OLD PHOTO

 

 

Its often easy to look back at old photos and ponder “what was i thinking ? look at me”

many times i had such thoughts when i saw this old photo, and just as many times i couldnt find an answer.

My pants seem to be hitched a little high around the waist, they are a bit short around the ankles and just dont seem to fit correctly.

Once  recently i stepped back and thought what was happening at this time ? Why was it like this ? what was going on in my life ?

Suddenly it was clear … it wasnt about me, i wasnt the priority. The focus wasnt on me it was the rest of the family and its clear their appearance is a little sharper than mine.

 

For the team or group to become stronger often one or more members have to  put in an extra effort or make one or more sacrifices, this was the 90s and i worked hard through this 10 year period. Six days per week was the normal, with the last day spent around the house and quality family time … simple things like going to the park with the kids and walking the dogs.

Staying out late and partying just wasnt an option, friday and saturday nights were spent at home, i didnt care, going out late was an intrusion on my family time.

I didnt need good clothes, i simply didnt wear them, thus the not so perfect wardrobe.

Many of my friends were doing the same so im not trying to make out i was doing anything extraordinary, we still had some weekends away and often water skiied still during the summer.

Others i can see now worked differently, and im thinking there isnt a right or wrong, this is how we chose to do things !

The real focus as i said was trying to improve the lifestyle for the family, to cut a path through the jungle that would make it easier for the younger members to follow. Progress was slow at times and i wasnt always confident it would work out, but we stuck to the plan. Sure there were some modifications but the task was clear, i took the brunt of the work and Linda cared for the family model,then returned to full time work when she could…. old fashioned values maybe ?

Values that came from our parents who probably also influenced  our work ethic …. they certainly contributed with their efforts by baby sitting and assisting where they could, and im sure some of the clothes in the photo were also hand made by nanna.