Archive for April, 2007
Are we really that different?
Every now and then, I come across something which is so simple and yet so powerful and effective in changing the world.
A friend recently connected me with Avaaz, an online campaign group.
“Avaaz” literally means “voice” or “song” in several Asian languages and the online campaign group is a community of global citizens who take action on the major issues facing the world today.
Images speak louder than and here is a powerful and thought provoking video clip from them:-
Recycling is taking off…do your bit too.
Whilst listening to the car radio this morning whilst returning from a meeting, I was inrigued by a studio debate about whether or not UK househols should have weekly or fortnightly refuse collection.
The idea put forward is that by having forthnightly collections, people would be encouraged to recycle much more.
Stop alcoholism at a young age
There have been calls today to stop parents from giving alcohol to children under the age of 15. To me this was quite a surprise as coming from a tee-total family, alcohol was rarely ever served in our home.
A new study reveals figures that suggest a large increase in the amount of alcohol being drunk by 11 to 13-year-olds.
Support the Anne Frank Declaration…
To mark the 60th anniversary of the publication of Anne Frank’s diary, the Anne Frank Trust are aiming to spread her message even more over the coming months.
One way for you to support their work and to help spread her message is to learn and live by the Anne Frank Declaration:-
What goes around comes around!
Talking of Anne Frank and her message of all people having goodness in them, three years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to Downing Street for the re-launch of the Anne Frank charity in the UK. Though this charity is not that well known, it does some amazing and life changing work in schools, spreading the key messages from Anne Frank.
It was a wonderful evening at 11, Downing Street (not at number 10!). There were some inspirational speechs and I met quite a few amazing people. There was a lot of talk abut contribution, giving, making a difference and leaving the world a better place. Anne Frank would have been impressed 
People are just people…look for the goodness within
Last week, I telephoned an old friend to catch up after quite a few months. After the usual pleasantries, she mentioned how fed up she was of people and how she had lost her faith in humanity. I probably got her on a bad day, as usually she is very open, giving and kind towards other people.
She mentioned the shootings in the American university campus and how horrible it all was. I let her say her bit, but suggested that ultimately everyone has goodness in htem - we just have to look for it. But I am not sure she was convinced.
Love is the magician…
I recently wrote about how with the arrival of spring it was time to find THE one.
Last Saturday, I attended the wedding of one of my best friends in a central London hotel. It was my first ever major muslim wedding and also one of the best weddings I have been to. Amazing how 12 hours just went by in a delightful cocktail of food, music, dancing and conversations with new people.
Helen Astrid is here to help you Sing!
Talking of what makes you sing and finding your song, here is one of my regular interviews with the inspiring people in my life.
I have now known Helen Astrid for five years after we met at one of those early morning business networking meetings. I didn’t get any serious business through such meetings but did connect with a number of amazing people with Helen being one of them.
What makes you Sing?
Lately, I have been meeting many people who are either already singers or they want to learn to sing.
It seems that I am attracting singers into my life! Only this morning I had coffee with a new friend, a flight attendant (also known as air stewardess / air hostess) who has been working with her airline now for 12 years. But her real passion is singing - and she would rather be singing than serving food and drinks in the air.
Organic vegetables on my doorstep!
Yesterday afternoon after watching the London marathon, I decided to use all that positive energy and finally get down to creating my own organic garden.
We have a beautiful and very spacious landscaped garden. However there is a patch at the back of the landscaped garden that has been neglected for years and has been overgrown.
Lessons from the London marathon - everyone’s a winner
Yesterday morning, I spent three hours watching the London marathon on TV. Sport is about the only thing I watch on TV so this was pure indulgence.
If things had panned out differently, I too would have been running yesterday. I wrote in January about how this was the year to run your own marathon in life, whatever that may be.
Are you ready to blossom?
Talking of spring, I was in my favourite place Regents Park last Sunday. The cherry trees were in blossom and were quite specatuclar to say the least.
This scene reminded of a great quote I came across recently from Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda:-
Boost your energy!
For my regular coaching column in “Asian Woman”, I was recently asked this question:-
Lately I have been feeling rather low in energy. I feel lethargic and have no interest in doing anything. How can I get out of this mind set?
This is what I replied:-
To get the life you love and to live it, you will need lots of energy to live it to the full, and to do everything you would like to. You can indeed have all the energy and support you need in your life - simply get clear on what you need to do in order to make it happen.
Lessons for life from a tall tale…
As I write this, the scaffolding from outside my window is finally being removed, six weeks after it was first put up to investigate a leak from the roof.
At the time, I wrote about how the scaffolding had first been put up against the wrong house!
How to improve your relationships with everyone in your life
In a world increasingly tense and with international relations more uncertain than ever, it is key that we review how we all get on with each other.
Change however begins in our daily lives and if we improve the one to one relations with all the people around us, ultimately relationships on a global level will also improve.
Friday the 13th - go out and make your own luck!
It is Friday the 13th!
In many cultures, a Friday occurring on the 13th day of any month is considered to be a day of bad luck. This is especially so amongst English, German, Polish and Portuguese-speaking cultures around the globe.
How to have your Easter chocolate bunny & eat it too
As most of the developed world gets ready for the Easter break, spare a thought for those to whom today is just another day in a struggle for survival and progress. For a lot of children, an Easter chocolate bunny is only a fantasy.
How NOT to get fired up!
I have now been up and working since 6 this morning, having given up trying to get some sleep.
I felt all fired up and on edge all night, mulling over all sorts of thoughts from penguins, statues and new e-books, desperately trying to sleep. You may ask why those particular thoughts, but that’s a story for another time.
