setting expectations by setting the standard

Ok, last week was a shambles. You know when you have an idea and you try to articulate it but it’s not fully downloaded so when you try to verbalise it it doesn’t make sense? That’s what last week’s post feels like haha there’s something there but needs more time to develop I reckon.. so we’ll move right along!

It wasn’t a complete wreck though (grasping at straws for positives lol) here’s one part we’ll salvage and use this week;

Ngahue went on for a nosey (chasing Te Wheke o Ruamuturangi with Kupe that lead them to Aotearoa), some pounamu found him, he brought it back to Hawaiki which then provided resources and inspiration to the collective to carve their waka, prep their supplies and set off on the next adventure.

It was up to the people to utilise the stone, the knowledge and wisdom from Ngahue and do something with it, and do something they did…

One interpretation we can make from this story is how Ngahue set the standard and therefore the expectations for his people. He went out into the unknown and brought back knowledge, story, resource, inspiration and contributed not only literal pounamu to his people’s advancement and prosperity.

He set the standard of what it means to live out your potential, to live your ‘best life’ and contribute back to your people.

It was probably set by other tupuna (ancestors) before him but he reinforced it for the generations to come.

Following in Ngahue’s footsteps in today’s could look like going away for school, for university or for work. You collect your pounamu (in whatever form that takes) and….. then what?

Have you done anything with it? Does it contribute back to your collective in some way?

No judgement, always. You know that. But as you go out exploring your world, what’s the give-back? To the legacy that’s come before you and those still to come? What’s the standard you set with how you conduct yourself?

Sometimes the contribution is a conscious, deliberate action. Sometimes it looks like traversing uncharted territories and the very way you live your life is contribution enough for others to be inspired by, that’s the pounamu you provide.

It could look different to different people and at different phases of your life depending on where you’re at. Ngahue contributed pounamu of all kinds, including the literal, physical stone, so there are layers of examples to draw from here.

Whatever pounamu you find in this kōrero, may it serve you well on your journey.

Tēnā tātou,

Hana.