Every day I make a note on what I’m excited by and what’s currently a frustration. Having a poor memory, I find this really helpful as I occasionally look back. It prompts action. To do more of some things and less of others. There’s a pause for thought if the same frustration is coming up time and again – what am I doing to tackle … Continue reading Noting frustrations
Reading an account of the difficulty of moving ideas forward, I was struck by this sentence: ”It is a very false radical politics that thinks progress comes without loss.” It reminded me of the this more widely quoted sentiment: “You can have everything you want, but you can’t have it all at once.” Work out what you want and consider carefully what the cost of … Continue reading Progress and loss
Improvement is invariably incremental. An apparent big bang, or overnight success, is built on smaller steps that might seem imperceptible at the time. If you’re not feeling that you’re getting there, remember that you’re putting in another of those steps towards success. Focus on that, one step at a time. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Getting better at something
Taking a break isn’t stopping. Pausing for breath isn’t stopping. Considering your direction isn’t stopping. Calling enough, for today, isn’t stopping. Knowing your limits isn’t stopping. Stopping isn’t really stopping, unless you say no more. And what then? Treat yourself well, recharge as you need to. Be proud of your journey. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Not stopping
Tomorrow robs today of its power, if you let it. There’s needing a break, and there’s procrastinating. Continue reading Today, not tomorrow
When you put in the time to get healthy, you often doesn’t see results right away. As you work at restoring trust or morale, you can expect it’ll take some time. From deciding to fix the infrastructure, to seeing the benefit for your estate, or economy, there’ll be difficult adjustments and setbacks. Provide the right input. Build and monitor feedback loops, so you can see … Continue reading There’s a lag – so hold on
I remember when I was 18 getting back from a three mile run and feeling exhausted. I more or less collapsed on the stairs when I got in the house. Today, at 45, I enjoyed nearly 13 miles with a good friend and after getting home took my dawg out for a good walk. I’ve put in a lot of training since I was 18, … Continue reading What do you want to be better at
Nearly 14 hours in and half the distance done, or thereabouts. It was properly dark at 2am, and the weather is turning a little earlier than expected. On with the show! Trotting along the River Thames by the moonlight was peaceful for a while, until the clouds rolled in and it started drizzling. Although no longer peaceful, the drizzle was quite nice and refreshing actually, … Continue reading Ridgeway Ramble Write Up – part three: into extra time
In the midst of the confusion and controversy around grading in the absence of exams, I’ve been thinking about what defines us. Certainly our choices are impacted by the qualifications we hold, especially as a young person who hasn’t had much opportunity to demonstrate other facets of themselves. We’re not defined by these qualifications though. Whether a perfect system assigns grades or not, no matter … Continue reading What defines you
‘How hard can it be?’ It’s an approach that lets me buy-in to uncertainty and challenge. It’s an approach I’m very fond of, but it’s not a plan. In a couple of days I was going to trot along The Ridgeway, 87.5 miles of route I’m unfamiliar with, as quick as I could. A plan was needed. Armed with a map and a friend and … Continue reading Ridgeway Ramble Write Up – part two: a game of two halves
Sometimes You Learn 