The coffee was cold, cake a memory and as I prepared to leave the office the mobile sprang to life with text:
‘Just sent you an email, come back to me!’
The number was familiar although ‘nothing current.’ Being curious, I did of course proceed as instructed and checked ‘mail’ anyway.
Hey Charlie, it’s Jackie here!
‘Some of the kids here are with you in spirit, see the attached please and let me know what you think!?’
Now I don’t know about you but whenever I’m engaging an unfamiliar email and being instructed to check the attachment, I’m a little cautious …
Still, I was curious and didn’t ‘bin’ this one but parked it, then dispatched the remainder of the (now ice) coffee and escaped with the boss (dear dog.)
It was some time later I’d recovered from the latest ‘trek’ and approached the kitchen for refreshment once again …
‘Did you get the message from Jackie?’ A distant shout came from Sue.
Memory was restored! ‘Jackie’ was the Carer for an elderley some-time client, someone I catch up with much too sparingly, only occasionally.
I returned to the email and scanning the contents immediately felt more positive about prospects.
The note began:
Hey Charlie, Jackie here, a note from the school front …
We had a sit down with the kids today (six 5 year olds) and we asked them to play along …
‘First we asked them to close their eyes until the count of ten and to think about what they were good at. We also asked the kids to think about where they would like to be when they grow up?’
”As you can imagine, the room erupted with shrieks of enthusiasm and the first hand that shot up I immediately thought of you:’
‘I’m really good at helping people.’ Came the answer from said 5 year old. ‘When I grow up I want to be surrounded by my friends.’
So, why tell me this Jackie?
I needed just a minute before the ‘penny finally dropped’ …
Jackie had been reminded of something by her young companion … something that she and I had discussed many times in the past. We’d talked how Carers needed help just like everyone else. The most helpful of people need their friends and just a little support at times.
Jackie also knew that the network of friends was one of the reasons I enjoyed my business so much and hence she was so taken aback by the youngsters comments, it became the reason she decided to make contact.
Sometimes kids have a great way of enlightening us to some of life’s really important stuff, like the mutual benefits that come through helping friends.
I was happy … my first testimonial of 2017, even if it was from a 5yr old!
CharlieKenny.me 