A Lesson in Gratitude: The Power of a Simple “Thank You”
How I Learned the Impact of “Yes” Farnborough Air Day, 1992: a landmark in European aviation and a pivotal moment in my own journey. I was six months into my new life as a quadriplegic, still in the hospital and absorbing the seismic shifts in my day-to-day experiences. It was a sweltering summer day, my […]
When is being paralysed awesome?
When the dishes need doing! Really, it’s true; I never have to do the dishes or housework, or put the bins out. Last time I did any of that was over 20 years ago. Plus, you now know why I help people find their inner peace rather than a comedian. Whenever we see somebody substantially […]
The Timeless Wisdom of “Think and Grow Rich”: Lessons for a Modern World
Napoleon Hill’s classic, “Think and Grow Rich,” is far more than a self-help guide to financial prosperity. It’s a detailed analysis based on Hill’s 25-year study of successful individuals. Reading it is like entering into a conversation with the best minds of past generations, and once you begin, you can’t help but keep turning the […]
A Professor and a Jar, and a Timeless Lesson on Life’s Priorities
Love this lesson. In a bustling philosophy classroom, a professor prepared to impart a lesson that would transcend the boundaries of academic discourse. On the table before him lay an assortment of items: golf balls, pebbles, sand, and two cans of beer. With a sense of purpose, he lifted a large, empty jar and began […]
A Boy, His Temper, and the Fence: A Lesson in Anger Management
The Hammer of Impulse There once was a little boy, and if you met him, the first thing you’d notice was his bad temper. It flared like a fire, quick to ignite and burn everything around it. Recognising this, his father handed him a bag of nails. It wasn’t a punishment; it was a lesson. […]
Your Influence on the Universe: The Power of One Small Act
The Existential Crisis: The Weight of Insignificance We’ve all felt it, haven’t we? That gnawing sense that in the grand scheme of the universe, our lives are but a flicker. A momentary blip on the cosmic radar. The idea is vividly captured in the first chapter of Stephen Hawking’s “A Brief History Of Time,” which […]
The Inspiring Odyssey of Joe Simpson: Never Underestimate the Power of Trying
A Tale of Two Climbers: Setting the Stage In June 1985, British mountaineers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates embarked on a historic adventure—ascending the treacherous West Face of Siula Grande, a 21,000-foot mountain in Peru. Their initial ascent was arduous, but that was just a prelude to what would become a test of their physical […]
Nelson Mandela’s Lesson: Is Being ‘Bad’ Truly in One’s Nature?
The Brutal Commanding Officer: Setting the Scene During Nelson Mandela’s 19-year imprisonment on Robben Island, one figure stood out as the epitome of brutality: Commanding Officer Badenhorst. A man seemingly devoid of empathy, he was a living, breathing manifestation of the system that sought to crush Mandela and his fellow inmates. The Unlikely Exchange: A […]