IT'S NEW YEAR... BE HAPPY!

Happiness appears to be connected to seven things: relationships, contentment, security and money, health, transcendence and fulfilment. 

BE HAPPY!

I always find it interesting to read that while personal income has more than doubled in the past 50 years happiness levels have remained the same. While this might be surprising, recent research has shown that only 10% of our happiness is due to our external circumstances: 50% of our happiness level comes from our genes and 40% comes from the things we do.

THE HOW OF HAPPINESS!

The University of California's professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has pioneered a detailed yet easy-to-follow plan to increase happiness in our day-to-day lives — in the short term and over the long term. Nothing new here but great that her research supports the approach I've been working on over the last twenty odd years.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... REMEMBER TO LIVE FOR TODAY!

I wanted to share this with you at Christmas because it reminds us all that we should 'never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'. Remember that each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE!

Another Christmas! 2015 has been another interesting year full of wonderful people, successes and surprises, brilliant stories and shared adventures with of course, it's fair share of challenges, problems and tears along the way! Christmas is a time for people, families, love, kindness and giving and I have been lucky this year to have spent so much time with people I love and care about... you know who you are... thank you for spending some time with me during the year.

THIS CHRISTMAS REMEMBER TO LIVE FOR TODAY, BECAUSE TOMORROW IS PROMISED TO NO ONE!

I wanted to share this with you at Christmas because it reminds us all that we should 'never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion'. Remember that each day, each hour, each minute, is special. Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no-one.

LET YOUR OWN LIGHT SHINE!

Christmas is being celebrated everywhere... every high street and every shop has become full of magic and sparkle... but always remember that the magic is really in you!

THIS CHRISTMAS, REMEMBER...

WHATEVER YOU DO THIS CHRISTMAS, EAT CHOCOLATE!

Chocolate is made from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree. The Greek term means literally "food of the gods". Cacao beans were used by the Aztecs to prepare a hot, frothy drink with stimulant and restorative properties. Chocolate itself was reserved for warriors, nobility and priests because the Aztecs valued its ability to confer wisdom and vitality.

LET IT SNOW!

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY!

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED...

WE SHOULD ALL GO OUT AND BUY SOME MARBLES!

It's funny how Christmas brings everything into sharp focus.... we need to be with friends, families and those we love. Let me tell you story that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities.

In the hurly burly of work and our struggle against the challenges and problems life throws at us where there is never enough time or money to get by or to get ahead we can forget the things that are really important. This is the theory of "a thousand marbles."...

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN LIFE IS THAT I STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN!

I have also been reviewing some of the stuff I put on the blogs and I re-read this and wanted to share it again with the people I care about. Read it carefully because it's powerful stuff.

OLD FRIENDS REALLY MATTER!

"Whether they burst with excitement or simmer quietly, when you are in the presence of enthusiastic people, you feel happier and more excited about your life, perhaps you even feel inspired."
I met my old colleague and friend Neil Straker this morning at the Queen's Hotel by the railway station in Leeds.

AND ANOTHER KEY IS ...CREATIVITY!

We know that creativity is an important foundation for learning, productivity, and success. 

Here are five reasons why.... 

AND ANOTHER KEY IS ... PROBLEM-SOLVING!

THE ONTARIO SKILLS PASSPORT!

Every young person needs to have a skills passport which details the skills they are developing. The Ontario Skills Passport is a great model, which identifies the essential skills and work habits needed for work, learning and life.

REMEMBER THIS SUNDAY TO BE POSITIVE!

“If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don't! If you want to win, but think you can't, It's almost a cinch you won't. If you think you'll lose, you're lost; For out in the world we find success begins with a fellow's will; It's all in the state of the mind. Life's battles don't always go to the strongest and the fastest, But sooner or later the colleague who wins is the colleague who thinks they can.”

My life over the last few weeks has shown me all too clearly, that it doesn't matter what you are dealing with, the challenges remain the same. We must work to create a culture of excellence in our schools, our hospitals and our care homes building provision for our children, the elderly, the challenged and those who need us most where we constantly and relentlessly focus on what works and finding brilliant practice so that we can learn and make outstanding provision commonplace.

WE ALL NEED TO GET ACTIVE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WE ALL NEED TO EAT LESS!

I finally got back to the gym and it's true that exercise makes me feel better but I am not convinced by those people who constantly tell me that exercise is the best way to lose weight.

WHEREVER THE WEEKS GO.... BE HAPPY!

Another Friday and we are getting close to the end of another year. Time is such a strange thing and I seem to have spent most of the week in hospitals and care homes and on motorways travelling between York and Leicester. You can get bogged down by the challenges life throws at you, but I hope, this week, this will remind you how you can be happy and stay happy!

CHANGE THE CULTURE AND YOU CHANGE THE WORLD!

I have spent a lot of time recently in hospitals, care homes and classrooms and it has made me realise more than ever that we must continue to work together to change the culture in our schools, hospitals, care homes and organisations. If we want excellence and world class provision we must break down the barriers which limit personalisation, curiosity and creativity, which stubbornly maintain the status quo and which limit our opportunities to make a fundamental step change in outcomes, processes and systems. We must network, learn and build on the magic, the wonder and the real excellence in the system and challenge and change the things that don't work.

AND ANOTHER KEY IS... COMMUNICATION!

At the heart of any success is communication... our ability to tell our stories, to share our memories and to connect with other people.