It's A Wonderful Life: What You Make of It Is Up to You

By George Greig

As a very young boy attending a village school in the Highlands of Scotland, I started to realise the value of words at a very young age. Always telling stories of monsters, giants, or cowboys and Indians, I was encouraged to build on this natural talent, and even advised to pursue a career as a writ

• Language: English
• Publisher: George Greig
• Release date: Jun 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781916596962

George Greig

George Greig is a Highland Scot, born and raised in rural Aberdeenshire. He joined the army at the age of 16, attending the Army Apprentices College in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. This was a decision that changed his life. An established Entrepreneur, George owns an IT Software Solutions business and lives in Wiltshire.

Book preview

Foreword – by the Poet

Growing older is a genuine privilege and the ability to look back on a long life is empowering.  You can recall your failings, your successes, make adjustments after the fact, and actually get the chance to get it right next time around.  Many folks don’t get this golden opportunity, nor the chance to give their life meaning through acts of kindness, teaching others before they make the same mistakes, or simply trying to make a difference.

I have loved words throughout my life, and they have enriched my life in so many ways, from just being a storyteller in school, to crafting eulogies for lost comrades and through that, relieving the terrible despair of loss.  As a child, I was advised to become a writer, but whilst I didn’t listen, I never stopped writing throughout my career.  It was a strength that set me apart, as a soldier and as a businessman, enhancing and complimenting other skills as I made my way through life.

Strangely, as a long serving military man, I also love poetry which I believe to be nothing more than an extension of storytelling; another communication channel that can deliver stories with great clarity and brevity.  Despite my roots as a Highland Scot, it has taken me a lifetime to realise that Rabbie Burns did share some incredible foresight, compassion, and human decency when he said, "A man’s A Man For A’ That.  Simply meaning A man’s value isn’t defined by how much he owns, it’s much deeper", or his conviction that "One day the world will change, and all men will Brothers Be".

As I have aged, I have come to realise that our lives are defined by the simpler things we do.  Stopping to listen to a homeless person’s story, giving people a second chance, showing them some respect, or just providing some support can be very rewarding.

My reason for bringing these 80 poems together is to make the most of an opportunity to share my personal life lessons, beliefs, and values whilst acknowledging that I have got some stuff right, some wrong, but wanting mostly to share the good bits and just give a little back.  I hope my stories are of interest and that they might make those who read them realise "It’s a wonderful life, what you make of it is up to you". 

Contents

Foreword – by the Poet

1.      What Do You Want From Life?

2.      Fame & Fortune

3.      Industry

4.      Building a Life

5.      Where Does The Hate Come From?

6.      Leadership & Management

7.      The Arboretum

8.      Why The Good Guys?

9.      Stay Out of The Crowd

10.      Shirt & Tie

11.      Why Support a Buffoon

12.      40 Years

13.      America’s Missing the Point

14.      BLM

15.      When I Was In School

16.      Don’t You Love a Dialect?

17.      I Love my Merc

19.      Donald’s Tweets

20.      Guns

21.      Head or Heart

22.      Time for a Puppy

23.      Suicide

24.      Fergie Was Ours

25.      I’m Not Old

26.      Clean Shoes

27.      It’s A Beautiful World

28.      What Does Family Mean?

29.      What Do People Need?

30.      My Family’s 100th Birthday

31.      So What’s Next?

32.    Entering The Twilight Years

33.    The Heroes I’ve Known

34.    Life’s Lessons

35.    Smart or Not?

36.  Giving Back

37.    No Regrets

38.    Don’t Let Diabetes Win

39.    Life is so Special

40.    Satchmo Said…

41.    Mother’s Day

42.    A Scotsman Stands a ‘Top Glencoe

43.    Valhalla’s Table

44.    Dai's Memory

45.    For the Nurses

46.    Poem for Emily

47.      Who’d be a Bobby?

48.    Happy Birthday Dad

49.    For My Friend JC

50.    Remembrance 2021

51.      For Mam

52.      Goodnight But Never Goodbye

53.      My Friend Martin

54.      Saying Goodbye

55.      The Soldier’s Tale

56.      My Benjy Boy

57.      The High Street

58.      Admit You’re Scared

59.      The Scottish Soldier

60.      Be Kind to Each Other

61.      The Yeoman Poet

62.      Collaboration

63.      You Only Have One Mam

64.      No Respect?

65.      What’s Happened to Our Union?

66.      What is Religion?

67.      What Were You Born To Do?

68.      Women are Better Drivers

69.      The Home Team

70.      How to Save Old Folk

71.      Change Your Day

72.      I Miss My Dog

73.      Am I a Moonraker Now?

74.      Our Queen

75.      Words in Rhyme

76.      Lockdown Lessons

77.      My Wife

78.      My Son

79.      Keep It Simple

80.      Political Nonsense

Acknowledgement

1.      What Do You Want From Life?

Have you ever considered just what you want from life?

is it simply a family, a job, your health and no strife.

Or do you have a dream that sits deep in your heart,

to do something special that will set you apart.

If you don’t have a dream, you must ask yourself why,

life’s not a rehearsal you need to give it a try.

We are all special and have something to give,

if you don’t, you’ll regret it for as long as you live.

When you decide what it is that’s right for you,

it will lift you, excite you and focus what you do.

Don’t be put off by naysayers or negative vibes,

people that do this have wasted their lives.

Be positive, strong and give it all that you’ve got,

that’s how you’ll make things happen and achieve a lot.

You’ll shine and be an example to those who said it can’t be done,

and be proud that you showed you’ve got what it takes, you won.

A lot of people just don’t know what they want from life and that’s a shame.  Knowing what you want gives you purpose and something to plan for; it doesn’t mean that your path can’t change as your life develops.  Do things that make you happy, that make you feel fulfilled, and that allows you to be the best you can be.

What do you want from life and how do you plan to achieve it.  You need a plan.  If you want a little inspiration, contact me, I’d love to help.

2.      Fame & Fortune

It isn’t all about the money and it’s not about the fame,

there’s a lot more to think about in life’s little game.

Do others matter, or is it all just about you,

or is your life a measure of what you can really do.

Many great people do things for free, no hidden agenda or claim it was me!

for others they do nothing unless everyone knows, it’s there for all to see.

They seek the riches and a lust for fame drives them on,

but as seen so many times, they get success then they’re quickly gone.

We live in a world where everybody wants to be famous or great,

they don’t want to work at it of course, that’s the bit they hate.

A quick turn on BGT or even I’m a celeb,

it’s the quick route they want, the one for any pleb.

If life was as shallow as this, I would struggle to see the point behind it,

there’s so much more for all of us, you just need to do your bit.

Satchmo said it’s a wonderful life and there’s no doubt that’s true,

all that’s required is for you to define just what you want to do.

Don’t be fooled into thinking