I once heard emotional intelligence could be identified in children by offering them two lollies and telling them when you leave the room and then return 15 minutes later if they don’t eat the lollies they would get three more. (kind of like the Biblical parable of the talents) The child that eats the lollies is likely to have a low EQ (emotional quotient) and the child that saves them will have a high EQ.
For most of my life I have been the eat the two lollies kid, slowly transitioning into the eat one lolly and negotiate for 1 to 2 more when the adult returns. I have learned the hard way how to wait not eating either of the lollies and am still learning, it does not come naturally to me but is becoming easier.
On Oaks Day this year it was my 18th Anniversary of arriving in Australia. In 1989 I got off the plane and my fried Cora said we need to buy you a hat and off we went into the Fosters Marquee on Oaks Day, no less! Well you can understand why I stayed in the country if this was my first impression. So I put it out to the universe that I would like to go to the races this year but in style, in a top marquee. The day before Oaks day I forgot about my wish and received a call from my dear friend Julie forwarding me her invite into an illustrious marquee! Great news right?
Be specific when you put out what you want. I had agreed to do a pro-bono session for the kids at Fifteen and reluctantly resisted both lollies:-( So I gave up self indulgent fun, glamour cleverly disguised as a networking opportunity, to do the right thing. I chose contribution (which I value highly) over fun (which I enjoy deeply) with a certain reluctance.
I love my work so once into it I am in bliss and flow and to be quite honest there was a part of me relieved to be in jeans and sneakers instead of pinchy shoes. One of the apprentices said he ate more vegetables in this session than in the 6 months prior, and he enjoyed them! At the end of the session one of the apprentices came up to me, looked me in the eye and gave me a big hug and said ‘Thank you” so sincerely I almost choked up.
T. Harv Eker says that truly successful people don’t think in ‘either or’, they think in ‘both’. you can be rich and happy, you can have success and great relationships, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other, you just need to be creative. So as it happened I did end up contributing and having fun and in a way I did not anticipate, I got my 3 extra lollies as you can see by the words below.
Life is good when you are doing what you love!
Sessions with Sherry Strong
As part of our training program we help the apprentices develop broader life skills and recently the focus was on health and nutrition. Sherry Strong – nutritionist, chef, and food coach – facilitated a practical session at Prahran Market (This involved budgeting for a weekly shop, the apprentices sourcing ingredients from the vendors in the market and finally preparing simple but nutritious meals in the kitchen of Essential Ingredient.
Sherry has a capacity to engage our young apprentices by bringing energy, knowledge and wisdom to her sessions. The apprentices are looking for a follow up session early next year to further tap into the knowledge and energy that Sherry has to offer.
Matt (1st Year Apprentice): “It was amazing. It has opened my eyes to better food other than the junk food I have been eating. I have had heaps more energy since using some of the recipes Sherry helped us prepare”.
Thanks also to Samantha Bernardo from Prahran Market who helped coordinate the session and to the good people at Essential Ingredient for generously allowing us to use their kitchen space.
She was awesome and really cool! She knows so much and was really helpful. (Patty, First Year Apprentice Chef)
It was amazing. It has opened my eyes to better food other than the junk food I have been eating. I have had heaps more energy since using some of the recipes Sherry helped us prepare. (Matt, First Year Apprentice Chef)
“Sherry has an amazing capacity to engage our young people’s minds and hearts in a way that is energizing and captivating. We work with young people who are difficult to engage and who don’t have the best track record for looking after themselves. Through practical demonstration and sharing of personal experience and wisdom Sherry manages to touch the lives of our young apprentices. The recent session where Sherry led a shopping expedition followed by guiding the apprentices in the preparation of simple yet nutritional meals provided the practical knowledge and experience our young people needed. The Fifteen Foundation has been fortunate to develop a great relationship with Sherry and we look forward to her continued wisdom in assisting our young apprentices to change their lives.”
Peter Kerwin
Youth Welfare Coordinator (Fifteen Foundation Australia)
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you writing this
write-up and also the rest of the site is very good.
Super kind feedback Bing, thank you!