Dry Your Eyes, Mate

Anyone out there feeling low or a little blue? 

Well, if you are, you might want to try a wonderful book called The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin (http://www.happiness-project.com/). 

This charming little book is helping me to understand some of the disappointment and unhappiness in my life and cope with it better. 

One part I've particularly enjoyed is the 'Enjoy the Fun of Failure' section in the 'March' chapter on work. In it, Gretchen recounts how her fear of failure had stood between her and success. She highlights how she had had articles rejected, ideas turned down and work criticised.

Promisingly, she shows us that failure doesn't have to be bad. Instead of losing hope, Gretchen overcame her fear of rejection and, by by doing so, created new opportunities for herself.

I've applied for several jobs now and not been able to bring home the bacon, but I know I will do some day. 'Enjoy the Fun of Failure' has taught me to see disappointment differently:

• Every application is an opportunity, or may lead to one elsewhere
• Every problem is a chance to test your limitations
• Rejection is a chance to learn something new - about yourself or about someone or something else.

So I'll keep on applying until someone utters those magical words: 'You're hired!' Sometime soon, hopefully! Meanwhile, I'm off to roller-blade away my latest disappointment!

Bring on the next one!

What Rollerblading Has Taught Me About Life

Putting a fall before my pride, at long last I've strapped on my helmet and protective pads and took to my rollerblades. Righteous, dude...!

I'd love to say I was at one with my blades, gliding gracefully up and down the street, the blades just an extension of myself -- but I wasn't and they weren't. There, in the stillness of the street, I schmoozled along... rollerblading's equivalent of a tractor on a country lane. 

Thankfully the street itself isn't too wide, so I didn't cause any tailbacks. Cars drove past me without me falling over, kids zipped past me on their bikes and scooters, and people no doubt sniggered as they disappeared into the Redcar sunset.

But who cares? Not me. Ever persevering and ever so slightly, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Not that I can hit Redcar's pathways for a while yet, but practice will one day catapult me something above mediocre!

Meanwhile, not only am I learning how to use the blades. In the process, I'm learning not to care about:

• if others think the worst - let them mock or criticise if they wish...
• the time factor - all good things will come eventually
• the age factor - you're never too old. 

Out there on my blades, I'm loving the experience, the learning, and I'm getting some much needed exercise. Never mind the X Factor: I've got the feel good factor! I feel alive!  

If you're in the 'I'd love to try that some day' predicament, act now instead of waiting for 'someday'. I wholeheartedly recommend it. 

Why wait any longer to hit that high?

We're Gonna Be Elected

Just when I thought this blog was about to go bare today, somebody dropped some inspiration through my letterbox: a campaign letter for the local elections! Hurrah!

The election campaign is in full swing and the parties are out canvassing. Labour were the first to hear what I thought: that getting through my Cracker box set that Saturday afternoon was more important to me! 

Being a specialist in marketing texts, I welcomed this charming little leaflet which was offering me a free lesson in persuasive writing. In trying to win my vote it showed me a few do's and don't's.

Brownie points go to it for:

• Homing in on people's main reasons to vote against other local parties. Some research has led to some decent copy.
• Giving facts and figures.
• Asking questions
• Using simple language. There are some gorgeous phrases in there!

However, it gets parking tickets for:

• 'Knocking' copy - though it's (rightly) taking a pop at other parties, it's also giving them free publicity.
• A lack of anticipation - voters are cynical. Copy must address all possible objections.
• Slightly sloppy punctuation - sometimes the rules can be ignored, others they can't. Funny old game is writing, innit!

Though this leaflet hasn't won my vote, it's certainly done my writing some good. The others will as well.

So hey, parties might not have figured out their purpose yet, but maybe they can still serve us. I just hope their election leaflets and letters are being printed on recycled paper though...