Last Week

So last week,

While a four-star brigadier general's career came to an abrupt end because of words in an article ...

and

While the once-most-popular-ever Australian PM, stepped down because he decidedly no longer so ...

Over here in our corner of the world, Mr Johnson and I were sitting on rented chairs, bedecked with skirts and bows (customary fashion in China when at a banquet or ceremony), at our daughters’ International school award ceremony.

The school body sang the school hymn. E's group played their violins. MGJ donned a motorboard and gown to mark her transition from primary to secondary, and walked across the stage. (It dawned on me that that was the moment I thought of when we named her, how it would sound in an auditorium full of people, and for the record it sounded lovely!)

We applauded E for her award for academic excellence for her age bracket, but are prouder simply of the way she loves to learn. (Not just that she’s particularly good at it.)

We applauded MGJ for her Chinese Language award. And we cheered loudest when she stretched out her hand to her teacher, and her educator instead reached out with a hug.

As General McChrystal and Mr Rudd learned the very hard way last week, status and power are not always what they are cracked up to be.

But working diligently, with the goal in sight, being kind along the way, and remaining humble can bring you a long way.

Relationships. People. Lifelong learning. These are the goals we hope for for our girls. And they are well on their way.