It is something we express,
Not something we hope for,
It opens a moment,
Closes down desires,
Quiets a demanding mind.
It is a pathway to peace,
To realizations about life,
Shining a light into darkness,
From where a loving warmth emerges.
It soothes a wild imagination,
And a languishing regret,
The frustrations of failure,
And the grief of loss.
It is a deep and lasting blessing,
The secret sauce of spiritual growth,
It is the magical remedy,
When injustice pays an untimely visit.
It opens a door to new learning,
To the glorious lessons of life,
To the unfolding wisdom of existence,
To the deeper knowings of the heart.
Just 10 minutes per day,
Or even 5 will do.
As you write each item down,
You get a moment to feel,
No longer an event of the mind,
But an experience so rich and true.
Lessons can arise in the mind,
But they are just words till they are felt.
They can then become wisdom
An aspect of our eternal essence.
So taking a deliberate break,
To contemplate a while.
What are you really grateful for?
The good, the bad, the awful and the great,
The highlights of our life,
That remind us we are alive.
Take a break from expecting, from demanding,
And look what is around you
At what is here, right now.
You may find magic.
Gratitude – a powerful antidote to many mental health challenges.
When people have forgotten gratitude, they can slide between conflict, anxiety, depression, resentment, self-loathing and unrelenting unhappiness.
How are you doing in this space?
How are your team members doing?
Need some support? Please reach out.
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John Toomey -International Speaker, Writer and Thoughtleader.
His background in High Performance Roles in Professional Sport, including 7 AFL Teams, two National Australian Soccer Clubs, and Coach of an Olympic Gold Medallist, brings richness and depth to his presentations.
He holds a Phys Ed degree from Deakin University, did his Masters Studies in Applied Physiology at Victoria University, he studied and taught Human Consciousness as an Avatar Master for 15 years, and has lectured at multiple Universities in PE and Medicine. He served 5 years on RMIT University’s School of Health Sciences Program Advisory Committee.
He’s delivered over 3,800 Corporate Presentations, spoken at Conferences worldwide, published over 1000 articles and essays, completed 4 National Thought Leadership Tours, and appeared on multiple podcasts globally. John speaks across Australia, in North America and more recently, in Europe.
In 1999, John authored Australia’s first Certificate in Wellness Leadership. In 2000 he authored Australia’s first Fitness Industry specific Pilates Teacher training course. At the time, Pilates teacher training operated almost exclusively in the Dance Industry.
He served as a Professional Surf Lifeguard in Victoria, 1978 to 1982. In 1983-4 he played in the VAFA state team and the All-Australian Amateur Football Team.
John is Global Chair of the Global Wellness Institute’s Men’s Wellbeing Initiative, the world’s premier advisory group on Men’s Wellbeing. In January 2026 he was featured as one of GoWell Magazine’s List of the top 25 male voices in Wellness, globally.
In 2021, he self-published his second book, “In it for the Long Haul”, a guide for workers and their families on how to create personal success in the Fly In Fly Out working lifestyle. In September 2026, he published “Masculine Intelligence” a book about men, masculinity and men’s wellbeing.
He is a founding Member of the Psychosocial Risk Institute, and host of the Masculine Intelligence Podcast.
