Archives for December 2023

December 28, 2023 1 Comment

Frank’s Way a Remarkable Life Story that Deserves to Shine.

It all started with a phone call.

“My brother-in-law Frank Hocken, now in his 80’s, has led an incredible life. He and my sister Lee are very successful entrepreneurs, and through their business interests have achieved so much together. They were instrumental in retaining and developing Twizel – the South Island town that was constructed as the base for the largest hydro project ever undertaken in New Zealand. Post the project, the temporary town was going to be discarded – demolished. It made no sense. Frank and Lee could see the potential. They took risks, garnered support, challenged the Council and eventually won the case to retain and develop the town. Since then, the town that was close to being destroyed, has been transformed whilst still retaining its charm. The population has grown and given its location, surrounded by beautiful mountains and lakes, it’s a destination of choice for thousands of holiday makers year-round. You’ll have to go and see for yourself. Frank is an amazing storyteller and it’s so important their story is captured for family and friends”.

We met Frank and Lee Hocken a few weeks later. His sister-in-law was spot on when she said Frank was a great storyteller. Handing over a box of notes, some newspaper cuttings and a couple of books we chatted about his early life. Intrigued, we agreed to read the notes and consider the project. It soon became apparent that Frank and Lee’s story was astonishing. Frank was a force to be reckoned with in business, most notably, but not limited to property and community development. It was evident that Frank and Lee’s family, achievements, and business interests, were not restricted to Twizel. Their story, their legacy, would need to be preserved, documented, and read to be believed.

Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken, is an inspirational story of hard work, adversity, and determination. With our one-on-one support and guidance, we had the privilege of capturing this couple’s life journey from their humble origins in rural New Zealand. They met each other on the other side of the world and returned to New Zealand to start a new life together. Their story is full of interesting accounts of family life, business success and failures, and includes their role in the history of the retention of Twizel, the small hydro town that refused to die. While they have business interests all over New Zealand, Twizel has remained central to their family life and business for more than 30 years.

With a nudge from a sibling, Frank and Lee bravely took up the challenge and invested the time to preserve their living legacy.

Working at their own pace, and in their own way, they initially compiled their story for family, friends, and future generations. It’s an enduring finished product that they are proud to share with others. But clearly their documented story is bigger than that; Franks Way – The Story of Frank and Lee Hocken is a significant accomplishment.

Their story shows how they and their family have shaped our environment, and in so doing, they have made an enormous contribution to New Zealand’s social and cultural heritage.

Your story matters. It’s a gift to be treasured. Don’t let it go untold. We appreciate everyone’s story if different. For example, it could be a collection of memories, a career or business story, a family history, a travel adventure, or a spiritual journey. Whatever it is take the first step towards preserving your story for your loved ones. Documenting it doesn’t need to be a laborious solitary experience. One-on-one personalised, confidential support, tailored to your needs, is available every step of the way – from concept to completion. This includes project initiation, guidance on structure, writing structure, writing assistance, and final presentation including publishing options for those that are keen to take this step. Schedule your complimentary consultation today to get started on your legacy project.

Email me at Kiaora@angelarobertson.nz

Testimonials

“I am so very, very grateful for all the amazing work you have done – how you assisted me through the whole process to share my story, compile my chapters, and helped me to advertise and launch my book ‘The Ever-Widening Circles’. I am overwhelmed with praise. Thank you.” – Marg Schrader

“Angela was willing to help us put our stories together. I am very grateful for all her help over the months of meeting together, typing up my handwritten notes, inserting my photos, and compiling the chapters for printing.” – Andy Higham ‘My Thoughts…My Life’

Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker and workshop facilitator. Her own non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

December 16, 2023 Leave a Comment

The Spirit of Gratitude

With the festive season upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and the joyous memories that make this time so special. In the spirit of gratitude and sharing and creating lasting moments with the important people in your life, here are some heartwarming ideas to help you savour, capture, and cherish the happiness of times past. Writing has therapeutic benefits for your physical well-being. It’s not just an intellectual exercise; it’s a way to express and release emotions, reduce stress, and promote overall wellness. Give it a go and see for yourself.

If you are getting together with family and friends

Encourage everyone to jot down a few bullet points about their favourite moments from the past year. Then take turns reading and reminiscing about the shared joy.
Organise a festive photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of holiday-themed items or activities and capture them with your camera or on your phone.
Start a writing project. Collate the memories of shared joy, the snapshots you’ve taken, add some narrative. Transform this into a cherished album (or two) and share it with your loved ones.

If you can’t get together in person

You could host a virtual gathering with friends or family to share your favourite memories. Whether it’s a hilarious holiday mishap or a heartwarming moment, the joy of reminiscing together knows no bounds. If you document these memories afterwards, you could send everyone a copy in the mail.
Pen a heartfelt letter to a loved one, recalling shared moments and expressing gratitude. It’s a timeless gesture that will be treasured.
Start a new hobby. Compile a family/friends recipe book featuring the favourite dishes from past holiday gatherings. Include anecdotes about why each recipe is special. It’s a delightful way to preserve culinary traditions and memories. It’s also makes a great birthday or Christmas present for the future

Wellbeing matters. Express gratitude and savour, capture and cherish the happiness of times past, and notice the benefits. Let me know how you get on 😊

Dr Angela Robertson is an author, inspirational speaker, and facilitator with more than 40 years’ experience in adult and community development. She inspires and supports individuals of all ages to maximise their potential to enhance the quality of their lives, work, and relationships. Working with individuals, groups, and communities she encourages people to broaden their perspective on ageing, continually expand their horizons, take advantage of the opportunities around them, channel their energy into activities that matter. She also provides one-on-one professional support to assist families create living legacies for future generations.

December 9, 2023 Leave a Comment

Reframing Retirement – Celebrating Longevity

Globally, the population is ageing. In New Zealand, it is predicted a fifth of us will be over 65 years of age by 2034. Traditionally, when we reached 65, it was the magic age when many of us made the transition into what we call ‘Retirement’, as it’s the age at which we are entitled to universal superannuation. It’s an old model. The practice of exiting the workplace after reaching a certain age and entering the life stage we call ‘Retirement’ was introduced in the 18^th Century and was more widely adopted in the 19^th and 20^th Century.

Nowadays, there is no compulsory ‘Retirement Age’ in Aotearoa. In the 21st Century ‘Retirement’, or ‘Semi-Retirement’ as a life stage, means different things to different people. While some remain in paid work on either a full or part-time basis, many look forward to exiting the workplace and giving up the daily commute. ‘Retirement’ commences immediately after leaving the workplace. Initially we may look forward to taking a well-earned rest and spending more time with the important people in our lives. Travel may be planned, new routines are established, and we begin to focus time and energy on the activities we enjoy.

However, over time this old concept of ‘Retirement’ may not meet everyone’s expectations, intensified with the impact of the COVID pandemic. We may experience disappointment, uncertainty, a lack of purpose, poor health, financial insecurity, loneliness and/or sadness – maybe through loss of a loved one. It’s vital that if we find ourselves in this situation we shift out of this phase, develop an attitude of gratitude, and take control of our wellbeing in later life. Expressing a sense of gratitude enhances positive emotions and increases self-esteem. Give it a go. Make a long list of all the things you are grateful for and add to this list daily. Savour your experiences, life’s lessons, the people you have met along the way, and boost overall wellbeing.

It’s time to ‘Reframe Retirement’ and celebrate longevity by reminding ourselves that chronological age is just a number, not an impediment. It’s our functional age that matters. How we feel about ageing, impacts on how we age. We have so many choices on how we spend our time and a duty to ourselves to age as well as we can. We can meet new people, try new activities, visit, or invite old friends around for a meal, learn new skills, share our experiences, document our memories or family history, volunteer or take on a significant project at any age. It’s up to each of us to make the most of our extended lifespans. After all, life is a gift for us to enjoy, and later life can be even more fulfilling than what has gone before.

Go well and enjoy the adventure.

Dr. Angela Robertson is the author of six books, an inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator with a wealth of experience in maximising individual and collective potential. Through her writing and speaking engagements she encourages people, regardless of their age and stage, to continually expand their horizons, leverage their strengths, and channel their energy into activities that matter. Her books are available from online stores in paperback, e-book and kindle formats.

https://books2read.com/Embracing-Life-On-Our-Own-Terms