Blogging on pause

My mother is very ill - life has changed for me - no time to think about work etc.

December newsletter

Here is my December newsletter: http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

Bouncing back

My article 'Bouncing back after a life crisis' has been published on HRZone - see http://www.hrzone.co.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=147950.

A day at the Houses of Parliament

I had a wonderful day visit to the Houses of Parliament... a tour around, a meeting with a local MP, then lunch with 4 local MPs. I found myself sitting next to my own MP for lunch in the private dining room we were in, which was a great opportunity to learn more about the workings of parliament. I also managed to get 30 minutes watching the House of Lords and 30 minutes watching the Commons - something I have always wanted to do. The experience was wonderful. I suspect it is as well I didn't do this years ago - or I may have decided I wanted to be an MP!

It struck me that this is something all teenagers should experience... A visit there would help to instill ambition to achieve more from life and a greater respect for history and for government.

We will rock you!

Last Saturday I was in London to see the Queen musical "We will rock you". I had seen it before, but second time around was even better. There is a fabulous photo exhibition of Freddie Mercury, which includes a wonderful quote by him: "I am possessed by love". I suspect this is why I so admired him - someone with a passion for life and for love, which caused him to sparkle with energy.

The musical features a long list of famous musicians who died young - a sobering and moving moment.

It also hints, not so subtly (I do enjoy Ben Elton's lyrics!), at the damage caused by not encouraging individuals to shine in their own way... music of the future is portrayed as all manufactured, with no creativity allowed - with dreadful consequences.

A good news story

I so believe that we need more good news in the papers and on TV... our thinking is coloured by what we read and watch, and the 'diet' of gloom that we are fed does not nourish us well. I read a wonderful story at the weekend - see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1857930-2,00.html.

This is a great story, not just because of the positive attitude of the young Iraqi girl, Hannan Shihab. What struck me most was the strength of Katrina Turner, for taking action, presumably with her friends and family thinking her daft to attempt something like this. Her hard work must have sometimes felt like a lost cause, maybe crazy even. But with perseverance, what a difference she made. I love stories that prove 'the power of one'. I love to be reminded that each of us can make a difference. If we had more of these stories every day in the news, perhaps we would all be inspired to take more action and to make a difference more often?

My November newsletter

My November newsletter can be viewed at http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html. It has some ideas for how human individuals can raise their game by learning lessons from big business.

I'm with Scooby

I read at the weekend of the homophobic murder of Jody Dobrowski in Lambeth. Every time I read of such horrors, I become more convinced that we all have a part to play in the prevention of these attacks. I am known amongst my own friends as someone who can be truly painful when they make jokes or comments which are in any way prejudiced… I know they find this frustrating at times, but I will not change on something I consider to be so important.

So, I was pleased to read about the security man at the club where Jody used to work. Known as ‘Scooby’, he said: “I know now that I wouldn’t tolerate a homophobic joke. I used to laugh them off, but it’s just not funny. Even if it was a close friend, I’d have to say: ‘change your tone when you’re around me’.”

I'm with Scooby...

Fragility of life

I had a reminder of the fragility of life on the M6 just now - an accident on the other carriageway with many police cars, 3 fire engines and a helicopter air ambulance. I don't think I have ever been so close - odd to see the helicopter just feet away. As I drove on, my mind was drawn to the split second upsets that turn life upside down. So many people affected - those killed/injured, their families and friends, the emergency staff dealing with it - and the hundreds of people in the 3-mile tailback that I passed. I hugged my husband when I arrived home, aware of how unexpectedly it can all be taken from us.

School reunion!

On Saturday I did something unusual - I met with 4 friends from my school days (which were approx. 30 years ago!). We met in London, some travelling from as far as Newcastle, and had lunch and an afternoon stroll together (Regents Park in the sunshine is really lovely...)

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Before going, I had moments of wondering at the value of a day spent in this way, but I also knew that the reality would be great fun and that I would be very glad I had made the effort. I was right! I must remember to read this blog again and make sure we repeat the event in a year or so.

Cycling long distance!

On 10 September I cycled 100 miles in a single day... You can read more about this, and the lessons I learned from it, in my October newsletters at http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

Lime green caterpillar

As I walked back from the local shops, I noticed a 1 inch caterpillar crawling along the pavement - an incredible bright lime green. It was such a striking colour, that I paused and gazed at it, then wondered whether maybe I should move it onto some grass. It looked so vulnerable on the pavement. But I was reluctant to take this wonderful find away from others... It lifted my spirit, so I felt there was a reason it was there, standing out, and that it should be seen by as many people as possible.

I do hope it lived and got to safety... I still wonder if I should have protected it perhaps.

Be happy - take risks

There was an interesting snippet in the Times on Saturday. Apparently German researchers studied 20,000 people and discovered that people who take lots of risks are much more satisfied with their lives. However, they didn't manage to decide whether it is taking risks that makes us happy, or whether being happy makes us more likely to take risks.

I have noticed that people who are unhappy are usually scared to take action to change things - they prefer to stay in an 'uncomfortable comfort zone' rather than risk the unknown. This is something of a spiral - the less chances they take, the less they achieve, so the more miserable they become and the less they feel like doing. I think this can ultimately result in obsessive behaviour... constant requirement to wash hands, check doors locked etc. keeps the mind and body active, allowing for very little time for other activities - thus meaning that no risks need to be taken.

Peace Day

Every year, on 21 September, the United Nations International Day of Peace is a day of global ceasefire and non-violence. See http://www.peaceoneday.org/page/home.

So I spent the day trying to regularly focus on aspects of peace. Just simple things, like giving way to other motorists and smiling at people more. It felt good...

Absent for a month!

Apologies - I have had a strange August, during which I spent 2 weeks on holiday, but also have ongoing PC problems. Early August my hard drive had to be replaced, and after my holiday, all is still not well.

However, I am back, and have just issued my September newsletter. See http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

ALso, please see http://www.great-inspirations.co.uk/beinspired.html for the launch of an excellent new online 'digital magazine'. It costs just £2.50 and the first issue features an article by me, called 'Bouncing back after a life crisis'.

A racist attack

It was hard for me to watch the news Sunday morning without crying. There I was, enjoying my weekend as always, about to head out cycling, when I saw the pictures of Anthony Walker, aged 18, murdered by an axe which was embedded in his forehead. "A racist attack..." they say. And now, reading the details in The Independent, the shock is huge. He was a wonderful young man, already giving more to his community than many other people much older. It seems the area suffers from endemic racism. Apparently the May 2004 elections highlighted feelings when a non-White candidate received hate mail.

How do we deal with such hatred? I find myself also drawn towards hate, wanting whoever is guilty to be locked up for the rest of their life, and perhaps even wanting them to be physically attacked. This is not how I want to feel, but it is a struggle to not want to retaliate. If I feel so strongly, how can his family and friends feel? I gather he was a devoted Christian, so perhaps he would try to persuade me to feel forgiveness. I am very confused as to how to react. I just know it was a wicked waste - his smile lit up the TV screen.

IRA giving up armed campaign!

I just saw the news briefly - what amazing and wonderful news. It is fascinating that, just as terrorism seems to be increasing so much, one major long-term source of trouble is being resolved peacefully. It certainly proves that all things are possible. We must be patient and find a way to negotiate through all other differences amongst the people on this planet. It takes a long time, but eventually, peace must prevail. I suspect that one day we will be challenged in ways as yet unimagined, which will cause mankind to work together finally. How good if we could find peace before we are forced to.

Consideration for each other around a reservoir

I live near a reservoir, with a wonderful, Lottery-funded track around it. This is 7.5 miles, adapted for walkers and cyclists to enjoy the beauty of the area. Sadly, we can't live peacefully together!

As a cyclist, I find that a small minority of dog walkers have no consideration for their dogs safety or that of cyclists. Twice recently, I have been forced to dismount, in order to avoid small dogs around my wheels, while the owner ignores me and says nothing to the dogs. When I comment that the dog's safety is at risk, abuse is hurled at me, despite my polite initial tone of voice. Dog walkers do not realise that cyclists are often attached to their pedals, making a sudden stop dangerous.

Similarly, a reservoir walker told me that she has often been almost knocked off her feet by cyclists dashing past, or that they ring their bell at the last minute, expecting her to instantly leap out of their way.

And walkers make cyclists' lives more difficult by walking in groups across the entire width of the path, leaving no space for us to get past.

So - we need a more considerate code of conduct towards each other and an appreciation that we each have rights to the path.

Cyclists should make their presence known as they come up behind walkers - slow down, say 'excuse me', and ease past safely.

Walkers should recognise that cyclists will wish to get past them and make this easier.

Dog walkers should attempt to get dogs to the side of the path when cyclists approach, to ensure the safety of rider and dog. There are many signs indicating that dogs should be kept on leads - this is widely ignored, but is designed to protect the birds that nest around the reservoir.

Ideally, if we could all smile at each other more, consideration would become so much easier.

Not so difficult really!

Since the London Bombs

Shocking as the bombs were, I sense a shift in thinking since 7 July. I believe that this may be the start of a more vocal campaign by the Muslim community to disassociate themselves from extremist behaviour and to band together on two fronts - to help convince young Muslims to not be swayed by the arguments of the terrorists and to help non-Muslims to understand Islam better. This may be a turning point that will help to diminish the growth of such terrorism.

July newsletter - Live 8 etc.

I held back from posting here about the great Live 8 weekend, and wrote about it in my July newsletter - see http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

Olympics in London!!!

What wonderful news! So much hard work for 2 years, by so many people, and it all paid off! There have been so many doubters and doom-sayers, but this proves the value of believing in something and going for it!

An evening with Richard Wilkins - thank you!

If you want to be inspired to start living life to the full, to know how amazing we all are, including you..., find a way to experience Richard Wilkins. Details of his events are at his website here.

A week in glorious Scotland!

Last week was a joy - 6 days of non-stop walking, cycling and golfing in Deeside, around Ballater, in Scotland. This really is my favourite place in the world... my favourite lake (Loch Muick), favourite mountain (Lochnagar), favourite river (Dee) and favourite golf course at Ballater. We climbed Lochnagar - great views, but SO windy! The descent, via a waterfall down to Loch Muick, was stunning. The weather was just right - mainly dry and bright, but not too hot. Truly a place to retire to one day! And the food and drink was excellent, at The Green Inn, Balgonie Country House Hotel and the Oaks restaurant at Craigendarroch Hotel.

Having travelled a great deal, this area of Scotland is where I am happiest. I wonder if this is just the splendid beauty of the place, or whether my familiarity with the area from repeated visits helps? I guess a mixture of these...

Nick Williams and Barbara Winter - thanks

A big thank you to Nick Williams and Barbara Winter for a wonderful talk last night on 'Overcoming Resistance' - and thank you to Alternatives (see http://www.alternatives.org.uk/Site/Contents/) for hosting the event. It is this sort of evening that makes me miss living in London - the line up of Alternatives speakers each week is wonderful.

I wonder if one day I'll be able to sit at home, miles from London, and watch these talks over the internet perhaps?!

So... what am I most resisting? According to Nick and Barbara (and Steve Pressfield, author of the wonderful The War of Art), the thing we most resist, is the thing we should most be doing. Some thought required...

Sobering - the death of Corey Rudl

I didn't know him, but I knew his name and reputation well, so when an email alerted me today to the sudden death of Corey Rudl, in a racing accident, I paused for thought. He was 34, and very successful in the internet marketing world. Married less than year, his loss will be huge for family and friends.

Life is so brief - but his was briefer than most. This is a sobering reminder to treasure every minute of every day and to always part with loved ones in a spirit of love, just in case. You never know which day you will be parted.

Smiling!

This delightful poem was sent to me by my mother (thanks!) and I then found it all over the web:

Smiling is infectious; you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.

I passed around the corner and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile then realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick and get the world infected!

So... keep on smiling!!!

Morgan Spurlock's new venture

I read in the Sunday Times yesterday about Morgan Spurlock (who lived on McDonald's for a month and made a film, Super Size Me, of his experiences). He has a new venture, a TV series called 30 Days. His goal is to stop Americans feeding on negative stereotypes, to shed their racism and prejudice, by filming ordinary individuals living for 30 days with people whose lifestyles and beliefs clash with their own. Episodes include a Christian fundamentalist living with a Muslim family and a homphobic ex-Army man living with a gay couple. He wants to teach tolerance and to change people's minds.

I think this is wonderful - this is so close to my own ideals - I will be watching and hoping for it to be screened in the UK.

Another holiday and another newsletter...

I have been lucky enough to spend 3 days mountain biking in the Lake District this week! This included some of the biggest hills I have ever cycled up - and some of the roughest! (If you have ever come across The Old Coach Road - part of the C2C route - you will know what I have experienced!)

The sun shone for the first 2 days and day 3 wasn't as wet as it could have been - a wonderful trip, with wonderful people.

I returned to produce the June newsletter quickly - see http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

Life feels very good...

Lessons from football

I know virtually nothing about football, but even I was impressed by Liverpool's success last night! To be 3 down at half time, and go on to win, really does say a lot about perseverance. There is a lesson here for anyone who is tempted to quit while they are down – don’t! Give it everything you’ve got.

Make Poverty History - great film

This is a great film about the insanity of Africans having to pay us more for debt repayments than they receive in aid. See http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/video/?pageVideo=/flv/dropthedebt512k.flv.

How easy life is today!

As I drove home this morning, I had Radio 4 on, and found myself listening to the memories of veterans who returned from the war after VE day. I was immediately struck by the simple things we take for granted, which didn't exist for so many then. People had no clothes and were assigned to a clothing unit to be allocated something to wear. One man hadn't been near a woman for 3 years. He was returning home to his wife, and asked the woman next to him on his train if he could put his arm around her, to start to know how to be with a woman again, before the inevitable awkwardness with his wife.

Listening to their tales, it was unimaginable for me. Those of us too young to experience it are so very lucky.

Back from the sun...

I have just spent a wonderful 4 days in Portugal with friends, playing golf, eating, drinking and laughing. The laughter in particular was amazing - and so good for us.

Returned to an immediate deadline to write my May newsletter. This flowed, due to some excellent holiday reading - see http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

And excellent news - there was a long interview with me published in the May edition of Inspiring Life magazine! This is my third bit of media coverage this year - must build on it.

Soap-achondriacs

A survey last week reported that 9 out of 10 doctors say their patients already believe they know what is wrong with them - based on what they see in their favourite soaps on TV. At least half are wrong in their self-diagnosis.

This is scary - but in my view, it backs up beliefs of increased violence from watching TV. It indicates how susceptible we are to taking fiction on board as part of real life.

I have long wanted to stop people watching other people's lives, and to instead get more out of their own life. If you spend each evening watching (say) EastEnders, how can you not get depressed in the process? There is so little fun and laughter, too much anger... Go out and get some fun with some real people!

Cosmopolitan schooling

I read this week of an amazing school, White Hart Lane, Tottenham, which has pupils from 50 countries, speaking 58 languages, and staff from 33 countries. Since 2000, this school has seen radical improvement, including exam results improved threefold. The assistant head, June Simmons, said "It's normal to be different in this school... it feels an incredibly rich place to be."

What a wonderful story!

This contrasts so much with the Tories current rabble-rousing plans on immigration, asylum seekers, travellers etc. Since it was Michael Howard, who in 1994 removed the obligation of councils to provide legal gypsy camps, he is in a sense responsible for the growth in illegal camps - if you have nowhere legal to go, what else can you resort to? He seems to stop at nothing if he thinks it will win him votes - but thankfully, based on views I heard on Question Time last night, it seems to have backfired for him. Hooray for common sense...

Feeling good after an active weekend...

I managed two long cycle rides this weekend - 57 miles in total. The weather was bright and the world was SO green and fresh - what an absolute joy to cycle through Northants countryside, hearing the birds and feeling my strength developing. A great way to spend a weekend.

I kept reminding myself, as I cycled 29 miles, that Paula Radcliffe can run almost the same distance, in approx. the same time I take to cycle it!
Rather her than me :-)

Closer to the Dream at The Vitality Show

I am doing some work for a company called Closer to the Dream, which is launching a new, positive, inspiring monthly magazine called Inspiring Heart – that you watch on DVD! It will be an antidote to the rather negative slant of most current media and will feature positive news stories, interviews with inspirational people and plenty of other wonderful features. If you would like to register interest, please go to http://www.closertothedream.com and add your email address, or visit us on the stand (G126a) at the Vitality Show (Olympia, April 7-10 – I’ll be there Thursday and Friday, so come and say hello!).

'Click' - the Make Poverty History video

See http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/video5.html. Even Tony Blair has been spotted wearing the wrist band!

Holidays

The past week or so has flown - taking some holiday time at home to decorate and cycle (in the rain and fog!)

Great news re Jamie Oliver's campaign success - 271,677 signatures and commitment from the government!

Back soon...

The 'Time' movie

I just came across this - a wonderful reminder to value each second of each day and to enjoy life, now:
http://www.scottstratten.com/movie.html

FeedMeBetter.com - amazing!

I have just checked at www.feedmebetter.com and in the past 10 days, signatures have risen from 30,000 to 164,000 - fantastic. This has got me wondering what other campaigns could be given a boost with a celebrity petition - must give this more thought, as the government is now taking this campaign seriously. It is so good to see the 'power of celebrity' used for something really positive.

Sheep that fall in love...

I have always thought sheep were probably more intelligent than they are given credit for. Now, scientists have proved they can fall in love and that they have best friends. Apparently their brains and ours have 'a startling amount in common'. I wonder why this is deemed surprising - humans can be so arrogant at times!

FeedMeBetter.com - well done Jamie!

Jamie Oliver has started a wonderful campaign - sign his petition at http://www.feedmebetter.com/ for better school dinners!

Isn't the web a great way of getting a petition going!

Food scares

It struck me recently how healthy my general diet has become and how lucky I am to have changed my lifestyle to exclude most processed foods. When the Sudan 1 list was published, I realised that there wasn't a single food on the list which I had used.

This is a result of leaving London 5 years ago, to live in a Northamptonshire village. Here I have a greengrocer, butcher, post office etc., and seldom drive to shops. As a result, I buy fresh food and cook from scratch - something that was unheard of during the 6 years that I lived in the Barbican, just minutes away from the big City M&S which I visited almost daily!

So, having established that Lee & Perrins Worcestershire sauce was not affected, I realised my luck at not needing to use ready meals any more. Then I wondered why I used to, and it struck me that I seldom spend more time cooking mid-week meals than I used to, as it is so easy to cook stir-frys, fish, liver etc. So they don't necessarily save time. I am convinced that I am more healthy now than 5 years ago, despite large quantities of red wine and 70% chocolate! I am certainly sure I consume less salt and sugar...

A lovely story - reacting to adversity

Thanks to my friend Chris Rudge for this wonderful story:

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil.

In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity ... boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

"We are one"

Thanks to the newsletter this week from www.inspirationline.com, for directing me to a beautiful photo essay in response to the tsunami. The song "We Are One" was composed and sung by Dan Seals and the photos were gathered throughout the Internet. See it here: We are One.

Poverty - please email your MP

The Make Poverty History campaign continues... they have created an easy web page from which you can email your own MP. Quote from their newsletter:

"...Right now, when governments give aid to Africa, it’s not a straightforward donation – it’s given with a lot of strings attached. And the problem is, most of those ‘strings’ just mean that the poorest people just get poorer.
...Thanks to a series of landmark meetings of world leaders it could and should be the year when we finally end the kind of poverty that claims 30,000 children's lives every single day.
...What we’d love you to do is ask your MP to write to Gordon Brown asking him to think again about this problem. It's one that he can help fix if enough people tell him to. Also we want MPs to sign our “Early Day Motion” – the message of support for Make Poverty History in the House of Commons. "

So click here and fill in your name and postcode.

Ludovico Einaudi concert

Having loved the music of pianist/composer Ludovico Einaudi for several years, last night I had the pleasure of going to his concert in Northampton. This was such a treat. Really listening fully to the music, often with my eyes shut, and sometimes with tears gently emerging, the music contained so many messages for me. His music ebbs and flows – a metaphor for life. The first piece I ever heard was Le onde - the waves - it really conjures up the waves in the sea, ‘always the same but always different’ (composer’s words). This remains a favourite of mine, and he finished with this as his final encore – wonderful.

However, all his music has the same quality, in that it conjures up every emotion and experience possible – simultaneously sad, melancholic, joyful, confused, gentle, inspiring, beautiful, pounding, rushing, driving, tumbling, loving, laughing, thoughtful, celebrating – every experience from life, all flowing along together. I was struck by the thought that just as his music never stops still, neither does life; and yet he also has momentary pauses, just as life can appear to have, and he sometimes ends a piece suddenly, unexpectedly, just as life does for some.

As we live, we are in constant transition, with some old and some new continually flowing together. For instance, over a few years, we move home, change friends, change hobbies and jobs, start and end relationships etc. Einaudi’s music has this feature – themes are mixed, such that the music changes dramatically over time, but it feels gradual, because new themes and old are interconnected.

I then realised that, at the instant I was sitting listening and experiencing these thoughts, somewhere in the world, every emotion and experience was taking place for someone. Every second people are born, others die, some become ill, others recover, some fall in love, others end a love, some laugh, some cry etc… His music is an appropriate accompaniment to all that is happening at any moment in the universe.

Strange thoughts to arise during a concert – but I came away a different, more enlightened human being, thanks to Ludovico Einaudi.

To look for a concert near you, see http://www.ludovicoeinaudi.com/ and click on News. And to listen to his latest album, click here.

Back from skiing!

I've just spent a few wonderful days in Fieberbrunn in Austria. It snowed almost constantly, so conditions were perfect for falling over safely into heaps of powdery snow. It is 5 years since I last went skiing, so I started again as a beginner, but by the second afternoon, I was coming down a blue run. Skiing is a brilliant way to push yourself outside comfort zones - repeatedly. Absolutely every task, from getting going on a drag lift, staying on it, then exiting safely, then skiing down again - each moment is another stretch, which moves you forward another notch. There is only one way to get better and that is to tackle something that doesn't initially feel comfortable... a great metaphor for making progress elsewhere in life!

Be nice to nerds!

I couldn't resist posting this link to a speech Bill Gates made in 2004 about the things not taught in schools. Some good advice...

Wedding of the year???

Oh dear - I'm not really very interested in Prince Charles' wedding, but I have just heard that today's Daily Mail has 21 pages about it! I find this sad. Why are so many people preoccupied with the lives of other people, instead of living their own lives fully? How can they fill 21 pages? Is it really that important? Surely there is more important news in the world? And who could read it all? Surely anyone busy living their own fulfilled life hasn’t got the time to read it all? I am on a crusade… to get people to stop watching East Enders/reading celebrity gossip etc etc… in favour of living proactively.

Ellen MacArthur and Middle East progress - fantastic!

What wonderful news today, with Ellen MacArthur setting a new world record for sailing alone non-stop around the world - an amazing achievement. I wonder how many people will now make life-changing decisions as a result of being inspired by her!

And to add to that, real progress has been made today in Egypt, with a handshake between Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas. This is something really close to my heart - great news. Let's hope it continues...

Newsletter

I've just posted my February newsletter - see http://www.ambitioncoach.com/62652/84225.html.

Wonderful to see that so many people went to Make Poverty History day in London yesterday, to see Nelson Mandela speak. This year has the feel of something special. Definitely good things happening... perhaps the tsunami is shifting thinking a bit.

Good news continues in the Middle East

The news from Iraq has been encouraging this week. I enjoyed reading more voting stories, such as: ... in Baghdad, Samir Hassan refused to let the security ban on private cars stop him from voting, despite losing his leg to a bomb last October. "I would have crawled here if I had to," he said. "I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis like they tried to kill me. Today I am voting for peace."
and: One elderly man, in black and white keffayah, had tears in his eyes. "My two sons were executed by Saddam," he said, "I am voting to make sure we never return to the old ways of doing things in Iraq." (See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4224435.stm.)

I am also more hopeful about Palestine/Israel, with the announcement that Ariel Sharon and Mahmoud Abbas are to attend a summit in Egypt next Tuesday.

Maybe 2005 is going to be a good year for the world :-)

Determination in Iraq

I was delighted to hear the news reports this morning, after yesterday’s elections in Iraq. Apparently one woman ended up giving birth in a polling station, because she was so determined to cast her vote! Early indications are that a huge majority of the population braved great danger to exercise their right to have a say in the future government of the country. I pray this
marks a turning point that starts to bring them peace and stability.

There are some Iraqi diaries at http://tinyurl.com/5pybc. An inspiring entry reads: "...And yes, I did manage to go and actually vote for the list I thought was the best, but I had to walk a total of 10km on foot because of the ban imposed on all cars other than police cars and ambulances. It took me about three and a half hours to do this so I missed the last two sets of the final of the Australian Open tennis..."

Great ideas for 'making a difference in the world'

This article on Ecademy has some great ideas in it: http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=39207. I can personally vouch for Be Unlimited magazine, as mentioned in her item 3. I have been a subscriber since this magazine started and really enjoy each issue.

Make Poverty History campaign

A quick plea for you to please consider signing up for the Make Poverty History campaign... see http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/home.html.

Richard Curtis (director of Love Actually and scriptwriter of Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary etc.) has taken a year out, in order to campaign for this great cause.

I'm off to find a white band at my local Oxfam shop!

Going freelance?

If you feel the freelance life may be for you or if you're already freelance and looking for inspiration, a new direction or to connect with like-minded people, please subscribe to The Purple Newsletter, written by fellow coach Helen McClagish. To do this, visit www.purplecoach.com and enter your name and email address in the Purple Newsletter section.

INDIGO, the film

See http://www.indigothemovie.com/ for details of a special, award-winning film about 'Indigo' (spiritual) children. It stars Neale Donald Walsch (author of the Conversation with God books).

This film is being screened this coming weekend around the UK. Please contact me for details of tickets for Northampton or Gloucester, on 01604 889152. The film is showing in Northampton on Sunday 30 January at 15:00.

24 January 2005 - the most depressing day?

Last week, the local newspaper (Northampton Chronicle & Echo) called me. Research has indicated that today will be the most depressing day of this year. This makes some sense: people are bored of dieting post-Xmas, they spent too much and haven't been paid yet this year, it is cold... and dark. I also think that there is a 'tsunami' effect this year i.e. "I know I am lucky and I should feel great, but I don't - and this makes me feel guilty."

The journalist asked me for tips on how to get motivated, and the resulting article can be read at: http://www.northantsnews.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=317&ArticleID=927525.

Welcome to my new blog

This is a new venture for me - introducing blogging to my website.

Here is a good site that describes blogging:
http://www.blogger.com/knowledge/2004/07/amazing-web-site-machine.pyra.
This was recommended in a really useful PDF about blogging. See: http://www.kimberlyblack.com/pdf/startblog.pdf.

To read about me, go to www.ambitioncoach.com.

Thanks...
Jacky Pratt
Accredited Practitioner Coach (ECI)