Being Brilliant!

Just read an interesting book about being exactly that.  I have read my fair share of 'thinky' books, prefer that term to 'self-help' as that always gives the impression of being not quite the full ticket, and this was right up there with the best of them.  A little paperback with real life examples to help the reader relate coupled with a commitment to avoid academic language made the 138 page read a pleasure. 

So, the story of being brilliant is told through a very passionate circus ringmaster and his battle to keep the circus alive.  It was easy to relate to the chap on a number of levels, the frustrations, the passion, the lack of perspective from being so close to something and the genuine desire to make a difference, but not knowing how. 

The chapters whizz through the mistakes made and provided some neat little lessons learned.  The descriptions of people and circumstances were cute and the term 'energy vampire' will stay with me for years to come, no doubt when in the company of one when I next hit the office.  I turned over the final page and felt re-energised, super positive and ready to conquer the world; my mantra of 'making a difference' was reaffirmed by this little gem of a book. 

However, positive thinking and being brilliant will only get you so far when you are not in charge...next step, find a 'thinky' book about office politics, specifically working your way to the top without losing your marbles, morals and backbone!  Does this book exist?  #answersonapostcard

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are chalenged to change ourselves." - Viktor E Frankl

We want to live forever.....

...or do we?

Life is an incredible journey; you collect your mixed bag of genes when you leave the womb and pass through the maternity unit and add to your traits and skills with a combination of lessons learned and lessons earned. From there you are thrown into this world and expected to cope with the daily grind that is life.... So what counts?

Well, school teaches you that learning is important, sport teaches you to work hard and play fair, work teaches you the opposite, love teaches you to open your heart and become selfless....and just when you think that you have figured out what counts and why, you are presented with the very thing that ends life; death.

Death...horrible to write, even worse to mouth...the ending of something. Coming to realise that you are fallible, especially after years of figuring out how to survive in this big bad world makes me wonder why we all bother. That does sound dramatic, but when faced with something that you cannot control it makes me wonder why we want to spend the majority of our lives working towards being in control of our destiny.

I guess it happens to us all in the end, but it doesn't mean that coming to terms with it gets any easier. After experiencing some sad news it really makes you appreciate all the good stuff and put things into perspective. Time to start living for the today.