How I Keep My 3 / 4 Mast Flag 1 /2 Full

The Parkside Bowling Club Flag

The Rice Brothers (John Rice sadly died in 2005 at 53 years of age)

Professor Joe Goldblatt

Squinting my eyes into the bright blue winter sky I noticed the Saltire flag at the Parkside Bowling Club was at what I perceived to be three quarter mast. I first wondered if one of their esteemed members was feeling poorly or more sadly had recently died.

It reminded me that during my 72 years many people have accused me regularly as seeing my glass as half full rather than half empty. This is my natural personality and explains why when I walk down the pavement on a dim day I smile brightly at others and while most smile back, others look at me as if I am doolally.

The term doolally comes from the ninetheenth century town in India known as Deolali where there was a sanitarium for soldiers when unwell. Soldiers were sent there when they contracted a fever and the full Hindustani name for their illness was Hindustani Tap that means fever.

When welcoming my first year students at the University I often taught those from places other than Scotland the importance of the cultural nuances of greeting others. I would remind them that in Scotland upon being asked how we are it is customary to lower our voices and say “Nae bad.” Sometimes we add a gentle shake of the head from left to right to insure the listener understands that we mean this.

I believe the Scottish term “nae bad” is far superior to the ubiquitous American reply of “fine” because most of us on many days do not actually feel fine and do instead feel nae bad. Therefore, nae bad to me is the most authentic reply for many of us.

I do not believe I have contracted a fever but instead have gratefully inherited my parents general sense of looking at the world positively. For example, when I greet someone on the street I often ask “How are you?”

In Scotland, the standard reply is “Nae (not so) bad.” It took me a long time to adapt to this reply as in the good ole USA the usual reply is “Fine!”. In fact, we say “fine” whether we mean it or not. The American culture promotes permanent positivity and a constant get up and go spirit that may be somewhat unique in all the world.

As I have reached what I describe as the next stage (3 /4 and more) of my life, when I see a Saltire flapping in the stiff wind I am reminded that my job each day is to try and whereever possible, raise my spirits even higher than they might normally be due to the rigours of ageing. This is not easy, however, one trick I use is to smile broadly whilst walking along the city pavement and making eye contact with strangers. The majority of my fellow Scottish citizens appreciate this and their affirmation is enough to encourage me to keep smiling with high hopes that even more people might one day smile back at me.

Another tool I use to raise my flag is to find something I like about others I meet and tell them about my observation.

This past week a young woman who was 30 ish spoke to me at the gym as I dismounted my stationary bicycle and she said with a big smile “Sir, I must tell you that you are one of the most stylish people in the gym.” Then she added for good measure “Please, keep it up!”

I literally floated out of the gym upon a cloud of personal affirmation. And to think, all that was required from me was wearing a bright coloured shirt and this motivated a smile and a kind word from a total stranger. Therefore, whether it is clothing, a smile, or some other unique attribute, I now find something positive to say to others upon meeting them.

Finally, when my emotional flag starts to lower itself I find it helpful to physically throw my shoulders back, raise my chest, and lift my foot ever so slightly as if to say “This too shall pass and in the meantime I shall stand taller with each new step.”

I learned this trick from two men named the Rice brothers who were multimillionaires in the real estate property business in the USA. When they would be given the opportunity to sell a multi – million dollar home with a long driveway, they would imagine themselves growing taller with each new step as they approached the owner standing behind the front door.

This was important because the Rice brothers were each less than one metre tall and as little people, some prospective clients doubted their ability to sell their homes. However, what they lacked in stature they more than made up for in confidence and by the time they stood upon their toes to press the doorbell, in their minds, they were true giants now towering over their future customers.

I hope the flag I saw today is indicative of a member of the bowling club who is about to be raised soon to full mast. I am also very grateful that my inner flag is always at least half mast (nae bad) and I am only one smile, positive comment, and step away from rising to full mast all the remaining days of my life.

Professor Joe Goldblatt is Emeritus Professor of Planned Events at Queen Margaret University. His views are his own. To learn more about his views visit www.joegoldblatt.scot