by admin | 7 Dec, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity, Mindset
I am going to stick with the theme I have had going for the last couple of weeks, because God keeps reminding me of the importance of it. Of what? Of today. Of making the most of the moment we are in and not wasting a second of the precious life we have been gifted. As you read this, it is today. What a genius I am! My question is, what are you doing today to make it count? What will bring you joy, move you towards a dream, or make a difference in someone else’s life? Do it now and ‘slay the day’.
As I was walking home after my training session the other day, there was the sign, on the path in front of me, written in big and bold letters, Slay the Day. Now, let’s get this clear, and in the context of this blog and the modern day meaning of the word, I am not referring to the dictionary definition of the word ‘slay’ which says, to put to death with a weapon, or by violence; hence, to kill; to put an end to; to destroy. For the sake of this blog, we need to look at the origin of the modern-day interpretation of this word.
The slang use of the word ‘slay’ emerged from the innovative LGBTQ+ community. Specifically, it originated in the underground ballroom scene of 1970s-80s New York City. This subculture featured voguing dance battles, runway walks, and fashion competitions among houses formed by Black and Latino LGBTQ youth. To “slay a ball” meant to completely dominate the competition. So, that is what I am talking about when using the word ‘slay’; to dominate, to win, to overcome, to create, to influence, to help, to inspire, and to make a difference. So, now, when I say to you, Slay the day, I hope you get what I mean.
I guess, even in mystical and mythical medieval times, slaying a dragon was really a metaphor for achieving a dream, overcoming an obstacle, or exploring human potential and capacity. So, it really has a similar application in the context of this message. What I am saying is, in a very convoluted way, make the most of this day. A couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog called, It is still 2023, because I could see, hear, and feel people switching off and missing the rest of this amazing year. Last week, my blog was called, There is always something you can do, because I want you to know that, in this moment, there are great options available, even if things seem hopeless. This week, in the same vain, I want to reinforce winning the day, or even better, slaying the day.
It simply means, whatever you are doing today, do it with every morsel of enthusiasm, passion, and focus you have. As I am writing this blog, let me tell you, sparks are flying off the keyboard. I have several Zoom meetings today, and the people who I speak to are going to get the best of me. I am cooking dinner for someone very special in my life this evening, and I am going to prepare and cook it with love. You see, slaying the day is not limited to killing a dragon, to amassing a fortune, to breaking a trauma-bond, or anything else that seems overwhelming and intimidating. In the context of this blog, Slaying the day, means giving everything you have to everything you do.
Are you doing any cleaning today? Do it with gusto, knowing that when it’s done you will have a clean home. Are you going to the gym or doing some exercise today? Do it with zest, knowing that it is increasing your mental and physical wellbeing and inspiring someone else who may be watching. Do you have to spend time with challenging people today? Do it with delight knowing that your presence will help them in their lives. Do you have to complete a difficult or tedious task today? Do it with relish knowing that when it is done, other people’s lives are going to be enhanced. In fact, do everything you have to do today with spice and sparkle, and slay the day.
When you slay the day and do everything with passion, you will love your life, inspire others, and attract more amazingness to you. In my podcast this week called, Show up as you, I speak with Chris Walker about this exact idea. How do you transition from Alcoholism, depression, and stroke, to joy, abundance, and purpose? Simple; get good at slaying the day. This is an awesome conversation with Chris.
Today is here and now, and there is no other time you will ever have. It won’t magically get better in the future. It won’t suddenly change when the new year arrives. It won’t just mystically appear when you wake up in the morning. There is only one way to get what you want, be who you want, and do what you want, and that is, focus on the only time you will ever have and, slay the day.
by admin | 16 Nov, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
One of my favourite songs is Firework, by Katy Perry. Not just because it is a great high-energy song, but mainly because of the message it is communicating. It is a call out to every person on the planet to see the beauty and worth they already have and, as she says in the chorus, to ‘Let your colours burst’.
I have watched the video-clip for this song many times, and it is very inspiring. I would encourage you to not just listen to the words, but also watch the video-clip that goes with it. In the chorus, she sings:
Cause baby, you’re a firework
Come on, show ’em what you’re worth
Make ’em go, “Ah, ah, ah”
As you shoot across the sky
Baby, you’re a firework
Come on, let your colours burst
Make ’em go, “Ah, ah, ah”
You’re gonna leave ’em all in awe, awe, awe
If you don’t know the song, these lyrics may seem a little weird, but trust me it is a wonderful song with a powerful message. That message is simple; you are wonderful, amazing, valuable, and important, just as you are, so let your power and colours shine through. The biggest job you and I will ever have during our time on this planet is to recognise our worth and to allow our light to shine, no matter what others may be saying or doing. You see, we are here for a mission, a purpose, and a plan. That plan is different for each one of us and we have all been gifted, through our creation, unique physical traits, character traits, and personality traits to allow us to fulfill our individual purpose on this planet.
Do you know what that means? It means you are just as you need to be and are meant to be. It means your quirks, strengths, and unique traits are exactly what was planned for you. It means you just need to learn how to use what you have to live the life of significance that is destined for you. It means you don’t need to change or be something that you are not. It means you are perfect, just the way you are. Isn’t that amazing news?
For much of my life I pretended to be an extrovert. I pretended to be full of confidence and bravado because I erroneously believed that is how I needed to be to get anywhere in life. I judged, condemned, and berated myself for being too insecure, too sensitive, and too emotional. I believed that real men are tough, don’t show weakness, and don’t need to ask for help. This flawed thinking led me into an inauthentic existence which I hated and took me into the pit of despair more than once. It was only a few short years ago I finally realised that God created me to be exactly who I am, and in his eyes, I am just as I need to be. The moment I started letting my own light shine, without worrying about how I looked or what others thought, I started to find the meaning and purpose that was there waiting for me all along.
In my weaknesses, I found strength. Through my insecurity, I found answers. In my sensitivity, I found connections. Through my vulnerability, I found significance and meaning. These days I am proud to be me, with all of my flaws and imperfections. I know I am unique and one of a kind, and so I want to let my colours burst. Just like me, you are flawed, imperfect, and the unique winner you were created to be. So, my greatest encouragement right now is to be proud of who you are and let your uniqueness shine and your colours burst through.
What about yourself is unique and different to others? What is it about yourself you keep judging, condemning, and wishing you could change? I would encourage you to think about these things as strengths and superpowers. Ask yourself this question; How can I use my uniqueness, my challenges, and my experiences to impact lives and find meaning in my own? Spend some time with this question and see what comes up for you, then, do something about it.
My podcast this week is called Adversity or adventure? In it I speak with Alice Readman about a time in her life when everything was taken from her, and since that time how she has been able to re-invent herself and now is absolutely letting her colours burst.
You, my friend, are full of life, love, and potential. Again, I am borrowing lyrics from Katy Perry’s song, because she says it so well. Do you know that there’s still a chance for you, cause there’s a spark in you? You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the 4th of July. Choose to make today the day you let your fireworks off and show your worth. Let your biggest vulnerability be your greatest strength and let your colours burst.
by admin | 27 Oct, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Have you ever found yourself sliding? Have you ever noticed yourself spiralling? Sliding into complaining, and spiralling into blaming? I know I certainly have. In fact, just the other day I started to slide and spiral until I grabbed a hold of myself and made the choice instead to err on the side of gratitude.
Why does it take so much deliberate attention to be positive and grateful, yet we can so easily, without realising, fall into negativity and complaining? I guess it’s like why it takes deliberate focus to get up and exercise, whilst it can be too easy to hit snooze and roll over back into slumber. Well, the other morning I had conquered the alarm to get up to exercise, but that didn’t mean my attitude was immune from spiralling into that all too commonplace.
It is late Spring in Australia, and normally a very beautiful time of the year. The weather is warming, the sun is shining, the flowers are blossoming, the birds are singing, and all should be right in the world. Well, on this particular morning, all was not right in the world. It was not warm, there was no sign of the sun, in fact it was winter. Icy cold wind and rain was blowing in sideways and making it very uncomfortable. I was training at the beach, so the wind was extra windy, and the rain extra cold, and my attitude was sliding.
I had got through my session, I was walking home along the beach, and I was uncharacteristically cranky. What is with this weather? It is supposed to be Spring, and this is more like a yucky winter. I am cold, I am wet, and I am not happy. As this mental dialogue began, and as I was starting to slide, I saw something on the footpath ahead of me. As I got closer, I saw it was a t-shirt lying on the ground, and on it was the word ‘GRATEFUL’. I looked at it, I stopped my slide, and said, Andrew, this is not like you and this t-shirt is definitely a sign. What is there to be grateful for? Do you know what is great about asking the right questions? They change the path of your thoughts, and they unlock answers that can change your state in a heartbeat. That is what happened for me.
I shifted into gratitude. As I looked around, I could see reasons to be grateful everywhere. I am grateful I live near the beach. I am grateful for the friendly dogs I get to pat. I am grateful for the suburb I live in and the home I own. I am grateful for the hot shower I am about to have. I am grateful for the fact that I am waterproof. I am grateful for the rain because we need it. I am grateful for a God who provides everything I need. And, on it went all the way home. When I got there, I felt amazing and knew I was about to have a wonderful day. Guess what? I did!
So, my thought for you this week is a simple one. When you feel yourself starting to slide, err on the side of gratitude. When you ask yourself, what do I have to be grateful for? The answers will start coming. I even find, outside of the obvious things I am grateful for, my mind prompts me to be grateful for my challenges, because they are helping me grow as a person. No matter what may be happening in your life, there is no excuse to not err on the side of gratitude.
In my podcast this week with the wonderful Kelly Myles, called Balancing stress, gratitude is one of the strategies we discuss to help turn unhealthy stress into healthy stress. It is a wonderful conversation, and I am grateful to Kelly for sharing her ideas with me.
It is a simple message this week, but one which will have a profound impact on your life and the lives of people you care about. As a human being, you will experience the whole spectrum of emotions, you can’t stop or change that. What you can control is which emotions you focus on and which you hold onto. This week, and forever more, when in doubt and when you feel yourself sliding, err on the side of gratitude.
by admin | 7 Oct, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
Last week I wrote a non-blog because I was feeling non-plussed. I was trying to gee myself up and force myself into a positive place, and it just wasn’t working. I am glad I gave myself permission to be flat, to have low energy, and to be less productive. Why? Because it allowed me, in my time and space, to get to the point to be ready to bounce back.
There are many ways to describe the concept of ‘bouncing back’. Resilience is probably the most common one these days. You could also use, grit, moxie, determination, persistence, pushing through, or toughing it out. I don’t know about you but, without exception, all of these descriptions are scary, overwhelming, intimidating and seem to suggest that the only way to bounce back is to force the issue. I used to be a firm believer that this was, in fact, the only way to bounce back.
As a footballer, the saying, when one of the players was struggling with keeping up, with some kind of soft tissue injury, or some other stiffness or soreness, was ‘jog it out’. We were fed the crazy idea that you can actually jog out an injury. It became a running joke (pardon the pun). “Did you hear John broke his leg”. “What’s his problem, he should just jog it out”. “Fred just got concussed and was carried off on a stretcher”. “He is so soft, why doesn’t he just jog it out”. We thought this was hilarious, but in fact, I now believe this is a very dangerous mindset when it comes to bouncing back, and to living a happy, healthy, and meaningful life.
Do I believe we all need resilience, grit, moxie, determination, persistence, the mindset to push through and tough it out at times? Absolutely. I don’t think anything great happens by just sitting, praying, visualising, affirming, wishing, or hoping it will just come knocking at your door. We have to get up and work towards what we want with an attitude that exudes, ‘I will do what it takes to make this happen’. However, I now firmly believe we need to honour ourselves. That means celebrate when we are in the zone and making things happen and welcome the times when we may hit the wall and need to fall flat for a while. This is what I have just been experiencing.
It is actually allowing ourselves to be human and understanding that we will experience the whole spectrum of emotions, moods, and energy levels. Instead of judging ourselves when we are feeling flat, I want to encourage you, as I have just done, to accept it, welcome it, and even enjoy it. When you do, the desire to bounce back will come naturally, without berating and forcing yourself to get up and go again when the get up and go again has temporarily got up and gone.
When I think about the most obvious representation of bouncing back, it would have to be the rubber ball. When you drop a rubber ball, it bounces back, right? You don’t have to slam it into the ground or force it to do something it is not designed to do. Inherently, its properties are such that bouncing back is a natural response. Did you know, that as a human being, you also have the same natural property? I don’t mean if you jump off your roof, you will physically bounce back up to where you came from! I mean, it is built into your DNA to find solutions, deal with adversity, overcome challenges, and achieve great things. That being the case, there is no need to force the bounce back, all you need to do is give yourself the time to be down, and process where you are at, then like magic the answers, motivation, and mood will return to get you back and bouncing again.
I know this is true because I have just experienced it for myself. What I did during my down time was resting, my couch got a hammering, I eased off my training, I walked, I noticed, and I spoke to the important people in my life to let them know where I was at. In my heart, I want more for my life and I always want to be moving forward. However, I know the only way to continually move forward, is to stop at times to re-fuel, body, mind, and spirit. If you want to drive your car across the country, you will have to stop at times to re-fuel and service it. Why would we be any different? I spoke with the wonderful Jim Wilson in my podcast this week called ‘Sam’s legacy’. Talk about bouncing back! This is a man who has achieved amazing success in the media, but also experienced incredible heartbreak. He lost his 6-year-old son Sam to brain cancer but has bounced back to use it as a way to impact lives and keep Sam’s legacy alive.
You are an amazing human. I hope you believe that. You are good enough just as you are. You have been created to do more, have more, and be more. You have also been created to have quiet, reflective, and non-productive times. Embrace it when the flat spot comes. Enjoy it, and just know that when you are ready you will naturally come bouncing back.
by admin | 28 Sep, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
I love where ideas come from. I love how they randomly appear when you just allow them in. I love that I don’t always have to be on my game and productive to feel good about myself. I love that I can write a blog about essentially nothing. This is my non-blog.
It sounds random I know, but I am sitting here racking my brains trying to come up with a great subject to write about. Something that will inspire, something that will empower, and something that will entertain. Guess what I came up with? Nothing! I was just about to start berating myself for not being creative, productive, and proactive, which has always been my go-to, when I stopped myself. Why can’t I write a non-blog? I can, and I will.
In life we all go through phases. There are times when I am on-purpose, in-the-flow, and getting stuff done. There are other times when it all just seems like a bit of a struggle, and I feel like a bit of a non-event. I know this is not just me, even though I used to think there was something wrong with me when I felt this way. Now I know I am representing the masses when I say this. I want to remove the stigma of the flat-spots, the low-energy-space, and the non-productive moments. In fact, I want to celebrate the non-events with a non-blog!
If you have ever watched Seinfeld, you will know it is described as a show about nothing, and it is hilarious. Well, my opinion anyway. We spend so much time in our lives trying to be on point, on track, and on target, that we miss out on being on the couch and switched off. Sometimes being on the couch is exactly where you need to be. In fact, after I finish not writing this non-blog, I am going to have a nanna-nap on the couch.
If I am being honest, there are certain parts of my life right now that are not buzzing as I would like them to be. My creativity is feeling a little blocked; hence the non-blog. My energy is a little lagging; hence my desire for a nanna-nap. My motivation is a little lack-lustre; hence I am just about ready to wrap up this non-blog. With all these feelings, which in the past I would have judged and condemned, I am now open to and even celebrating. Why? Because it happens to us all and it is simply part of being a fabulous human being. Don’t fight it, embrace it.
I know it won’t be long before I get my mojo back. Until then I am going to enjoy my down-time, my lack of productivity, my lethargy, and my non-blog. I want to encourage you to do the same when it happens to you. When you feel fabulous, go hard. When you feel flat, give yourself a break. There is so much to learn in life. Every situation, every experience, and every feeling can help us accept ourselves for who we are and what we do, or don’t do. In my podcast this week with Danielle Matthews called, Post traumatic growth, we discuss learning and growing from every situation, even the low spots.
Enough from me, the couch is calling. Enjoy your non-moments, as I have enjoyed not writing my non-blog.
by admin | 23 Sep, 2023 | Andrew's Blog, Joyful Longevity
This week’s blog is a plea. As a human being, I want to be treated with love, respect, honesty, and consideration. What about you? Same? Of course you do. We all want to be treated well because we are all incredibly valuable and important. However, sometimes the way we get treated by others is not that. Sometimes how we treat others, even without intending it, does not lead them to feeling the way we ourselves would like to feel. My plea this week is that we get back to humanity.
This message has come up for me quite a bit lately and has forced me to reflect on my own behaviour and the way I treat others. I wrote a blog a few weeks ago called Pass the simple daily tests. In that blog, I spoke about the simple ways we are tested each day in how we treat other people. Then, in my podcast this week with Adam Wallace called, Time to disrupt, we discussed it as well. Adam made the point that it is a disturbing reflection on society when doing the right thing dealing with other people, is a hack, or a disruption. We both agreed it should just be the way we automatically operate. Sadly, it is not.
Then, this week I was astounded by the inhumane treatment of a beautiful man, and it prompted this plea, and this blog. Let me give you a little background. Last weekend, I did some re-jigging in my home, leaving space on a wall that I knew would look better with some art. With that thought in my mind, I went out on Monday for a meeting. It was walking distance, so that is what I did. As I was walking to the café, I passed an indigenous gentleman sitting on a milk crate in the street painting some beautiful pieces of Aboriginal art. I gave a passing glance at his art as I was walking, and then thought to myself, ‘Hmmm, maybe’.
I went to my appointment, and on my way back I decided to stop and look more closely at the art. I stopped, met Les the artist, looked at his art, asked some questions and decided to buy a piece I knew would look awesome on my wall. I asked how he wanted to be paid, and he said he would take cash or bank transfer. As I had no cash – who does? – I decided to pay by bank transfer. I got out my phone, jumped on my banking app, transferred the money, and showed him the confirmation. Les signed my art and gave it to me, and I went home excited to put it on my wall. It looks amazing, by the way.
Once home, and after I had hung the art, I sat at my computer and immediately an uneasy feeling came over me. I checked my bank account on the computer to find that the payment to Les had been rejected and the money transferred back into my account. I got straight up, no hesitation, and went back to Les to tell him what had happened and try again to pay him. What Les said to me, after I came back and told him what had happened, disturbed, and disgusted me. He looked me in the eye and said, ’Thank you for coming back. You are the only person who has ever come back after a transfer didn’t go through’. It disturbed me that this beautiful man, creating amazing art, had not been paid more than once for his work, because people who owed him money didn’t come back to do it. It disgusted me that there are people in the world who think this is an acceptable way to treat another human.
I paid Les again, I waited until he had evidence that it had hit his bank account, and I walked away with two missions. Mission one, to tell as many people as possible about Les and his amazing art. Mission two, to spread this message of humanity and remind all of us, me included, that treating people with love, respect, honesty, value, and consideration should be an automatic response, not the exception to the rule.
As you go about your day today, you will interact with potentially many people; your family, your friends, the people you pass in the street, the people who serve you in shops, the people who you drive past, and many other people. I would like to encourage you to try something if you are up for a challenge. Could you treat every single person you meet in a loving, kind, respectful, and humane way? Could you smile and say hi? Could you say thank you for something someone did for you? Could you do something to help someone? Could you listen to what someone is saying to you? Could you give a word of praise or encouragement? Could you act with integrity and do what you said you would do?
I know you can. And, when you do, not only will you make someone else’s day, and help them to feel valued and important, but you will bring immeasurable joy into your own life. It is so worth it, so for the sake of this world we live in, let’s spend time every day getting back to humanity.
