Being a Good Neighbour: Tina Kirwin-McGinley Artwork

If Anne Can

Are you working on making a new version of yourself? Maybe you are changing careers, moving to a different city, or becoming an empty nester. Or are you facing retirement and some harsh realities of ageing and wondering what possibilities exist? In this podcast, I talk to people who have made successful transitions, survived and thrived, and I ask them to share their inspirational stories and life lessons. Subscribe to the If Anne Can newsletter: www.ifannecan.com

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Being a Good Neighbour: Tina Kirwin-McGinley

September 02, 2022

My guest today, Tina Kirwin-McGinley, is a teacher of the deaf and has worked in schools in Manchester for over thirty years. She is also a swimmer, cyclist and dear friend to many.

We could talk about all of the above attributes, but I want to focus on Tina's gift for making life better for everybody by always leaving a place better than how she found it.

We talk about -

Taking responsibility for things that are broken in the local neighbourhood; The Planters Project

Noticing what is wrong
Taking responsibility to make things right
Asking the right questions
Making things more beautiful so everyone can benefit

Being the person who notices and puts things right

Deciding not to turn a blind eye
Being persistent enough to take consistent, planned steps and follow up.
Making the time for a long-term commitment and persevering.

Planning the steps to take and overcoming resistance; Playing Field Project.

Transforming a derelict space and seeing the potential
Sharing tasks amongst others and addressing concerns.
Persevering
Creating something beautiful and attending to the details
The quiet satisfaction of keeping the space beautiful as a gift to others

The satisfaction of taking action with others; - Wombling

The choice to be the person who makes the neighbourhood a better place to live
Why don't people help?
Being active and noticing things
Make your voice heard and ask why.

Civic responsibility and pride in where people live, work, and travel

Whose responsibility is it to fix things?
What steps can individuals take?
Improving things for others and yourself

Directing energy into something that might make a positive difference for everybody

The importance of planning the next steps
Mapping a course of direction
Nurturing of community and friendship
The importance of loyalty and long-term engagement
Being patient

References:
The book I gave to Tina was Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life: Hector Garcia and Francesc Mirales