Resolution Blog

A tonic! Health Promotion and Prevention take note

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:20:00-0400

On at Largs at 12.50pm and off at Largs at 16.50pm via Dunoon, Blairmore and Carrick Castle. It only takes a few hours on the Waverley paddle steamer to refresh body mind and soul. It also costs ?20 but cheap at the price for fesh air, sunshine as there was today, good conversation and all that water and scenery to look at. 4 days left to sample the tonic. I wonder if Nicola Sturgeon the Health Minister and any Health Prevention and Promotion folks have studied the Waverley effect. I thoroughly recommend it.

Unusual Times in Edinburgh

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:53:00-0400

Usually in Edinburgh if we see snow it's a dusting only. For weeks now we have had serious snow which has been lying and freezing. Not unusual given the state of the rest of the country. Today I notice that the novelty value was starting to wear off and an annoyance with the inconvenience of it was setting in. A bit unfair given that I am still able to get out and about and also to drive to where I need to get to. Not so for so many other folks. The elderly and the infirm are held prisoner and people in essential jobs and services are faced with the additional pressure of having to negotiate their way to work. We have had debates on radio about the safety of children having to make their way to school and criticism of schools for closing and also for not closing - they cannot win. One wise caller suggested that a simple solution was for all teachers to report to the school nearest to them and for children to do the same and that way the country could continue to function. young people would be occupied and maybe even educated, while parents could get on with their work and lives and who knows - perhaps pupils and teachers and others might come to like the idea of working closer to home. Snow has interesting and perhaps unexpected repercussions. Imagine a Scotland where we learn to live with and enjoy snow.

Raising a smile

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:19:00-0400

A colleague sent me a message today with this story at the end 'to make you smile' he said and it did indeed make me smile. In Edinburgh, this last week, it feels like autumn and summer has ended. With the darker evenings, the autumnal feel to the air and the ending of the Festival fun, a certain gloom is in the air and on people's faces. My colleagues story was timely and I notice that communications and people who make me smile are more likely to be read/listened to. I hope this makes you smile: A nice variant on the hot air balloon joke. A man in a hot air balloon, realising he was lost, reduced altitude and spotted a woman below. He descended further and shouted to the lady, "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised a friend I would meet him an hour ago, but I don't know where I am." The woman below replied, "You're in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above the ground. You're between 40 and 41 degrees latitude north and between 59 and 60 degrees longitude west." "You must be in IT," said the balloonist. "Actually, I am," replied the woman, "How did you know?" "Well," answered the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct but I've no idea what to make of your information and the fact is I'm still lost. Frankly, you've not been much help at all. If anything, in fact you've delayed my trip." The woman below responded, "You must be in Management." "I am," replied the balloonist, "but how did you know that?" "Well," said the woman, "you don't know where you are or where you're going. You have risen to where you are due to a large quantity of hot air. You made a promise, which you've no idea how to keep, and you expect people beneath you to solve your problems. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, but now, somehow, it's all my fault

Music Music Music

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:38:00-0400

Well its been a long time since I did a blog post and yes it's music that has inspired me to get going again. I looked at my last post and it was all about the T mobile film of folks dancing in Liverpool Street Station. Watch it again here Join In! and then watch how it was made to get a few hints if you want to try something similar or want to get people to participate or join in. How it was made I indulged in a wander up and down the Royal Mile in Edinburgh recently to see some fringe performers. I had not indulged in this for a few years and my recollection is that there was more fun, music, dance and spontaneity on previous visits. A stylish wedding at St Giles upstaged everyone by attracting the biggest crowd who hung around until the bride appeared and gave her a wee cheer and a round of applause. A lot of planning would have gone into that event! On the Royal Mile, some folks were trying to engage the passing crowds without much success. One of their party felt that not enough planning had been done. Getting people to participate is not as easy as the t mobile film makes it look and of course when you watch the 'how it was made' video you realise that there was a lot of preparation and planning. Some great comments from those who took part spontaneously at the end - they comment on how the music transformed their mood for the day, while one young man tells of how it made him feel connected with the people around him. Strong stuff this music then! A few weeks ago, I attended a nostalgic night in Glasgow called 'Kings of Swing' featuring the music of singers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others from the big band era. Some of the audience going into the theatre looked elderly and moved stiffly and slowly. However, there was a noticeable spring to their step on the way out. The power of music and memory of course. Wonder if it's prescribed on the National Health Service then?

The Magic of Music

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:45:00-0400

Music and its power have come up recently. The success on stage and film of Mamma Mia testify to the power of the musical. Although a bit sceptical about the Abba aspect, I found myself laughing and enjoying it. Some great questions were offered at another occasion I attended that encourage us all to think about music in our lives. Here they are: "What music did you play or use as the first dance at your wedding?" "What music did you cry into your pillow to when you lost your first love?" "What music/song do you associate with your youth?" Have fun talking and sharing ideas about the music that means a lot to you and can transform you in a moment. Its a powerful thing music and can change moods of individuals and crowds of people in an instant. Imagine a Scotland full of music and dancing that uplifts people's spirit. Watch this video - it says it all. What is the best that can happen in either Glasgow's Central Station or Edinburgh's Waverley Station? Over to you T-Mobile. Join In!

Client Conversations

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:12:00-0400

A few phonecalls keeping in touch with clients this week revealed that in many cases they associated me with the last piece of work that I did for them. Not a surprising revelation but a timely reminder that people and organisations might be sitting with a problem or something that they want to achieve and not realise that I might be able to help with that or know someone who can. In reconnecting with them, they painted a picture of Resolution and Margaret Wright. A very useful exercise for me and hopefully for them too because they defined what was in their mind or on their desk at the moment and I was also able to suggest a few approaches or ideas for them. What did I hear? I heard that Resolution offers teambuilding, awaydays, training in appreciative inquiry, how to engage with communities or for that matter anyone, processes for reviewing a small organisation and it's plans for the future, coaching etc. So what was in people's minds or on their desks? Topics like: in view of the current financial situation we need to redefine our business and assess where that business is coming from. if we are an organisation that depends on sponsors and funders, what changes might we expect and how can we plan for that? How do I motivate and build employee morale and confidence? Sometimes it was hearing about employee changes, perhaps a retirement. These are all times when we need to take stock, stop and think. Time to have conversations within and outwith the organisation or immediate group and perhaps a bit of brainstorming or thinking differently. A small group of us did that on Friday in the spacious and peaceful environment of the Faith Mission in Edinburgh and related stories of when we had been bold in the past. What worked for us and how could we build on that into the future. Interesting connections were made between folks with very different backgrounds and who knows there may even be collaborations. My motto is turn the credit crunch into creative conversations.

January Joy and February Focus

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:27:00-0400

I took some time over the weekend to reflect on the month of January and what has given me joy. What would feature on your January Joy list? For me it was going to a traditional pantomime, meeting up with friends I had not seen for a while, inviting some friends round for dinner at short notice and having as one of them said "a delightful evening in good company." Also on the list is a " be a tourist in your own city day" when a business meeting at Edinburgh Castle focused me on what an amazing place the castle is and also opened my eyes to all the fascinating places in Edinburgh. The view of Edinburgh from the castle ramparts is wonderful. An unusual and innovative cello concert also featured - more of that in another blog. Yes you might say these are all leisure or fun activities and they are needed to refresh and restore energy. There were moments of joy related to work too. Helping my husband's business by manning the stand at a trade show and gaining new customers, identifying new opportunities to apply the appreciative approach nearer to home here in Leith. So now its February. What is your F word for February? In Edinburgh today it is cold, some might say freezing. There are wintry snow showers and cold winds. A few seconds ago there was a blink of sunshine and now its a snowstorm. Your F word for February might be Fun or it might be Finances given all the recent events. My F word for February is Focus. What are you focused on for February? What would enable you to feel fantastic at the end of February? What first steps can you take today , right now!

Reflections on Mums and Parents

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 02:33:00-0400

Conversations and observations over the last few months have left me with these words. A mother's comments on what it means to be a mother when offspring often seem to be ungrateful or moan all the time. "I believe mothers are here for that purpose, also to listen and love and care for their offspring when they are down." A son of his parents who had been abroad for a number of weeks. " I am really looking forward to them being back. They keep me grounded" A quote by Adrienne Shelly (from a calendar) " It's almost a sacrilege to say becoming a mother is scary. I wanted to write a movie about these fears and give them a voice." Another quote " Remember that childhood is a time for learning skills and values that will carry us through life. If we have bad parenting and do not learn those skills early on, we may have to absorb more knocks to get them. But we still need to, and must, learn them. Parenting is important." How and where are people today learning parenting skills? An amusing youtube video on the subject of being a mother. Momsong On a more serious note a book recommended by a friend which explains why the behaviour and actions around a child in its first 6 months are so important. The book is ' Why love matters by Sue Gerhardt. Enjoy the video, digest and ponder the book. May we consider what it means for the children around us today, for their future and also for society in the future. Imagine a society where love matters a lot and being a Mum or a parent is a highly skilled role which is valued. A society where parents are given lots of help, encouragement and support.

Making the best of each day

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:06:00-0400

Someone I know spent all day yesterday on a plane when they intended a journey by plane followed by a business meeting and a late flight back. Things did not go according to plan and weather conditions initially did not allow landing at the destination. A decision was made to circle for some time to see if things improved. Refuelling was then required which necessitated a journey to another airport with yet more circling and decision making required. The result, a day spent on a plane and not with a business client. A waste of a day perhaps but thankfully a new book travelled too and was read in the course of the day. So not a complete waste but not quite what was planned. A fairly typical day for most people at work perhaps you might say. There are things that we cannot change - like the weather- but decisions are important as are experiences. The fact that travel to that particular airport in the winter has resulted in diversions on two occasions now informs the future. Decisions we make,we can do something about. The decisions others make are a different matter apart from pointing out the impact of their decision. Perhaps a decision to land at another airport and allow passengers to make their way by train was a possibility-who knows. Could the passengers have been consulted-now there is a thought. In mid air, airline staff conduct a dialogue with passengers regarding the best outcome. Organisations and projects can have points at which people can get on or get off. Trains provide that too. Planes are a different matter. Sometimes we just need to sit back and make the best of it if its out of our control. Make the best of the situation. What is the equivalent for you of having a new book to read on a diverted flight? What will you learn from your experience and do differently next time. Is there a way you can get on or get off or are you in for the long haul.

A recipe for cooking in the kitchen or the company

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:22:00-0400

There can be recipes for all sorts of things. Food, a great party or event. Here is one from a book I am reading at the moment. The 7 day weekend is subtitled The Wisdom Revolution: Finding the Work/Life Balance. It is by Ricardo Semler the author of the bestselling 'Maverick' book. You may hear more from me re this book but for now -here is the recipe. In a section comparing the Semco democratic way of running a company and the short route of command and execute methods - which he says is a path to nowhere - he writes " Coq au Vin cannot be compared to Chicken McNuggets - even if both are merely cooked fowl. Taking the long way-or simmering a slow stew of culture, tribalism and democracy- serves up a more savoury dish. Any stories to share of 'slow cooking' of food or running a company variety? What more savoury dish was created? What is your best recipe of democracy in action in a company or for that matter elsewhere.?

A Great Recipe for a peace-filled life in 2009

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:48:00-0400

Recipes tend to feature over the festive season. Here is one for the New year. It sounds a good one. Lots of different ingredients. I am sure there are one or two that we all like and can take to! 1. Take a 10 to 30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to. 3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________' 4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants. 5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. 6. Try to make at least three people smile each day. 7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. 8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. 9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. 11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. 13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present. 14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?' 17. Forgive everyone for everything. 18. What other people think of you is none of your business. 19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him. 20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will stay in touch. 22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. 23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________. 24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. 25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it. I am going to give it a try-are you? Imagine if your family or whole streets used the same recipe?

Good wishes and images for 2009!

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:48:00-0400

Well, people are back to work and the festive season stories have been shared and its on with the show for 2009. If you need a bit of a spark to revive that energy of a new year arriving then enjoy this great video taken by a friend and colleague Desmond Ryan from his flat and sent with a New Year greeting. Both the words and the image are spot on - enjoy! Desmond is an inspiration to me with his thoughts, words and the images/metaphors he uses. May they inspire you today and the thought sustain you throughout the year. "May 2009 have an exciting start, bring lots of colour and light into your life - and not so much smoke! Happy New Year from Edinburgh." The video last for 4 sparkling moments. New Year Fireworks Edinburgh

Ne'erday

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 12:40:00-0400

Yesterday, like many other people in Scotland, I sat down to a New Year's Day meal with my family. We were 11 in number, ranging from 15 months to 89 years, 4 generations. It was a simple meal and a simple day and yet a very special day. The first day of a New Year. We simply were together, we shared a meal, conversation, played a few games and shared thoughts re New year Resolutions. So what was special about it? Well for our family, as I suspect for many other familes in today's world, it is not that easy to be together physically because we live in different parts of the country or the world. Our gathering included people from the East and West Coast of Scotland and folks who now live in Cyprus. We gathered in a house that has been connected with the family since the 1920s when it was newly built and we have gathered round that same table for all sorts of celebrations. Ah that table- children have performed on top of it as a stage and crawled and hidden under it - it's a good sturdy old oak table. New Years day began with old and new friends in Leith where I live watching the fireworks over Edinburgh. Later in the day I was in the company of George Wyllie the scupltor. George is also a philosopher and yesterday we were talking about his 'Day down a Goldmine' production and reflecting on the world today with financial crisis and doom and gloom everywhere. George's comments? " nothing has changed" " The sun still shines" are absolutely spot on and the sun was indeed shining in Gourock where he lives overlooking the river Clyde. To be in the company of old and new friends and 4 generations of my family on the East and West coast of Scotland all on one day - and New year's Day at that is a rich experience and a privilege. It is a privilege to know and talk with someone like George Wyllie who personifies for me the Scots. The practical 'can do' ability with intuitive thinking and action. To be in the company of my family with that range of experience and knowledge from 15 months to 89 years is also a privilege but do we realise how much knowledge and information is in the room and do we tap into it? While we talked, the 15 month old was picking up a phone and making herself comfortable in a chair while she smiled and said "hi". A rehearsal for the real thing and a lesson in learning. A day rich in experiences of people and places which augurs well for the rest of 2009. Imagine a Scotland where we come together and acknowledge the contribution of all, the confidence and energy of youth with the experience and wisdom of age.

Hogmanay an a that

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:31:00-0400

Well it's that time of year again here in Scotland. It's grey, cold and misty outside. It's hard to describe the feelings that this ritual brings out in people. I believe it's quite a different feeling from Christmas but that may just be me, although someone has just expressed that to me on the phone this morning. People tend to have clear preferences for one of the other. It's the two together that tend to be a bit of a killer in terms of emotions, finances, relationships, energy levels. There is usually much scurrying about in the homes,streets and shops as people get ready to see the old year out and the New Year in with wishes for health, happiness and all to be provided for. e.g.the coal, shortbread and blackbun, not to mention the whisky being to the fore. I started my hogmanay as I do every day with some spiritual readings. The last couple of mornings I have also added a dose of Ian Hamilton from his Stone of Destiny book. Very appropriate reading at this time of year as the action takes place between Xmas and New Year in 1950 Britain which is cold,grey and icy. I recommend the book to you. A short, easy read full of action and inspiring thoughts. Here are a couple to whet your appetite. " You do not play games with the symbols of your country, whether they be man, stone or trinkets" "I am a simple Scot and I want my country to take its place in Europe and in the world. We Scots are European, not English, not British." Of himself and his companions who took the stone Ian Hamilton says " We who took the stone willed our people to defend our country. We were idealists. We were grievously young. I have never changed" I can identify with those words. The book also contains a quote from King George V1 address to the nation of Christmas Day 1940 - a great quote to see out the old year and welcome the New Year. "I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, Give me a light that I may tread out into the unknown and the man said to me, Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God, for it is better than a light, and safer than a known way" A hopeful Hogmanay to you all. For those of you in other countries around the world it would be interesting to know how the last day of the old year is marked or celebrated.

Christmas Lessons 1 Buying a Xmas tree

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:24:00-0400

This morning I set off early to purchase a tree-keen to get a good price and checked out a couple of places. A corner shop, not in my locality and a more specialised looking outfit who had set up in a carpark nearby. In the latter case the lights were on and I thought I saw movement in their hut but was not sure they were open. I called back a bit later and they were sort of open, i.e. they were there but did not look keen and also directed me to a list on the wall re sizes and prices. Then the final nail in their coffin-they said they were not really open yet, so I said that I would come back. I did not go back! I did go back to the corner shop and I purchased the tree I had had my eye on. The shopkeeper responded right away to me and when I realised that it was going to be too heavy for me to carry back to the car-he offered a solution. Bring your car to here he said pointing to an area of roadworks and I will pass the tree over the fence for you. Now feeling more happy I raced off for the car and did as he suggested. He was as good as his word and also climbed over the fence to help me put the tree in the car and wished me well. Retailing is hard and this shop I have frequented before, they are open all hours and the whole family work there The other tree sellers were from out of town, obviously did not care and were more focused on the fact that they were not open yet than their customer or their sale. Key messages for retailers and sales staff. Final lesson for me. I did not buy a Bethany Xmas tree this year which has the added bonus of having non shedding needles and also helps the homeless. I may live to regret this decision come 5th January but for now I am happy to have supported a local retailer in tough times. Imagine a Scotland where retailers and customers appreciate each other.