in the bin.
At one point, I introduced myself to him. What he then said to me, inspired this blog. He said, my name is Jai, and I’m ‘one of them‘. By ‘one of them’, he meant that he was homeless and not a valuable member of society. My partner Kate was with me at the time, and both of us immediately said to him, You are definitely ‘one of us’. We are all just doing the best we can. Thank you so much for helping.
Over the next 10 minutes or so, as Jai and I put the rubbish back into the bin, we had a nice conversation. He told me about his situation and his circumstances. I was able to go and get him some food, I invited him to come to the Church service, I told him about our community dinners on a Wednesday night, and I assured him that he was a valuable human, and absolutely ‘one of us’.
This experience really affected me. It made me think about all the people out there who don’t feel accepted, valued, or that they belong. My message is a simple one, and it is for you. No matter what you might be going through, no matter what conflict may be happening in your life, no matter what struggles you might be experiencing, you are absolutely valued, loved and, without a doubt, ‘one of us’.
It is my hope that you are inspired by this blog to go out and help every person you meet feel like they are also ‘one of us’. All it takes is a smile. It only requires a word of encouragement. Just an offer to help in a small way makes all the difference. One simple and single random act of kindness can change someone’s day. All these little things are so easy to do and help people feel like they are ‘one of us’.
My two podcasts this week will definitely help you feel you are ‘one of us’, and I hope will inspire you to help other people feel the same. I speak with Emily Chidiac in a podcast called, Celebrate every step, and Rand Selig in a podcast called, Redefining success. As you look in the mirror today, I ask that you look hard to see someone who is valued, someone who has unique gifts, someone who is loved, and someone who is definitely ‘one of us’.
by admin | 29 Aug, 2025 | Andrew's Blog, Mindset
Have you noticed the impact words have on your life? Have you ever felt inspired, encouraged, and empowered to take action and do something great? On the flipside, have you ever felt discouraged, anxious, angry, or hopeless? I think it would be fair to say we all experience all of these emotions, and many others. It’s these emotions that move us into action or inaction, and all emotions are triggered by words. Make no mistake about it, whether empowering or destructive, words always work.
I know this stuff, I practice this stuff, yet I’m still impacted by words. I think, as humans, all of us are, no matter how developed we are in this space and how much we think we know. Words still and will always have an impact on us. I had a recent experience that reminded me of this powerful message. I was out training the other morning. It was leg day and leg day hurts. I was doing some high step ups out of the sand down at the beach. It’s actually quite impressive, if I do say so myself.
As always, whilst training, people jog, walk, and ride past. I enjoy the social aspect of my morning exercise as I often get to say hello to some people as they pass. Every now and then someone will make a positive comment that is very encouraging. Something like, wow that’s really impressive, good on you, or you are so dedicated. Those comments, whilst they seem very simple, really help me. The leg workout is not an easy one, and any word of encouragement makes a difference and supports me to get through it.
The other morning, I did get a couple of positive and encouraging comments which were very helpful. At one point, a lady jogged past. She was not young. In fact, if I’m honest, I’d probably put her in the elderly category. In my estimation she was probably in her late 70s or early 80s, which is incredibly impressive. She ran past once, I smiled and said good morning to her. I got no recognition or response. I just kept on squatting, lunging, and stepping. About 30 minutes later, she jogged past again from the other direction. I was in the middle of doing my impressive steps out of the sand, she looked at me, no smile, and instructed, keep your back straight, and she kept running.
As I said earlier, I totally understand this space. I understand the power of words, and I also understand that other people‘s opinion shouldn’t affect me. However, her words stung a little bit. Even though, I’m sure, in her mind she was trying to help me, the tone of her voice and the dismissive manner in which she spoke to me was actually quite abrupt, and if I’m being truthful and a little vulnerable, it was a bit hurtful. I pondered on it for a while and thankfully got over it quite quickly.
What it did reinforce, was the power of words. They always work. They work to lift, heal, encourage, and empower. They also work to hurt, harm, discourage, and destroy. Many people who speak to themselves, or others, don’t really think about the impact of their words. A throw-away comment to yourself like, I’m such an idiot or to someone else such as, you always get it wrong. Will have a very destructive impact on yourself, and the person you’re speaking to. Words always work.
On the flipside, when you lift yourself and speak highly of yourself, you will empower yourself to great things. When you can support, encourage, and compliment other people you help them have the courage to initiate positive action. Again, I want to say this so that you hear it, words always work. I know you will remember a time, even many years ago, when words had a powerful impact on and in your life. In fact, those words may still be affecting your life today, in a great way or a devastating way. I have spoken about the teachers who said to me as a child, over 50 years ago, I wish you were more like your brother. Thisaffected my life and how I felt about myself for decades. I also remember, very clearly, the words my parents said to me as a child, that I could do anything I wanted in life.
All I want to ask of you this week is to monitor the words you say to yourself and to other people. They are working to build or to destroy. If you catch yourself being critical, insulting, abusive, or discouraging, please stop, reflect, and recalibrate. You know how words have been and are working in your life, so now is the time to make sure they are working to build, encourage, and empower yourself and others. Don’t miss my wonderful podcast this week with Lisa Johnson, called Getting you back. Her words are impactful, your words are impactful, so never forget that words always work.
