A time to reflect

This has been an extraordinary week. A time to reflect if ever there was one as we consider the life, service and death of Queen Elizabeth II.

For you reading this, for me and our household, for the majority of our country, none of us will have seen anything like this before. No doubt you have heard talk on the radio and news at great length on this theme, using phrases like 

…a historic moment…

   …unprecedented…

      …a moment in history…

         …once in a lifetime…

The fact that brought the enormity of the Queen’s life and service home was the list of 15 Prime Ministers who have served under her reign, the first being Winston Churchill. Churchill was born in 1874. The Queen’s service of our country began when a Prime Minister was in Parliament who was born not last century, but the century before that. 

Humbling indeed. 

There has been a lot of talk about the stability she brought our country, and the values that underpinned everything she did. 

This is a time to reflect too on her kindness, her wisdom, her mischiefous sense of humour and her ability to put people at ease – also much talked about. 

A coaching approach that is often used when helping people to think of their purpose and role in life is to imagine the legacy they want to leave behind. The question is asked:

What would you want said about you at your funeral?”

Now I know that what the Queen has achieved in her lifetime and the legacy she leaves is in a completely different league from most of the rest of us. 

This is not about comparisons. 

What will your legacy be?

But this is about taking time to reflect on what we do want to do with our lives, and how we choose to spend our time. 

Imagine you are at the end of your life looking back. what deeds would enable you to honestly say:

That was a life well lived.” ?

This week, in amongst the constant and sometimes overwhelming news coverage of The Queen’s life and death, take a little time to yourself to stop and reflect. 

What is most important to you this week?

Do those that you know and love know how much they matter to you? More on that here and here.

What kindnesses can you show this week to those in your own circle of influence?

There is a lovely wee story on the BBC news page about the Salvation Army providing hot drinks and rolls for people standing in the queue in Edinburgh for hours during a long cold night to pay their respects to the Queen as she lay in St Giles Cathedral. Toilets and water stops had been stationed by them along the queue to make the wait of those waiting that bit more comfortable. A kind and queenly act indeed methinks.

Small things, doing what you can with what you have when the opportunity arises. 

Not making a big fuss, but just noticing, stopping and taking time, seeing what is important right now in this moment. 

I like this reflection that I came across a few years ago:

As we take time to reflect this week on the life and service of the Queen, let us take time too to reflect on our own choices, our own values, and how we choose to spend our time.

To serve others with kindness.

To keep the promises we make.

To use our time wisely and with gratitude for all we have.

And to care for ourselves appropriately that we might bring the best of ourselves to what we do.