Good Morning Friends,

I trust you're well. As I write, the sky right now at 6:37am matches the colour in the SIP logo. I'm excited for the sun to begin rising sooner each day over the horizon of trees out the front of our house. It's a magical time of year that I always know I will look back on and remember fondly.

As 2025 unfolds, I'm trusting the thoughts that surface through the precious writing time I have. 2025 seems to be the beginning of the musings of 'Living Fully' which has brought me to stumbling upon the idea of 'doing things others will admire you for.' As I elaborate, I'd love to know the instinctive thoughts that come to mind when you read that phrase.

Remember, everything here is to do with living fully so please keep this in mind when we talk about admiration. Admiration is not completely for the ego nor for showing off. If anything, it's more virtuous than that. It's something that 10 people could give you negative feedback about but you'd still do it because you know it helps more people than not. It's the thing that you have a love or a developing love for that any negativity around it is just noise. Like anything in this world, the good comes with the bad. It's what makes the positive parts so pleasant.

Now something to be admired for can literally be anything. As I've mentioned before, doing things that bring you joy. It doesn't need to be a grandiose gesture to the world. It's something you can or can see yourself making an impact with. An easy way to unlock what this is is to pick 5 people closest to you and intuitively think of something they do that makes you proud to be affiliated with them. Is it their work? Is it their family life? Is it their exercise regime?

I think it's important to state here that doing something worth being admired for requires sacrifice. It takes time and effort, with little thanks or recognition. It only comes up fleetingly when acknowledged but you know that acknowledgement goes a long way. I think the lack of recognition can be the ultimate form of respect; nobody is jumping on the hype train or looking to steal your attention but underneath they wish nothing else than for the resilience you have.

This thing to be admired for will have loose ends dangling over the edge that others may be able to grab to pull you down. But that's the risk when you leap. To be admired is to be envied. They are two sides of the same coin. Be aware of this but remember once you choose heads or tails, you need to stick with what you've chosen.

I'm going to close there guys but hopefully the scratching of the surface around admiration is one for you to ponder for the rest of the day. Write to me with the thing you want to be admired for! The less ambitious, the more impressive.

Have a great rest of your Sunday!

Best,

Lawrence