Thought For The Day – Thursday 12^th December 2024

Above: What will the future bring? New TBSHS, December 30^th 2023.

As we near the last week of a monumental term, a couple of simple words can mean the world – thank you.

In a world that can be a little too much about taking, we reflect on giving, especially at this time.

We not me.

It is worth reflecting that, for those who have expertly led the new school project,  Mr. Reeve, Ms. Engel, Mr. Gunn, the caretaking, cleaning, finance, technical and senior management teams, as well as the Governors of TBSHS, there was very little, if any, summer holiday.

Indeed the whole of 2024 has been an unquantifiable amount of work and no little about of belief, hope and resilience.

In a similar way, we know that every person who helps us, at home or school, we should say thank you too.  Simple words but ones which show humility, gratitude and respect. Words which take the time.

Ultimately saying thank you requires us to see beyond ourselves. To value others.

Recently, the tennis legend Rafael Nadal, of Mallorca, Spain, retired from professional tennis. We have lived in an arena of true greats of the game – Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic. Sir Andy Murray is part of that conversation too, especially with his golden summer and autumn of 2016 and his historical Wimbledon victory (after 77 years for a British male)  in 2013. 

As well as for his inspiring fighting spirit and resilience, Rafael Nadal was particularly known for being the best ever clay court player,  especially in the beauty of Paris, and winning an epic Wimbledon final against Roger Federer in the dark,  and especially for his outstanding manners, graciousness and sportspersonship in victory and defeat.

For, after Rafa left every tournament, win or lose, he always said thank you to everyone. Just as this natural and typical clip here shows: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMIoVCj-XnY

Rafa’s retirement message was beautiful too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SWPbSY99Ow