Finding Your Inner Coalman

You have an inner coalman? Of course you do, you just don't know it yet. No, I did not make a spelling mistake, I did mean to say coalman; the chap who delivers your solid fuel. I had better explain.

We run all our heating and hot water on a coal fired rayburn and get free cooking on the big brown beast too. Every fortnight on a Wednesday, our coalman comes to deliver coal and kindling if we need it. Our coalman, Brian, can find a silver lining in every cloud you care to point at. He rolls up, large sack over his shoulder and greets us with a "Mornin' Guv'nor!" or in my case "Hello, my lovely!" and the broadest smile you can imagine. If it is raining, he is delighted that his lorry and car will be washed clean; if it is sunny, the brightness is almost eclipsed by his smile and if there is a forecast of snow, he's just gleeful at the prospect of sledging and snowball fights.

I want to find my inner coalman. If I could find so much pleasure in everything that Brian finds such joy in, I should indeed be a happy woman. It isn't that I'm unhappy, far from it, but when I talk to Brian, the colours seem brighter, the day seems cheerier and a whole lot better. He is a man who is happy with his lot in life, happy with whatever a day dishes out to him, content and capable of gratitude for whatever comes his way.

Have you found your inner coalman?