Yesterday I had an experience that left me buzzing in fond memories for the rest of the day. I was back on the tools, standing under a nasty little canopy cleaning. I was dressed in the overalls and cap which disguised my youthful good looks lol.

Anyway there were a group of men in the same kitchen just about to commercially clean the kitchen floor. I did not really look at them as I was intent on what I was doing. One of them shouted “morning”, Without looking at them I retorted “morning, wont be long guys, ten minutes and Ill be gone”.

One of the guys replied, take your time son.

Son I thought? I stood there like a Kangaroo stunned by the lights from a car. Son, no one has called me that for…….. 30 years… Giggling out loud, I took off my cap and turned to the men for the first time, “Take another look, I have not been called that for 30 years”.

I was staring at this fit old fella in his 70s. Distinctively old and wrinkled, yet very sprightly for his age. “Even without the cap your still a boy to me he replied with a smile”. I nodded my head in affirmation and continued with my work .

My mind drifted back to my early twenties where I and some workmates (Stephen McInerney) use to regularly stay in an old rabbiter’s hut high up in the hills at the back of Mudgee. Boy I loved it there. What I love more was the owner of the property Darcy Howarth. An old man, Actually I never quite knew how old he was . At 20 everyone over 40 was old. But this man had to be in his sixties at the time and for the next fifteen years I would follow this amazing old man, walking over the steep mountain ranges looking for spots to plink a few rabbits which we would eat for dinner.

Of a night we would invite him over to the hut with the allure of a bottle of tawny port. There we would sit around the open fire and hang on his every word, Stories like; How he and wife rode on horseback over the large three ridges from where we were for their honeymoon in a bark hut, I craved more the stories of the second world war. Not stories of death but those of valour. When men were men. Ohh how at the time I would wish to myself that I was only born fifty years earlier.

In our mens groups we….. no “I” truly value the wisdom of those who have lived on this earth for longer than I. I strategically leave some of the shares at the end of the night to some of these guys for I am aware of the Gems that will come.

Today I will be more mindful of the Gems that are readily available to me every day as I speak with those who have walked in my shoes for far longer that I have. These Gems are free, all I have to do is listen.

Today I am confident in time that traditions will come full circle and I hold to the idea that again “Men will be Men”.

Remember I am also a registered councilor and am available for one on one confidential session. Feel free to call me.

This is only one of many articles on my blog which I have called “My way or the High way”, so if you want to see more click http://bit.ly/SpiritualInsightsCameron

God Bless
Cameron Monley

P.S.. Make time and join me and the lads at our fortnightly Gold Coast Mens Group or alternate Tuesdays at Sailisbury in Brisbane… http://bit.ly/InfiniteConnecitonEvents