We have all done it.
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What `it` am I talking about?
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Stayed in a Hotel Lately? I bet you couldn't even describe one of the Housekeepers, let alone spoken to one of those unsung heroes. You know who I am talking about Blue Hair Girl :)
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Needed the Police because you want a Crime Reference Number and just rushed up and blurted at them because you have more important things to do? Good luck recalling their face, let alone their name an hour later.
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Worst of all I bet you couldnt save your life if it depended on telling me how many homeless people you passed today. 'Sorry I haven't got any spare change' you say by reflex. I will give good odds you had some of the folding stuff in your wallet or purse though.
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I won't go into my circumstances in specifics, but suffice to say I felt invisible too. Lets face it, there is one universal Truth : NoBodyShouldBeInvisible.
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I was lucky enough to have the help and support of some wonderful people. You know who you are and I hope I remembered to thank each and every one of you as I promised. If not, then know you are in my thoughts.
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So if you feel like nobody has time for you or that people look right through you please remember that there are good and kind people out there. All you need to do is reach out and scratch the surface and with luck you will find kindness underneath.​
Turn it off for 24 hrs
You know that little slave driver that is attached to your hand most of the day. I mean who wouldn't want to get the footie scores or see who is still on love island right? But did you see that cute boy/girl smile at you and the disappointment on their face when you treated them like a stone in the rapids of life?
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How about that beautiful baby in the stroller or pram? Did you see them light up when they saw something interesting? But they will probably do that again right, I mean surely its more important to check your Twitter feed or just see if you have any reactions on Tik-Tok.
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Life is not a Dress rehearsal. We get one shot at it, no do-overs, no second chances. Do you remember the last time you did anything that was just about making you or someone else happy when out in the world with no filters?
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Here is my challenge for you all.
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Think of your happy place or activity. It doesn't matter what it is or if you are `Too Old For It`.
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Do it and keep your phone/tablet/laptop/whatever off for 24 hours
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Hopefully 24 hours later you are reading this (If not, do not pass Go, Do not collect £200 and go up a few lines.)
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I dare you to tell me you don't feel better for it.
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Oh and for anyone who thought `But Life is so busy, I just can't find the time`. Sorry, you can MAKE THE TIME. If you can't then does it occur to you that your life is living you and not the other way around?
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Slow Down
As I hinted above I have had my own challenges, but this isn't about me. This is about honoring the people that helped me and making sure I keep my solemn promise to each and every one of them.
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I am sure we have all said `I'll Pop you a text/DM later` and then somehow that got moved down the list because something else came up. I have done that in the past and trust me I get it. Sometimes life can seem like its coming at you at 200 mph and things get lost in the noise.
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It may seem like we are all strapped down to a Canoe with a hole in the bottom and heading down class VI rapids. But you know what, we aren't. Thats just the little slave drivers hitting you with push notifications and text alerts and alarms and all kinds of irritating sounds.
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Did you ever ponder why that is? Check out this eye opener on Netflix. Yes, its Ironic I am using something on one of the worlds biggest streaming platforms as an example of why TECHNOLOGY IS EVIL tm but come on give me a teensy break here alright :)
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And we wonder why Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos et al hold so much of the worlds wealth...