When he lectured at Harvard University he was described as a ‘Nerd Hero’, with up to 600 students queuing up to attend his lectures. Dr Brian Palmer’s popularity, enteratining and engaging style (as well as brilliant content) won him the Levenson Prize as Harvards best lecturer.

Brian loves The School of Curiosity and is coming to our ‘End of Summer School’ 23-25 October to work with us on “What is happiness, and how do we balance time and money?” It might just change the way you see the world.

As if that were not enough he’s going to regale us with stories from his latest book, 101 Historical Heroes, (with  Ola Larsmo).

If you’ve never seen this guy, believe us, he is a legend. They will be queuing around the block for him, though if you do get a ticket you’ll be interacting with him in a small class setting.

Don’t wait. The full prospectus will be released today, but you can reserve your tickets here http://bit.ly/15v1iWi

Bronnie Ware, an Australian nurse, spent several years caring for people in the last twelve weeks of their lives. When people asked if they had any regrets, it wasn’t about having more sex or doing a bungee jump. Here are the top five regrets of the dying…

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

Have a curious day.

“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.

If you are looking for reasons why the world is out to get you, you’ll most certainly find them.

If you are looking for reasons to be happy, you can find them. You more likely to find happiness if you look for it.

Have a curious day.

Don’t wait for your next pay rise, your next holiday, or the weekend to be happy. Don’t live a life of martyrdom and self denial, hoping that one day you’ll be happy. Pay compliments, celebrate good news, work to live. Be happy now.

Have a curious day.

Bhutan, famous for it’s emphasis on increasing happiness before wealth, has a new rule. Prime Minister Jigme Thinley, a man with name that sounds rather like a dance to help you shed pounds, wants Tuesdays to be special. He has decreed that Tuesdays in the capital city of Thimphu will be ‘pedestrian days’. No cars will be allowed in order to give citizens a chance to “Contemplate the precious Himalayan mountain ecology”.

Give yourself a chance to contemplate something precious. Ditch the car for a day.

Have a curious car free day.