David Erasmus

Every interaction we have should flow naturally.

Every conversation, written or verbal, web based or face to face requires flow.

Every website we visit needs flow to make our experience enjoyable.

A good flow breeds natural trust.

Flow is the natural movement to the next phase of an interaction based on the information presented.

The most natural flows exist where the response is founded on the specific information someone has provided and gives them a result they like without scaring them by going too far

Examples:

- You Google “buy bourne identity dvd” and the ad displayed shows the relevant ad text and when you click on the ad it uses the information you provided to give you the best result. If it took you to the home page you would be annoyed as it was not the natural flow as you already provided the relevant information.

- You are on a date with someone you find very attractive after dinner you kiss them on the cheek, they kiss you, with this encouragement whip your shirt off in the middle of the restaurant. This would obviously be a FAIL. More importantly it would be a flow fail, if time was taken to commit to the relationship, wait for the right setting, mood and built trust there may be a time where the action would have been appropriate but out of context and without buy in from the other party it is a flow fail.

- If you clicked a button on a website that said “view more info” and the item was added to your basket you may be concerned the shop was either trying to scam you or you weren’t understanding each other.

If people give you information remember it and USE it but do not jump to conclusions they haven’t agreed to yet.

At least as we know it!

As a kid I would be told “Stop twiddling your thumbs and go do something!”

This is no longer the case. There are FAR too many things to do, people to connect to and things to write to possibly be caught ‘twiddling our thumbs.’

I know lots of people working very hard but not very smart.
Its very easy to feel like you are working hard whilst on Gmail chat, Facebook open in a secondary tab or watching an item on Ebay coming to a close.

I am first in the guilt line.

We need to be ruthless and jealous about our time, its our most precious commodity.

I have a weird memory!

Sam who I work with laughed his head off when a week after my birthday I couldn’t remember what I did for it.

It was not through drinking or anything I just couldn’t remember, until someone triggers and off I go. I can then remember every conversation and how everyone was acting. Weird and annoying for me.

Remembering is vital, remembering important stuff is part of what leads us to do great things, its what takes us through the Dip.

Remembering is what helps us carry on when we hate it.

The Israelites were lost for 40 years because they didn’t remember Gods promises.

Remember the promises you made, the things you said you would never do.

Remember the promises you made, the things you said you would always do

Remember the goals you set.

Remember how your heart broke when you were in Kenya seeing kids with no shoes.

Remember your errors so you can avoid going down that path again.

Remember those who got you where you are.

Remember the good things people have said.

I cant remember everything but this is the list I am starting with.

A Special Sunday. 

A few Sundays ago I found myself experiencing one of the most special days of my life so far. 

It reminded me intensely of the film the Lion King which I have always loved and felt connected with since I was small, watch the song "The Circle of life" again just to remind yourself before you read on…….

Firstly in the Morning I was asked to read a verse out at Ray Johnny George Gills dedication…..my Godson!

My Good friends Andy and Jeni Gill have trusted me with the privilege of looking out for Ray for the rest of my days. I was so excited to be an active part of the celebration of new life.

Ray is a wonderful child and I hope that we as a community help him become all he wants to be.  

In the evening I went over to a family of friend's house called the Moore's

They are one of the most exceptional families I know, a family in which all the members live a life for others in wonderful and creative ways! – I could go on for hours about them, maybe another day! 

A few days before this Special Sunday Alan Moore a Pilgrim Giant, Father to the Moores, bedrock for every bit of life that comes out of that family unexpectedly fell down some stairs, hit his bed and died later in hospital. 

I was privileged to be part of about 20 people to go and eat, share cry and celebrate Alan's life with the family just days after his shocking death. 

The families response has been like none I have ever experienced, refusing to be angry or take offense whilst being open about their grief and tears shed for their loss of a rare breed of man with ultimate integrity and perseverance.

Whilst at the Moore's in the evening dear friends Matt and Meg Naylor came and showed me with their brand spanking new born baby, beautiful Evie May. Another new and wonderful life. 

A day Life, Death, Life.

A Son of Alan, one of my closest friends Michael Moore painted the picture to the right and labelled it Dad after Alan died. 

I weeped and weeped in silence when I first saw this painted it is amazing to me. 

If my Son or someone that looks up to me ever paints a picture like this and labels it Dad in reference to me I will feel like the job was done. 

Well done Alan

Why do I tell you all of this? 

On that Special Sunday this feeling of the Circle of Life hit me and I cant shake it.

Life starts, grows and inevitably leaves us.

We must celebrate life in all circumstances, choose appreciate rather than take offense. 

Love is a higher law.

Life is fragile and we can't be sure when it will end so I for one want to live like Alan so that if my turn to complete this circle of worldy life comes tomorrow or in 100 years I am ready, ready in terms of living the life I believe in everyday.