2018 sees me doing something I thought I would never do and that is read more non-fiction than fiction
At the top of the list is sitting the Self Help Genre.
To date Legacy – What the All Blacks can teach us about the Business of Life by James Kerr has been by the far the most thought provoking read I have had in a long time.
But I am a bit concerned about my lack of diversity of general knowledge. Does it make me a heathen that I have never heard of Richie McCaw before I read this book. Truth be told the only All Black I could name is Jonah Lomu. I did however know that Nick Far-Jones was a Wallaby when this story Wallaby legend Nick Farr-Jones could have faced one of his most elusive opponents in the early hours of Monday morning.popped onto my radar.
Today’s read was Not Just Lucky by Jamila Rizvi
When I read this comment “Parents, who have spent significant time and sometimes money in their child’s education, want to be assured of a return on investment. They want to be told that their baby done good. To feel secure in the knowledge that a suburban brick house, the latest model Lexus and a Thermomix lie in their kid’s future.”
‘Thermomix’ oh my god what is that??? Is that why I didn’t win the Mother of the Year Award. All good mothers apparently know that a Thermomix is a kitchen gadget – that is not only a food-processor but one that also, weighs, cooks, chops, crushes, emulsifies, whips, mixes, steams, blends, kneads, grinds simmers, grates and mills. Just how have a lived without one let alone had a lifetime payment plan to ensure the child had one ?
But worse still I hadn’t heard of the UpTalk and Vocal Fry Epidemic OMG to the Power of 10. How had I not heard of this? Am I guilty? Do I talk like this ? Note rising inflection
On the positive side Professor Google is a power of knowledge and the diversity of my knowledge is certainly growing. I cant see myself ever having any desire to be able to recite every name in All Blacks line-up but I wont be forgetting the name of most capped test rugby player of all time. See footnote
Jamila Rizvi hasn’t inadvertently destroyed my confidence as a conversationalist. In fact I am sitting in the front carriage of the train with her cheering when she says
Our generation is better placed to achieve gender equality than any other in the history of humanity. This is our opportunity to grasp, our campaign to join and it is our fight to be won. So get out there. Show the world your best, be confident and claim your achievements as your own. I’ll be right here, cheering you on from the sidelines. Because you’re not just lucky, you’re brilliant.
Footnote
For those of you Rugby Tragics who think I must be from Mars if I haven;t heard of Richie McCaw I now have no shortage of people on my team who can keep me informed. Special shoutout to Mandy McKeesick – who married the enemy . Another testimonial to the wisdom of surrounding yourself with the expertise you don’t have
