After a wet and windy few days, it was good to wake up to calmness. Even better to spend time walking around the Glenmore Forest, breathing in the fresh, crisp, pine air. Calmness is a wonderful, underrated thing. Something I learned rather slowly, after realising that living on your nerves is tiring and not always… Continue reading The Calm After the Storm
Tag: purpose
Contrasts and Constants
Friday’s walk was chilly and bathed in sunshine, blue sky reflected in the water. Saturday’s walk was under a dark, brooding sky, the water almost as dark with the wind blowing a hoolie. And yet, we enjoyed both walks for what they were. Invigorating. Especially Saturday! For all the contrasting experiences we have in life,… Continue reading Contrasts and Constants
Turning Points
Our lives are full of turning points, waiting for us to notice them and act on them. 40 years ago this week, I left home for the first time to study at Portsmouth Polytechnic. I was incredibly lucky to study something that still interests me today, at a time when you could get a full… Continue reading Turning Points
Looking Out to Sea
There is something relaxing about looking out to sea. Water can have such a calming effect on us. Look a little deeper. The sea teaches us much more. The open spaces create a blank canvas to plan and carry out our next moves. It can throw the unexpected towards us, teaching us to thrive in… Continue reading Looking Out to Sea
Use What You’re Given
A lovely coastal walk recently showed a couple of interesting landmarks. The first was a cairn, that someone had painstakingly created from the stones lying around the sand and water. The second was a monkey puzzle tree that had clearly been blown onto the coastal land and found a way of growing and thriving in… Continue reading Use What You’re Given
Rest and Be Thankful
When you love your work and are thankfully having lots of it to do, it’s tempting to think you don’t really need a holiday. But you do. Really, you do. I’m often told that my delivery style is energetic and people seem surprised when I tell them I’m 59. Curiousity, loving the work and creating… Continue reading Rest and Be Thankful
Freedom
I worked yesterday and took today off. Now, there are many who frown at the idea of working at the weekend and taking a weekday off. There’s a logical reason for my decision. The forecast for yesterday was for poor weather. Today’s was better. So I worked yesterday when I could get on with it,… Continue reading Freedom
Contrast
I did some things for the first time in almost three years yesterday. I put on a suit (still fitted well!), wore the shoes my wife bought for my 2020 birthday (smart, comfy, need breaking in!) and took the train to Glasgow for a meeting. I enjoyed the contrast of the sunrise over Loch Insh… Continue reading Contrast
Busy
Are you busy? I was asked that three times last week. My standard reply these days is ‘Yes thanks, lots of interesting things happening at the moment.’ A subtle shift in language has made a positive difference for me; a reminder to stay engaged and grateful with what’s filling up the diary. And busy isn’t… Continue reading Busy
Serendipity
How often does something great happen and it feels like everything has fallen into place for you? If that’s the case, take a step back and consider your actions, your choices and the part they’ve played. I’m a great believer in fate. I think we can shape situations for ourselves, too. Our thinking, preparation, networking,… Continue reading Serendipity