A constant train of young kids and families come to our front door on Halloween asking us to choose between a trick or a treat. This year it was pouring with rain and the front door was silent. I’m not sure if it was simply the rain that kept them away or if the young children were a little older now and had better things to do this year. I did miss having a little fun with the kids and seeing all the scary costumes. It did get me thinking about life and how we don’t know if things happening are a trick or a treat. We only learn later what we see the full ramifications of what had happened. I ..read more

I have heard the phrase “I love working here” many times over the last few weeks which is wonderful and very uplifting. It got me thinking about the love in a number of contexts and the language that underpins this. Love exists between two people, between a group of people, with an activity or with an object. For each of these there seem to be four common aspects which are fascinating. Firstly there is an emotional connection that allows the experience to be memorable. These experiences are often shared in stories. Secondly there is a shared value that is at the core of the love. For an organi ..read more

I started a new adventure this week in the role of Group CEO – BCS (British Computer Society, Chartered Institute of IT Professionals). I had used the time since it was announced and now to understand what this adventure might entail. I kept the reminding myself there is a big difference between looking at a garment on a website, through a shop window, feeling it in the store and trying it on. Looking at the garment being worn by a model, along with the perfect surrounding will create an almost perfect impression. Looking at it through the window with the carefully positioned lighting the garm ..read more

Jam tomorrow is a phrase that refers to the promise that never gets fulfilled, yet we all hope that it will. We all have dreams or ambitions that drive us and motivate our actions. We inevitably make some compromises or sacrifices so that we can achieve a future goal. A simple example is to save some of your earnings in a bank account for a future purchase or that unexpected rainy day. We may choose to focus on training so that we might win a medal or a competition. Athletes will often give up their social lives to focus on achieving peak performance for that future prize. No doubt being drive ..read more

Last week’s Sunday Sprinkle considered happiness as the outcome that everyone craves or hopes for. Creating happiness for others has a magical result in that it will multiply happiness. First we need to take time to listen and suspend judgement. Only then will we understand others. Spot the small clues about how people are feeling. Learn from the ways a detective goes about investigating crime. When you care about something you will listen attentitvely. Just listen to anyone that is passionate about a subject and their contagious enthusiasm will spark your interest. You will get drawn into the ..read more

As you think about why you do things, creating happiness is often the point at which you feel contented and stop asking why. Is creating happiness the ultimate purpose or reason for life or is it the removal of sadness/suffering? Or are these the same thing? The answer to these questions seem important. We need to consider them in specific contexts or situations to uncover answers. Consider what gets you out of bed in the morning. Lying in bed is very comfortable and relaxing. Most people are happy lying in bed. However, you know that the body will need nourishment. The food is not going to co ..read more

People around the world mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and reflect on her virtues. Her devotion to the service of the community for her whole life is an inspiration for all and certainly something for which we should be grateful. She had been a constant that provided stability in an ever-changing and unpredictable world. Whilst I did not get a chance to meet her or see her, I did meet members of the royal family. Each encounter has been a special moment in its own way. I am grateful for each of these moments and will cherish them for the rest of my life. Today is also the ha ..read more

During our recent trip to Paris, we came across this sculpture “Les deux arbres” by Gudmar Olovson. The sun shining through the trees seemed to highlight the love and affection between this couple. It got me thinking about how caring for each other is an essential element of love and how this is the source of happiness. There is a stark difference between someone doing a task they care about rather than grudgingly doing something. When you care about the task, it brings you pleasure and happiness. You give your all to the task and this shows in the outcome. Read some of the inspiring stories o ..read more

Have you every noticed how your mind bursts with questions and thoughts when you try to practice your daily meditation or mindfulness. Just as I start my daily practice I will be reminded about something I was supposed to do yesterday or I am taken off to ponder about something that happened and wonder why it happened. I gentely return to focus on the breath, prayer or passage I am using that day. A few moments later your mind has taken you down another question. The mind can be really sneeky and start to asy questions about the very thing you are trying to focus on. Is my breath going a littl ..read more

We create a utopian “wonderland” in our minds that we refer to as retirement. Statements like when I retire I will focus on increasing my golf handicap, I will travel the world, I will start painting or I will do all those jobs in the house that I have been putting off. Do we need to ask ourselves why we not doing those today? No one knows what tomorrow might bring so why wait? Having spent over 5 years carefully planning my “transition into the world of being a senior citizen”, I had not planned to return to full-time employment. I also avoided the retirement word as I knew I wanted to focus ..read more