“I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.” Albert Einstein
One of my great teachers George Rowney passed some years ago. He was the Zen Master of Whacky, Wonderful and Happiness.
He was Irish. If I were to say to you he was a stereotypical Irishman, you may assume he drank Guinness and was quick witted. You would be correct. The man was hysterical. He also grew the best tomatoes, had the greenest lawn, the sharpest hedges, the worst driving in the world and the best sweeties in his pocket.
If you were to visit him in daylight, the chances were extremely high you would find him in the greenhouse: sitting in his red and white striped deckchair with missing springs, smoking his brought back from holiday pipe and listening to brass bands playing on BBC Radio 4.
When you opened the door you would probably have had take a step back as the smoke escaped.
He served in the WW11. He never spoke of it. Only once.
One day when I tried to ask questions his voice changed pitch and he rubbed his eyes. As an adult I now know he was hiding his personal nightmares and said, “I can’t. I don’t want to remember. Nobody should have to take those orders.”
A compassionate man, his greatest love was his wife. She never got better from a stroke and he became her full-time nurse/carer. He did this for years with no complaint … ever. He took on all the duties that a nurse in a care home has, purely so his love would never have to live in one.
His teachings have never been published anywhere. Until now.
He taught:
- Smile. Smiles are like puppies, everyone loves them, everyone picks them up.
- Dance whenever you can even if you’ve two left feet.
- Never be afraid of the dark. There is always light in the morning.
- Always turn around and wave goodbye.
- Road trips are an essential part of living life.
- Celebrations must be celebrated, even if money is tight.
- Play. Always play. There is always time for fun.
- Ice cream drinks made with lemonade are essential to a healthy lifestyle.
- You can sleep anywhere. But when awake, be alive.
- There is no time for regrets. Not if you’re still here
- Whenever you can always sing along to the music.
- Never follow an order that your values scream against.
- You must enjoy a bath and sing in the shower.
- Don’t argue when you’re angry.
- Roll up your trouser legs + walk barefoot wherever you can.
- Greet everyone how you love to be greeted.
- Always have butter. Margarine isn’t food.
- If you want to create the best garden. Tender it with love.
- You can be strong and vulnerable.
- Always carry an Emergency Biscuit in your pocket.
- Don’t plan for retirement. Retire ‘one day soon’ plans.
- Don’t take the car when you can walk.
- Speak to everyone you meet.
- Dress to please yourself, nobody else.
- Love. Real love. It’s not up for question.
When I ran sobbing into his house because I’d flunked half my exams, he took the piece of paper, read it, looked up and said, “One day this won’t matter. Real teachers in life won’t ask you to sit an exam.”
He then dug into his pocket, pulled out a £10 note, handed me it and said, “Nip to the shop, we need lemonade and ice cream for drinks. That’s an order.”
1. Sometimes you don’t need to jump into books and attend courses to remember what you already know.
2. There will come a season when you will cease to exist. For a few seasons after that people will remember your time here. What will they share about you?
And lastly…
Do you/did you have a George Rowney person (my Granda) in your life? What are a few of their unpublished teachings? Please create them in the comments.
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