School of Curiosity
Explore. Dream. Discover.
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You won
October 30, 2012
When you were conceived there was just one egg. There were 250 to 500 million sperm trying to fertilise that egg.
You won.
There was about a 100 million to 1 chance of you being born. Take it back to your grandparents and great-grandparents the chances of you being born in the form that you are are is billions to one.
You are unique. You won the lottery. Celebrate being you.
Have a curious day.
Remove your seven veils
October 29, 2012
According to curiousmind.com there are 7 veils of incuriosity. Steer clear of people, places and organisations that favour….
Answers over questions
Certainty ahead of novelty
Compliance over scepticism
Competition more than collaboration
Ego ahead of humility
Extrinsic rewards over intrinsic motivation
Fear more than hope.
If these are indeed the seven veils of incuriosity, how many will you cast aside today?
Have a curious day.
Gratitude
October 19, 2012
Remember all the things you have to be grateful for.
Gratitude is good medicine. It puts things into perspective.
Have a curious day.
Here is the {good} news
October 18, 2012
“Not so bad” has become a conditioned response to the question “How are you?”
It’s a shorthand that expresses nothing. No happiness, no sadness, no commitment.
Think of some good news today – however minor. Then celebrate.
Have a curious day.
Do what you love
October 17, 2012
Wouldn’t it be great never to have to work again? That’s what its like when you earn a living by doing what you love – its not work, its fun.
Think about it. If you can earn a pretty good living doing something you hate, why can’t you earn a great living doing something that you love? Have a look at the link for some tips on how to do it.
Have a curious day.
Sultans of silence
October 16, 2012
Life can be hectic, stressful, full on. It’s tempting to reach for another beer or a tranquilliser for a little relief from it all.
Instead why not go and sit in a church for fifteen minutes? It doesn’t matter whether you believe in God or not. Churches are tiny havens of peace and tranqulity. Sit quietly and still and its like having a massage for your mind.
There’s probably one on a street near you.
Have a curious day.
Walk in fields of gold
October 15, 2012
It’s autumn where we are.
Nature is throwing a big party just for you. It’s free. It’s not taxable. It’s out there.
Don’t be too busy to notice the autumn. Take a moment to walk in fields of gold.
Have a curious day.
Pay compliments
October 11, 2012
Compliments are affirmations. They can strengthen both the giver and the receiver. A great way to strengthen any positive quality in yourself is to spot it in someone else and compliment them on it.
Do yourself a favour – pay compliments.
Have a curious day.
Don’t listen to the doubters
October 10, 2012
Yesterday at the age of 79 Sir John Gurdon was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine. This was the school report that he was given at the age of 15….
“It has been a disastrous half. His work has been far from satisfactory. His prepared stuff has been badly learnt, and several of his test pieces have been torn over; one of such pieces of prepared work scored 2 marks out of a possible 50. His other work has been equally bad, and several times he has been in trouble because he will not listen, but will insist in doing the work in his own way. I believe he has ideas about becoming a scientist; on his present showing this is quite ridiculous, if he can’t learn simple biological facts he would have no chance of doing the work of a specialist, and it would be sheer waste of time, both on his part, and of those who have to teach him”.
Don’t listen to the doubters.
Have a curious day.
The scraps of our lives
October 9, 2012
We keep some curious things as touchstones for our lives. I’m looking at the white board in front of me which I look at every day, but I don’t often see. This is what I see….
1. A front of line pass for MGM Studios
2. A picture of artist LS Lowry given to me by the photographer Sefton Samuels
3. A postcard of Big Ben that I sent to my son when he was three years old
4. A visitors pass for the Formula One Honda HQ
5. A Cutting showing The Sunday Times top 10 with me at No 9
6. A postcard given to by a former model who lost the use of her legs – LS Lowry’s ‘The Cripples’
7. Instructions for using Sharepoint
8. Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you will land amongst the stars – a fathers day card from my daughter Holiie
9. The code for my utilities cupboard
10. A picture of my son Callum aged 5 in Dubai (he’s now 6ft tall)
11. BT Business hub code
12. Postcard to self with a quote from Muhammad Ali “I know where I’m going and I know the truth and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free, to be what I want”
13. Something written in marker crayon “28/7 43″ – I’ve no idea why.
What are the scraps of your lives?
Have a curious day.