In my thirties I came to recognise that contentment was more important than chasing happiness. In my forties I’m slowly, I’d say reluctantly, learning that feeling sufficient is more important than striving. That’s not to become a miser or forsake ambition – it’s being grateful for what we have and to recognise when enough is enough. When we’re always aiming for just ‘more’, it’s easy … Continue reading Happy, enough
The dawg tag that went missing and I wrote about a week ago? I got a text from a kind lady who’d found it this evening. Me and the lad have just gone out for a walk and picked it up. Some things don’t work out, of course. This is not a post about the power of manifestation and how karma prevails – I’m unconvinced … Continue reading Lost a while, and then found
There’s a famous Stanford marshmallow experiment, that links delayed gratification with better life outcomes. I read about it years ago and have worked at improving my ability to delay gratification, with mixed success. Very recently I read about follow-up studies on the experiment, that suggest it’s not really self-control at the heart delaying gratification. It’s trust. Trust that what you give up leads to what … Continue reading Marshmallows and trust
I can’t really predict which posts are going to resonate with some of my readers that I know. I’ve wondered if that’ll improve over time as I become a better writer or better understand people. Seth Godin reports similar surprise at his feedback though, so I’m not so sure I will! It comes down to perspective, I think. When I write a post then of … Continue reading Posts that resonate
One of the most pleasing bits of my day today, was spending about five minutes fully absorbed in watching a beetle navigate a grassy field. It had a lovely furry tummy and its neck showed articulation that surprised me. We see static pictures of beetles far more than we see them moving about, so watching the delicate beauty of its bend and flex was captivating. … Continue reading The Beetles
To get from feeling exhausted after a 3 mile trot, to feeling a good buzz after 30 miles, I had to put the time in to train. To get from answering calls on a service desk, to being trusted to run a Covid related national service, I spent time developing the skills. It’s obvious, surely. But all too often I, and I see this in … Continue reading Developing yourself, and others
Succinctly written, practice. But, I often use the phrase “it’s a function of time spent”. Especially if I’m feeling a little inadequate compared to another. When I think it’s just about practice, I can feel I’m falling a little short for not having got enough practice in. When I recognise it’s about time spent (the same thing perhaps, in different words) then it’s easier for … Continue reading Function of time spent
When you’re on the hills and off the beaten path, and you have to cross some water, the higher up you go the easier it’s likely to be. The nearer the source you are, the less trouble you’re going to have. So it is ill behaviour and poor thinking. Intervene early. Continue reading Nip it in the bud
My dawg’s tag came off his harness at some point today. We’ve had it a while and it has memories of my Dad wrapped up with it, so I re-traced my steps on this evening’s walk (when I noticed it was gone) to look for it. I’ve written before about finding my dropped car key, after four miles of re-tracing my steps on the Yorkshire … Continue reading Finders keepers
I was recently in a gorgeous Elizabethan house and overhead a few couples exclaiming just how clever the owner must have been to accumulate such wealth. Not to take away from shrewd business decision making, but we might all be better off by recognising the value of expert help. Of teams of experts. And luck. Stunning estates and great organisations aren’t the work of one … Continue reading Must’ve been clever, must’ve worked hard
