The Yule Blog!

On a train journey yesterday packed with people coming home from London laden down with bags of Christmas stuff I started thinking about the three wise men (as you do!) and their choice of gifts for the infant Jesus.

Gold, frankincense and myrrh were obviously hugely symbolic and were meant to reflect what lay ahead. I considered the Fisher Price Kicking Piano Gym under the Christmas tree at home – a present for Eleanor, my first and very new grandchild – and thought that whilst she would no doubt enjoy it in time, it wasn’t very lasting or meaningful!

What then could the 21st century wise men bring to set someone up for their journey through life (please pardon the portentous thoughts but I was on the way home from our office Christmas lunch!).

I settled on four things – Confidence, Optimism, Humility and Curiosity – none of which are available on Amazon but in fact all of which are potentially within our own gift to ourselves.

Confidence to try things and to share your views on the experience, confidence to be yourself even when it might be at odds with the ‘norm’. - but always stopping short of arrogance.

Optimism to help you reframe the negative or the unhelpful into something more positive. Steering clear of naiveté and foolhardiness but retaining a spark of hope and ‘let’s give it a go’!

Humility as we all need to recognise our faults and limitations – not the hand wringing obsequiousness of Uriah Heap but a realistic and powerful acceptance of when we are wrong and the grace to admit it.

Curiosity about stuff but without judgement - Why things happen, how could I do it differently, what is that about, I wonder if that might work…………

Unfortunately it is not within our gift to bestow any of these on the people around us but we can demonstrate them ourselves and by so doing encourage and support others to do the same.
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Have a great Christmas everyone.