My guest today, Tina Kirwin-McGinley, is a teacher of the deaf and has worked in schools in Manchester for over thirty years. She is also a swimmer, cyclist and dear friend to many.We could talk about all of the above attributes, but I want to focus on Tina's gift for making life better for everybody by always leaving a place better than how she found it.We talk about -  Taking responsibility for things that are broken in the local neighbourhood; The  Planters ProjectNoticing what is wrong Taking responsibility to make things rightAsking  the right questions Making things more beautiful so everyone can benefitBeing the person who notices and puts things rightDeciding not to turn a blind eyeBeing persistent enough to take consistent  planned steps and following up.Making the time for a long term commitment and persevering. Planning the steps to take and overcoming resistence - Playing FieldTransforming a derelict space and seeing the potentialSharing tasks amongst others  and addressing concerns.Persevering  Creating something beautiful and attending to the detailsThe quiet satisfaction of keeping the space beautiful as a gift to othersThe satisfaction of taking action with others - womblingThe choice to be the person who makes the neighbourhood a better place to live Why don't people help?Being active and notice thingsMaking your voice heard and ask why?Civic Responsibility and pride where people live, work, and travelWhose responsibility is it to fix things?What steps can individuals take?Improving things for others and for yourselfDirecting Energy into something that might make a positive difference for everybodyThe contact importance of thinking about the next stepsMapping a course of directionNurturing of community and friendshipThe importance of loyalty and long term engagementBeing patientReferencesThe book I gave to Tina was Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life: Hector Garcia and Francesc Mirales