Celebrate the everyday

Everyday people doing everyday things is cause for celebration, and I witnessed 2 events today that most likely won't rate a mention in world history, but for the people involved, they may have been profound achievements that help to mould who these people are.

Unless you're talking about Picasso or Trevor Hendy, painting and swimming at the beach aren't things you'd normally consider world beating moments, but if they're things you haven't managed to commit to doing, or were too scared to do it, they feel like conquering Everest.

My friend had been lamenting the fact that she hadn't been able to sit down for a day and paint. She had all the equipment, all the space, and all the ideas, but being an on-call shift worker, what she didn't have was time and conviction to take a day off to lock herself in a room and paint. But on Friday, she drew a line in the sand, took a day off work, and painted her very own masterpiece.

She doesn't think the National Gallery will be offering her millions of dollars for it, but she did it to feel good about her own personal achievement, not to potentially make a quick mil, so she was tickled pink.

Becoming the person you end up being isn't as simple as clicking your fingers and saying "I want to be THIS sort of person," it's a long series of experiences that shape what we love and what we can do without, our fears and dreams, and down at Freshwater beach I saw my niece's identity being shaped. The surf was pumping so hard it was scaring most kids on the beach, including 6 year old Charlie Rose Howarth, but when her Dad suggested they go out the back, despite the fact she was scared to death, she put her trust in her Dad, took his hand and headed out the back.

Charlie learned 2 things this morning - that she doesn't need to be afraid of the ocean, even when the surf is huge, and that she can put complete faith in her Dad and he'll protect her.

I hope both girls realise that even though their achievements won't make the news, they should be very proud. From little things, big things grow.