The Gift That Keeps Giving

In a world where acts of kindness performed by high profile individuals can seem to eclipse anything we lesser mortals might perform (I’m thinking of people such as celebrities, heroes, prominent figures and the like) we can all too easily lose sight of what we have to offer the world. All too often it can seem like we are comparing the modest light of a candle with the brightness of the sun .

What my Grandfather taught me was that I don’t need to shine like the sun.

It’s more than OK to be a candle.

Unlike many of my peers, who during their early teenage years tended to idolise footballers or rock ‘n’ roll stars, my hero was my Grandfather. Although I’ve been asked many times why I held him in such high regard, I can’t honestly point to one specific thing. It certainly wasn’t because I saw him very often, due to the many miles that separated us, nor was it because he possessed any superhuman powers. What he did have, however, was a desire to spend time with me; and in the process share some of the wisdom he had accumulated throughout the years.

One of the many things I remember about the time I spent with him, was an occasion when he sat me down in front of an open fire and handed me one of two candles he was holding. Once I was in receipt of it, he took a wooden spill from a nearby container and lit one end of it by placing it in the fire. Using the lighted spill, he went on to light each of our candles.

After turning off the lights, plunging the rest of the room in darkness, he raised his candle and shared the following.

“I want you to think of these candles as the physical aspect of who we are and the flame representative of that which drives or motivates us; such as our self-esteem, confidence, hopes, dreams, passions, beliefs, aspirations, etc. The brighter the flame the stronger the drive and the clearer the way ahead. During our early years the lights burn bright and it seems like there is nothing we can’t achieve. The world being very much our oyster.”

“As we journey further along the path of life, situations can arise that can cause the flame to dim or inadvertently go out. Often through no fault of our own. Sometimes, however, it can be because we have ventured into places where the flame is unable to stay alight; blown out by hostile forces or starved by negativity.”

With that he blew out the flame on my candle.

“It’s at times like this when we are most likely to be at our lowest ebb. A time when we are without hope, without belief, without confidence, without direction, without clarity. It can be a dark place. A lonely place. A frightening place. It’s at times like this when you can shine brighter than any distant star within the life of someone who finds themselves in such a place. You don’t have to be a rock ‘n’ roll star or a football hero. You just need to be someone who cares enough stop awhile and reignite their flame.”

With that he reignited my candle.

“Just remember that your one candle can light a thousand. Each of that thousand can then go on to light a million more. You may never know how many lives you touch just by sharing your light with others. But should your light go out one day there are millions of people ready to repay your act of kindness by reigniting yours.”

With that he blew out his own candle and beckoned me to reignite it.

Conclusion;

Being of a certain age I’m frequently asked why I haven’t retired yet. My response is simply “Why would I want to?”

My private work within the fields of Personal Development, Clinical Hypnosis, and Coaching, has provided me with numerous opportunities to ignite or re-kindle the hopes, dreams and aspirations of many; often by doing nothing more than helping raise their self-confidence, self-esteem and self-belief.

In truth, I’m trying to keep alive the flame that my Grandfather shared with me; by holding onto the belief that I have many more candles to light.