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"Daily Inspiration"

Max Lucado starts his book “How Happiness Happens” with this story:
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“It’s 6:00am in Hamilton, Bermuda. Ninety-two-year-old Johnny Barnes stands on the edge of a roundabout and waves at people as they drive past. He’s been here since 4:00am. He’ll be here until 10:00am. He’s not asking for money or begging for food. He’s not protesting, complaining, picketing, or loitering.

He’s making people happy.

He wears a straw hat and a salty beard. His eyes are bright, teeth white, and skin leathery and dark. The years have bent his back and slowed his step. But they haven’t siphoned his joy. He waves with both hands extended in front of him. His wrists turn from side to side as if he were adjusting the volume on a soundboard.

He pulls back his right hand to retrieve a kiss and blow it in the direction of a taxi driver or commuter.

“I love you!” he shouts. “I’ll love you forever!” “Hello, there, darlin’. I love you!”

And they love him! Bermudans call him Mr. Happy Man. They route their morning commute to see him. If Johnny’s not standing in his spot, people call the radio station to check on him. If he happens to miss acknowledging some commuters, they often circle the roundabout until he waves at them. One morning a cranky woman was determined not to make eye contact with him. She wanted to wallow in her bad mood. But she ended up looking his way. When he smiled, she smiled.

Another sour attitude bit the dust.

Johnny’s philosophy is simple. “We human beings gotta learn how to love one another. One of the greatest joys that can come to an individual is when you are doing something and helping others.”

Wouldn’t you love to meet a person like him?

Better still, wouldn’t you like to be like him” (1)

The Contagious Life of Johnny Barnes

This story moved my heart as it perfectly captures my greatest passion: being positively contagious. So I did a little more digging and found out more about Johnny.

Johnny was born on the 23rd of June 1923 and died at the age of 93 on the 9th of July 2016.

He was an electrician by trade and worked on the Bermuda Railroad until the railroad closed in 1948. He then became a bus driver. Barnes was fond of waving to people while driving the bus, and would occasionally sit and wave to people on his breaks or when coming to work. (2)

One day in approximately 1986, Barnes, aged 63, stopped at the Crow Lane roundabout and took up waving to traffic. He was there almost every day until his “retirement” in December 2015 when he 92 years young. 6 months later he left for heavens shores. For 30 years of his life he spread love and positivity. INCREDIBLE! Talk about a man with a serious purpose!

In the 2011 documentary made about him called “Mr Happy Man”, Johnny said that he would sometimes wake as early as 2:45am to get to his post on time to greet people on their way to work. He was there every Monday to Friday no matter what the weather! Local radio stations reported receiving frantic calls when Barnes was not at his unofficial post. Johnny says “Life is sweet, life is beautiful, it is sweet to be alive. Enjoy the sunshine, the flowers, the birds – they’re happy. We human beings got to learn how to love one another… then there wouldn’t be any wars, there wouldn’t be any killing. People need to know that love is important.” (3)

Barnes was married in 1949 (aged 26) and lived with his wife until his death. Johnny’s wife had a cheery disposition because he had “covered her with honey” since they were married. They had no children.

Barnes credits his mother for teaching him goodwill and kindness to strangers, including ‘speaking to everyone you see, because you never know when you might need them.

Barnes wanted to leave the world a better place. After his death his wife read out his final message: “My mind and heart would have liked to continue at the roundabout forever, sharing love, cheerfulness, happy wishes and prayers with each of you. However, our loving Heavenly Father knows best, so He said, ‘Johnny, it is time for you to rest.” (4)

Such was Johnny’s impact that in 1998 a group of local businessmen unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Barnes blowing kisses in the air. The statue is located on Crow Lane just up from the roundabout and today, even after his death, his story continues to inspire and make people happy.

What Can We Learn From Johnny?

What a man! What a legacy. Imagine if we all had the heart to serve and love one another like Johnny? Imagine if we changed our mindsets from what’s in it for me to how can I make someone’s day brighter? What would the world look like if each of us asked: “How can I serve the world and make people smile today?”

Today I challenge you to be aware of the impact that you are having on others. Is it positive, neutral or negative? Being aware of your behavior is the first step towards bringing about a significant shift.

Start with an awareness of your impact in your home. If it’s not positive, then start today by making the change and if you have the energy, I dare you to spread your positive influence wider.

The world is in desperate need of your shine. Start today!

pedia-JohnnyBarnes2-840x500-The-Bermudian-Magazine.jpg
Image Source: thebermudian.com
Sources:

  1. Book by Max Lucado, How Happiness Happens
  2. Wikipedia
  3. Documentary: Mr Happy Man
  4. The Times
  5. Image Source: Feature Image: The Times
  6. Image Source: Post Image: thebermudian.com
 
Max Lucado starts his book “How Happiness Happens” with this story:
View attachment 201886


“It’s 6:00am in Hamilton, Bermuda. Ninety-two-year-old Johnny Barnes stands on the edge of a roundabout and waves at people as they drive past. He’s been here since 4:00am. He’ll be here until 10:00am. He’s not asking for money or begging for food. He’s not protesting, complaining, picketing, or loitering.

He’s making people happy.

He wears a straw hat and a salty beard. His eyes are bright, teeth white, and skin leathery and dark. The years have bent his back and slowed his step. But they haven’t siphoned his joy. He waves with both hands extended in front of him. His wrists turn from side to side as if he were adjusting the volume on a soundboard.

He pulls back his right hand to retrieve a kiss and blow it in the direction of a taxi driver or commuter.

“I love you!” he shouts. “I’ll love you forever!” “Hello, there, darlin’. I love you!”

And they love him! Bermudans call him Mr. Happy Man. They route their morning commute to see him. If Johnny’s not standing in his spot, people call the radio station to check on him. If he happens to miss acknowledging some commuters, they often circle the roundabout until he waves at them. One morning a cranky woman was determined not to make eye contact with him. She wanted to wallow in her bad mood. But she ended up looking his way. When he smiled, she smiled.

Another sour attitude bit the dust.

Johnny’s philosophy is simple. “We human beings gotta learn how to love one another. One of the greatest joys that can come to an individual is when you are doing something and helping others.”

Wouldn’t you love to meet a person like him?

Better still, wouldn’t you like to be like him” (1)

The Contagious Life of Johnny Barnes

This story moved my heart as it perfectly captures my greatest passion: being positively contagious. So I did a little more digging and found out more about Johnny.

Johnny was born on the 23rd of June 1923 and died at the age of 93 on the 9th of July 2016.

He was an electrician by trade and worked on the Bermuda Railroad until the railroad closed in 1948. He then became a bus driver. Barnes was fond of waving to people while driving the bus, and would occasionally sit and wave to people on his breaks or when coming to work. (2)

One day in approximately 1986, Barnes, aged 63, stopped at the Crow Lane roundabout and took up waving to traffic. He was there almost every day until his “retirement” in December 2015 when he 92 years young. 6 months later he left for heavens shores. For 30 years of his life he spread love and positivity. INCREDIBLE! Talk about a man with a serious purpose!

In the 2011 documentary made about him called “Mr Happy Man”, Johnny said that he would sometimes wake as early as 2:45am to get to his post on time to greet people on their way to work. He was there every Monday to Friday no matter what the weather! Local radio stations reported receiving frantic calls when Barnes was not at his unofficial post. Johnny says “Life is sweet, life is beautiful, it is sweet to be alive. Enjoy the sunshine, the flowers, the birds – they’re happy. We human beings got to learn how to love one another… then there wouldn’t be any wars, there wouldn’t be any killing. People need to know that love is important.” (3)

Barnes was married in 1949 (aged 26) and lived with his wife until his death. Johnny’s wife had a cheery disposition because he had “covered her with honey” since they were married. They had no children.

Barnes credits his mother for teaching him goodwill and kindness to strangers, including ‘speaking to everyone you see, because you never know when you might need them.

Barnes wanted to leave the world a better place. After his death his wife read out his final message: “My mind and heart would have liked to continue at the roundabout forever, sharing love, cheerfulness, happy wishes and prayers with each of you. However, our loving Heavenly Father knows best, so He said, ‘Johnny, it is time for you to rest.” (4)

Such was Johnny’s impact that in 1998 a group of local businessmen unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Barnes blowing kisses in the air. The statue is located on Crow Lane just up from the roundabout and today, even after his death, his story continues to inspire and make people happy.

What Can We Learn From Johnny?

What a man! What a legacy. Imagine if we all had the heart to serve and love one another like Johnny? Imagine if we changed our mindsets from what’s in it for me to how can I make someone’s day brighter? What would the world look like if each of us asked: “How can I serve the world and make people smile today?”

Today I challenge you to be aware of the impact that you are having on others. Is it positive, neutral or negative? Being aware of your behavior is the first step towards bringing about a significant shift.

Start with an awareness of your impact in your home. If it’s not positive, then start today by making the change and if you have the energy, I dare you to spread your positive influence wider.

The world is in desperate need of your shine. Start today!

View attachment 201887Image Source: thebermudian.com
Sources:

  1. Book by Max Lucado, How Happiness Happens
  2. Wikipedia
  3. Documentary: Mr Happy Man
  4. The Times
  5. Image Source: Feature Image: The Times
  6. Image Source: Post Image: thebermudian.com

What a bloke!!
 

Arthur Brooks, the Professor of Happiness.​

August 20, 2024 by Foundation For A Better Life

Being happy in this life doesn’t come easy for any of us. Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks has discovered timeless ways to find fulfillment and happiness, no matter our situation.​


His class on happiness has the longest waiting list in Harvard’s catalog. He recently published a book with Oprah Winfrey. He is in demand on college campuses nearly everywhere.

Arthur Brooks is not a rocket scientist, a pop star or a professional athlete. Yet he gives us all what we want a little more of: happiness. He speaks to us because life is complicated, communities are stressed, families are overworked and the future seems uncertain.

Understanding what drives Brooks to make the world a happier place requires a look at his humble beginnings. He grew up in Spokane, Washington, and played the French horn.

“Music is a kind of meditation on things that are beautiful,” he says. “But I wanted more.”

He left the California Institute of the Arts to join the City Orchestra of Barcelona, Spain. While working full time, Brooks earned his master’s degree in economics. Then, he moved back to California to work for RAND Corporation while earning his Ph.D.

Being curious is a good thing, and learning is a good thing. Curiosity gives us a better understanding of the world and our place in it. But Brooks wanted to implement what he was learning. Later, he began teaching at Georgia State University and then Syracuse University. He discovered that he was interested in the economics of behavior, or how the way people feel determines how they act, and how they act determines how they feel.

Diving into human emotions and how they motivate and shape us became Brooks’ passion. He became an advisor in public policy and studied productive societies. What he discovered was that, aside from some cultural differences, the most productive societies were also the happiest.

“Happiness isn’t found in some finite checklist of goals that we can diligently complete and then coast,” he says. “It’s how we live our lives in the process. That’s why the four pillars of happiness are faith, family, community and meaningful work.”

Faith keeps us humble and teachable. When you believe there is a power greater than you, you accept corrective criticism more readily. Family often supports us when we need them and provides a place where we also teach, love and serve. Community is our broader obligation to provide for, protect and encourage others. And when we have work with a purpose, we move forward through menial tasks, knowing we are building something greater than ourselves.

Learning to be happier takes practice. Daily practices such as taking note of what we are grateful for, meditating on a higher power, connecting with family and serving in our communities make our lives match our beliefs. When we live what we believe, we do become happier. And maybe more importantly, we make those around us happier, too.
 

Crafting relationships.​

January 14, 2025 by By The Foundation For a Better Life

10-year-old Alfie works in the woodworking shop with his grandfather crafting high-end chopping boards. The duo sells items out the garage and saves profits for a water project in Africa.​


Seems the world has gotten much smaller for the new generation of children. With access to world news streaming on smartphones and becoming the focus of discussions in classrooms, kids like Alfie are well aware of the problems other kids face. In Africa, the lack of clean water is directly related to the high poverty rate. Over 400 million people live below the poverty line in Africa. Not having access to clean water means children are often the water gatherers in the village, walking upwards of six miles a day to water sources. This leaves little time for school and because the water is unclean kids are often sick. Having clean water close to home has a compounding effect on families and communities. So when Alfie started making money with his grandfather, he knew what he wanted to do with it. “I want to build water sources for people in Africa,” he says.

Alfie grew up in a football crazy family. His brothers are big fans of the Chelsea football club. But Alfie has a different interest. He loves being in the shop with his grandfather. He began hanging out at age four. “I have Wednesdays and Sundays off,” says Grandfather Roy. “Alfie’s brothers are all sporty and Alfie was getting left behind, so I wanted to offer him another avenue.” Alfie is a fast learner. While grandpa works with the heavy machinery, Alfie provides the finishing touches, carefully sanding and prepping for oiling. Each piece holds the secrets of generations, the hardworking set that built a new world, and the younger, more sensitive set that sees the world as part of their family. The generations are coming together even more metaphorically over a project coming to them from Oxford college. A large tree that had stood for many years had fallen over in a storm. They asked Roy and Alfie if they would craft items from the wood as a remembrance. The work will take a fair bit of their time, shaping and finishing pieces with a historical connection to the community, a community that sends graduates out into the world to make a difference. Many graduates from Oxford go on to make an impact in Africa. It’s only fitting that they carry with them a keepsake from a young boy with a sensitive heart, and a grandfather with labored-hardened hands to remind them that positive change takes both.

Grandfathers have a special place in their grandchildren’s lives. They provide the wisdom of experience, and the experience of time spent slowly. In a hurry-up world, isn’t that exactly what all of us need?
 
So my son stood like this for ten minutes. Just... watching. No words. Just that tiny back and his fists in his pockets like he was trying to hold in the whole world.

The man on that tractor is his grandpa. And this land? It’s been in our family four generations deep.

He wore this shirt because he begged me for it.

I’d shown him a post on Tedooo from a Cricut artist who had this design “No farmers. No food. No future.” and he got so quiet. Next thing I know he’s asking if he can use his piggy bank money to buy it.

I messaged the seller and told her why he wanted it. She added his name in tiny letters under the collar, no charge. Said her family farms too. My husband calls it our “rainy day crop.” The income helps when tractors break or the hay bales go moldy from a bad storm.

But this? This was different.

This was my son, five years old, realizing something we don’t even say out loud half the time.

That people don’t see us. That they forget where food starts.

That sometimes we’re laughed at for having calloused hands or wearing boots to the grocery store.

But he sees it. And he’s proud. And I’m proud.

And somewhere, between handmade tees and crocheted cows and the dusty backroads of a working farm, we’re raising a kid who knows what matters.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but keep making the things that carry stories.
Someone’s watching. And remembering.
 

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From Humble Dishwasher to Mega-star.​

Without the help of an elderly waiter, Sidney Poitier might never have become the actor that he is.

By The Foundation for a Better Life


Sydney Poitier, the charismatic actor with the smooth-toned voice and intense gaze, rose to stardom in the 1960s. Honored by the Screen Actors Guild, winner of an Academy Award and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Poitier became a household name. But he got his start as a dishwasher.

Born in Miami to Bahamian farmers who traveled yearly to sell produce, Poitier was a descendent of runaway slaves. As an infant, he was too sickly to travel back to the Bahamas, so his parents remained with him in Miami for three months. He returned with his family to Cat Island, where he helped with the farm until he moved back to Miami at age 15.

In those early years on the islands, Poitier saw his first motion picture. When he returned to the States, he was determined to become an actor, so he moved to New York City.

While working as a dishwasher, young Sydney auditioned for a role in a local theater. It didn’t go well. Having little education, Sydney Poitier struggled to read his lines. Discouraged, he went back to work as a dishwasher. But an elderly Jewish waiter took a liking to ambitious Poitier and began reading with him every night. They studied the newspaper and worked on diction to improve Sydney’s delivery.

Meanwhile, there was a war on, and perhaps feeling an obligation to his elderly mentor, Poitier lied about his age and enlisted in the Army. He was 16 at the time.

After his stint in the Army, where he mostly worked in psychiatric hospitals, Poitier was unable to find work and returned to washing dishes. But he never gave up his pursuit of acting. He landed a role with the same theater that had rejected him a few years earlier.
The time he had spent with his Jewish mentor had helped him read more smoothly and given him the confidence to keep trying. It also proved to him that he could learn anything he put his mind to. Poitier dedicated several months to smoothing out his Bahamian accent, delivering lines with the right inflection, and learning the craft of connecting with audiences in an emotional way.

And then the breakthrough happened. Poitier was noticed for his powerful performances on the stage and cast alongside Tony Curtis in the film “The Defiant Ones,” which landed eight Academy Awards.

Poitier’s decades-long career as one of the most successful draws at the box office made him a household name. He won an Academy Award in 1964, added film directing to his resume and was granted an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974. He received the Presidential Medal of Honor in 2009. As President Joe Biden later wrote, “Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America saw itself.” And it happened because of his hard work — and someone who believed in him when he was a youth.
 

Judging by Appearances Misses the Most Beautiful Part of Life: Friendship.​

December 31, 2024 by By The Foundation for a Better Life

When Oliver Bromley was asked to leave a restaurant because of his facial disfigurement, he didn’t seek revenge. He only asks that we all seek understanding.​


In our TikTok, filtered-reality world, it’s easy to get caught up in comparisons. Do I look as good as her? Are my cheekbones high enough? But these questions only narrow the lens through which we see the world. There is no divine standard by which we should all be measured.

We all look different, speak differently, think differently. Yet we all make snap judgments. Social science studies conclude that most of our first-impression character judgments are incorrect. Turns out, to really know someone takes time. It takes conversation.
Oliver Bromley has had to learn this the hard way. Due to a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis, he has many small, benign tumors on his face. One day, when he left the hospital after a series of procedures to treat neurofibromatosis, he was disheartened when a restaurant turned him away because he was scaring customers.

Oliver understands how his appearance can be disconcerting at first. But his heart is forgiving and kind. Even as the story was picked up by the BBC, charities weighed in and comments poured in from readers, Oliver remained unruffled. He hopes “some good can come from this” and that the whole incident will “create awareness around people with facial deformities, facial differences.”

Oliver’s story reminds us to pause our frenetic scrolling and judging for just a moment and ask: “What is really important?” The labels we wear, both visible and internal, can imprison us in ways that limit our ability to really feel and experience life.

Friendships help us overcome loneliness and teach us to be more tolerant, more grateful. A diverse set of friends helps us be more reflective and kind. We become deeper, more thoughtful human beings when we engage with different cultures and ideas. And when we become that one friend that accepts and encourages rather than judging, the people we touch will multiply outward and return many kindnesses to us.

The famous story of Cyrano de Bergerac is one such example. Cyrano had a nose that was described as “obnoxiously large.” While he could do nothing about his protuberance, he could learn to express himself. He became a poet and wrote verses that made women swoon. His friend Christian employed him to write love letters to his lady-in-waiting. It worked. The woman loved the words, believing they came from Christian. But when, alas, Christian was killed in war, the woman heard Cyrano reciting the words he had written for Christian. After this twist of fate, she realized it was Cyrano she was in love with, not Christian. She also realized the large nose didn’t bother her in the least.
As we look past our own noses, beyond the imperfections of others, we will find people like Oliver. Kind. Forgiving. A privilege to have as a friend.
 
How Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski Delighted The World

On the 8th of June 2021, Jane “Nightbirde” Marczewski became an overnight global sensation when Simon Cowell struck the golden buzzer after her breath-taking performance on America’s Got Talent. But it wasn’t just her beautiful voice or the depth of her lyrics that stole hearts. There are millions of others with the same talents. What made her stand out and pull heart strings around the globe was her remarkable attitude in the face of extreme adversity.

At just 30 years young, Jane has survived divorce in the midst of kicking cancer to the curb, three times. In June 2020 Jane was given 6 months left to live. She told the camera’s: “I have a 2% chance of survival but 2% is not 0%. 2% is something and I wish people knew how amazing it is.”
1.) Life Is Both Hard And Beautiful

Nightbirde told CNN’s Chris Cuomo that her message resonated with people around the world because “People are really afraid to be happy because life can be really really hard and there are a lot of reasons to be afraid. BUT there are also a lot of reasons to be thankful. My journey has taught me that we don’t have to pick one. We don’t have to pick that life is hard or life is beautiful. Life is beautiful and hard at the same time. That’s when we are fully alive: when we hold both.

2.) You Are More Than The Bad Things That Happen To You

An article about Nightbirde in the Metro reveals that Jane was initially reluctant to reveal her cancer story. She did not want to be a sob story. She wanted to get through on her raw talent. The shorter version of her audition does not show the extent the judges had to probe before she revealed her cancer story and even then, she immediately spoke up by saying:

“It’s important that people know that I am so much more than the bad things that happen to me.”

Bad things are going to happen to us but we don’t need to let them define us or change the trajectory of our story. People are inspired more by those who seek out the light from a space of darkness, especially when most others would be inclined to give up.

3.) Always Be True To You!

Howie Mandell commented after Jane’s audition that what stuck him first was her authenticity.

CNN’s Chris Cuomo had another name for her authenticity – he called it truth. He started the interview saying: “When you mix talent and truth, sometimes you get magic.” And he finished the interview stating: “Your voice carries truth that shows people can persevere and there is such beauty in that.”

Whatever your story, own it. Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes. It’s your unique story and yours to tell.

4.) Believe In Impossible Things

Jane told CNN: “The key is not to deny the pain of today but also not to deny the help of the future. Both are real. Take it minute by minute. Life doesn’t get any easier. You got to believe in impossible things.”

Later in the interview she emphasized these similar words of advice: “If something so impossibly catastrophic and unimaginably awful can happen then doesn’t it mean that something impossibly beautiful and impossibly redemptive can happen too?”

Jane’s song: “It’s okay” hit number 1 on iTunes. The overnight success took her by surprise. However she hasn’t yet been given the cancer all clear. Her singing dreams are coming true, but her body isn’t completely healed yet. When Simon Cowell asked how her health was doing she answered: “The last time I checked, the cancer was still in my lungs, spine and liver.”

Hold onto hope. Believe that impossible things can happen for you even when the odds are stacked heavily against you. Our God is a God of miracles and even if her health doesn’t completely return, she told the Metro that her greatest miracle, after all she has been through, is that she is not bitter or angry, but grateful.

5.) It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

Howie Mandell, judge on America’s Got Talent, asked Jane after she revealed cancer was still in her body: “So you are not okay?”

I just loved her response as she said: “Well not in every way, no.”

None of us are okay in every area of our lives all the time. We cannot possibly juggle all the balls of life successfully all the time. We are bound to drop a few balls every now and then. And that’s okay. It’s okay to be lost.

We have all had stages in life when we lost our way. I know I most certainly have. Sometimes we feel a little lost and other times we feel completely lost. But losing your way temporarily doesn’t mean that you will be lost forever. And when we are lost, it’s empowering to be reminded that even in the darkest days, there are still things to be grateful for.

6.) Be Happy Today

“There is a voice that says – good things don’t last….” Jane told CNN “….. but I say that it doesn’t matter what happens tomorrow. Today I am here and I am alive.”

In the midst of beauty, the enemy will often try rob you of experiencing your full joy and the peace today. Resist his prowling techniques and throw yourself into the full extent of your current magnificent reality.

Nightbirde also reminded the judges: “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

Be happy today. Now. Good times don’t last. But neither do the bad times. The secret to living fully is to appreciate the good and endure the bad. After all, if we never had winter, would we appreciate the warmth of summer?

7.) Never Give Up – NEVER!

“What would you say to others who feel they don’t have the same strength you have to overcome?” an emotional Cuomo asked Jane on their interview.

“Ah,” smiled Jane, “I am not special. I am not stronger than anyone else. I just have the audacity to keep going in the face of reasons why I should not.”

My friend, whatever you are facing. DO NOT GIVE UP! I don’t care how bad the odds are. Keep going.

8.) Know Your Why?

One of the things that hit home the most about Nightbirde is that she is so clear on her why. She knows her purpose. She wants to sing. She wants to sing so badly that she will enter herself on a global platform like America’s got Talent even though she has been given a 2% chance of survival.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzche said: “A person who has a why to live for, can endure almost any how.” In other words a person who has found a purpose in life can overcome any obstacle in their path.

9.) Bad Things Can Work Out For The Good

Jane mused to the Metro: “I am grateful for the impact my story has had because I wouldn’t be here at this point without what I have experienced. Maybe there would have been another way for me to reach many people but it would never be what this is. Possibly it wouldn’t have meant as much, and my song would never hit as hard, had it not been coming from someone who really has been lost. So, in the end, it’s all worked out for good.’
 

Absolute brilliant show. From memory about 10 episodes were made, but we never get tired of seeing the re-runs.
There is always something that was missed in a previous viewing that stands out on the umpteenth time we see it.
John Cleese, Emanuel and crew absolute masters of British comedy.
 

Buderim roundabout's beloved 'waving man', Peter Van Beek, remembered for bringing joy to commuters​

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For at least half a decade, Buderim's famous 'waving man' stood at one of the suburb's busiest roundabouts with a beaming smile and enthusiastic wave to morning and afternoon commuters.

Peter Van Beek's death this week has triggered an outpouring of grief and sadness among the Sunshine Coast community to which he brought so much joy for so long.

"To see Peter down there at that roundabout, waving and smiling, made you feel like he was doing it just for you," said Buderim mother Karen Rodgers.

"He had a special way to make you feel special.

"Driving down through that roundabout I don't think will ever be quite the same, you couldn't help but smile."
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Mr Van Beek moved to Buderim with his wife and three sons 50 years ago. (Supplied: Thrive Photography)

Mr Van Beek's family announced on social media that he passed away on Sunday "peacefully in his sleep".

The Dutch-born 88-year-old had been in a Sunshine Coast hospital since suffering a stroke in April.

"[The family] would like to sincerely thank the community for all your warm wishes, cards and support. We are truly humbled by it," they said.

The news triggered an outpouring of love and gratitude for a man who brightened the days of many with a simple smile and wave.

"I'm thankful that when he first suffered his stroke so many people made/sent get well cards to him so he knew how much happiness he brought to the community. The roundabout should be named after him. Vale Peter!" — Yvette Elliot
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More than 80 cards were collected for Mr Van Beek when he became ill in April. (Supplied: Angela Britz)

Teenager Jorja Robertson said interacting with him on the morning commute was a highlight.

"The first time I saw Peter was my very first day of year 10 at a new school, I was so nervous," she said.

"I remember feeling this instant wave of happiness as soon as I saw him smiling and waving.

"People would always share stories at school about, 'Who saw Peter this morning?'"

Community sends love​

After his stroke, friend Angela Britz rallied the community and became a central drop-off point for more than 80 "get well" cards which she delivered to the family.

"He just loved seeing people happy,"
she said.
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Ms Britz says Peter Van Beek knew the impact he had on others: "The hat would come off and he'd do a kind of bow." (Supplied: Angela Britz)

"And when he retired, he just couldn't sit still so apart from reading his books, getting out there and seeing all the children in the morning and in the afternoon, Monday to Friday — rain, hail or shine — that made his day.

"He knew that it made everyone else's day something special."
Ms Britz met Mr Van Beek about three years ago and would take her children to his home at Buderim, enjoying "tea and biscuits" with him and his wife Margaretha.

Throughout their friendship she helped him fulfil his wish of securing National Geographic editions to add to his collection.

She said he kept a list from 1986 and would edit the list as copies came in. She found him more than 100.

Every day, her family looked forward to approaching the roundabout.

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Ms Britz' husband James Cooke enjoyed catching up with Mr Van Beek. (Supplied: James Cooke)

"You kind of look out for him, put the windows down, get ready to toot or go around the roundabout a few times," she said.

"It's really an empty space there right now, it's very, very devastating for the community."

Cherishing the simple moments​

The roundabout where Mr Van Beek stood was metres from the Matthew Flinders Anglican College, where he was loved by children and staff who'd see him on their daily commute.

"His cheery smile and kind ways I believe was one of the reasons that so many of our students and our staff enter the college grounds each and every day with a smile," Trudi Edwards, the school's head of primary, said.

"His infectious personality and his generosity of spirit has brought so much to us as a community."
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Mr Van Beek was embraced by the school's students, staff and mascot. (Supplied: Matthew Flinders Anglican College)

She said students would be supported to work through their grief, but also encouraged to appreciate and learn from his legacy.

"That simple acts — a wave, a smile — can be such a positive thing in the lives of others," Ms Edwards said.

"To know that it is within those simple moments of human connection where everyone benefits."

Ms Edwards said in due course the school community would offer support to the family and in the meantime were "very grateful for his cheery smile, happy wave and his connection" over so many years.

Calls for roundabout tribute​

As the community grapples with Mr Van Beek's death, some locals have called for a permanent tribute at the roundabout where he once stood.

Buderim mum Kirsten Boud, who said the drive to school had been "a little less magical of late", is one of them.

"Even a statue or renaming that roundabout — there needs to be recognition that he was a very special person,"
she said.
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Mr Van Beek was a guest of honour at Flinders' Grandparents Day. (Supplied: Matthew Flinders Anglican College)

Sunshine Coast Councillor Ted Hungerford said Mr Van Beek was a "cherished member of the local community and inspired others to be kind".

He said the council's thoughts were with Mr Van Beek's family and friends at this time.

Requests for a memorial, tribute or renaming of the roundabout should be directed to the Sunshine Coast Council.

Thank You qldfrog......A story worth Telling.....Thank you for Posting the Link!!:)
 
To all who may read this......Please Feel free to Post any great stories of inspiration on this thread, the more the Merrier as there is nothing better than waking up to a story that brings a smile to one's face & turns what could be a grumpy start to a day into a great day for those that may read these uplifting stories.

Thank you!!!
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