Saturday Stroll

Peace and quiet after a busy time is always good for the soul. It's easy to fall into the feeling powerless trap and yet five minutes with nature changes all that.

The last two days in particular, we've spent the time justifying our existence and it has taught me a few things. I have a lot to be deeply satisfied with, overjoyed about and grateful for.

I'm satisfied that we have worked hard to give those people that society likes to forget a chance to change their lives. I'm overjoyed for the people who have changed their lives by taking part in our learning programmes, and I'm grateful for a small army of providers across Scotland who are not put off by the challenge.

I'm also appreciative of the time and effort our learner's network put into helping us change things for others. They shown me every day that anything is possible, they don't care about the paper, they care about each other and their communities. Who says community spirit isn't there? Well they haven't met our learners, they are living proof of the goodness in human beings.

The paper exercises we take part in mean nothing without the real life stories behind them and we have them by the thousands. It's easy to get caught up in the rubbish of bureaucracy and get bogged down. The most important thing about our work is that we believe in a better world, but not just for a few for all.

So don't despair when faced with a paper mountain, just remember that the human condition prevails and that we all have the chance to change.

You just have to want it enough and be prepared to make some sacrifices and work hard.

I'm priveledged to have met some of the most inspirational people in Scotland, people like you and me, not media personalities, or sporting heroes, but people who took life by the horns and changed their place in the world.