Happiness is a habit - `Today I am thankful'

“Happiness is a habit – cultivate it.” ~  Elbert Hubbard

Happiness is one aspiration all people share. No one wants to be sad and depressed.

We have all seen people who are always happy – even amidst agonizing life trials. I’m not saying happy people don’t feel grief, sorrow or sadness;they just don’t let it overtake their life. That's right you can feel greatly sad but don't let it overwhelm you.

The following are 10 things happy people make a habit of doing:


1. Appreciate Life
Be thankful that you woke up alive each morning. Develop a childlike sense of wonder towards life.Focus on the beauty of every living thing. Make the most of each day. Don’t take anything for granted. Don’t sweat the small stuff. The fact that you are alive makes each day special

2. Choose Friends Wisely
Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values and goals. Friends that have the same ethics as you will encourage you to achieve your dreams. They help you to feel good about yourself. They are there to lend a helping hand when needed.

3. Be Considerate
Accept others for who they are as well as where they are in life. Appreciate them for who they are,Respect them for who they are.Touch them with a kind and generous spirit. Help when you are able, without trying to change the other person. Try to brighten the day of everyone you come into contact with.

4. Learn Continuously
Keep up to date with the latest news regarding your career and hobbies. Try new and daring things
that has sparked your interest – such as dancing, skiing, surfing or sky-diving.

5. Creative Problem Solving
Don’t wallow in self-pity. As soon as you face a challenge get busy finding a solution. Don’t let the
set backs affect your mood, instead see each new obstacle you face as an opportunity to make a
positive change. Learn to trust your gut instincts – it’s almost always right.

6. Do What They Love
Some statistics show that 80% of people dislike their jobs! No wonder there’s so many unhappy
people running around. We spend a great deal of our life working. Choose a career that you enjoy. Get up every morning and be happy that you are a part of the larger working world.

7. Enjoy  Life
Take the time to see the beauty around you. There’s more to life than work. Take time to smell the roses, watch a sunset or sunrise with a loved one, take a walk along the seashore, hike in the
woods. The sunlight filtering through the trees is different each day, you just have to notice.Learn to live in the present moment and cherish it. Don’t live in the past or the future. The Now is important

8.Laugh
Don’t take yourself – or life to seriously. You can find humor in just about any situation. Laugh at yourself – no one’s perfect. When appropriate laugh and make light of the circumstances.

9. Forgive
Holding a grudge will hurt no one but you. Forgive others for your own peace of mind. When you
make a mistake – own up to it – learn from it – and FORGIVE yourself. That is really important you too can make mistakes and guess what it is okay when you do.


10. Gratitude

Develop an attitude of gratitude. Count your blessings; All of them – even the things that seem
trivial. Be grateful for your home, your work and most importantly your family and friends. Take the
time to tell them that you are happy they are in your life.

Remembering Nelson Mandela

South Africa hosted the cricket world cup in 2003 and I was a part of the television crew that covered it for ESPN.
It gave me the opportunity to see the change that Nelson Mandela had on a nation. He did unite a nation and made them move forward in a single motion.

I also visited his home in Soweto and it was overwhelming. The house was living and breathing memory if the man who lived there.Anyone you spoke to in South Africa felt they knew Nelson Mendala and loved him for what he did for the Nation.They may not have been born during that time but they still felt the affect he had on them

I also visited the prison in Robben Island, our guide was an ex-prisoner and he showed us Nelson Mendela's cell.So small that if you stretched out your arms out it would touch the walls on either side. A single window, to look out from. A single mat to sleep on. He was special because he will always be the only one. He spent 27 years there and had no resentment or anger against his captors. That is inner strength.

Nelson Mandela will always be a inspiration to future generations. And never be forgotten.
"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

Nelson Mandela

My Hair Smells Like the Piccadilly Line

Have been commuting by the London tube for about 7 years now, and "rush hour" is the worst. The London tube runs from East to West and North to South, it is what keeps London moving and functions as an artery of the city. It also makes you impatient and irritable. Besides making your clothes and hair smell, as you inviting pressed against the millions of other commuters.

"Rush hour" is when everyone is trying to get to work for the auspicious time of 9.00 am, and you really need to get on that tube. So out of the way suckers!!! One of the tube lines in London is called the Piccadilly line and runs from the north to the south. It has quite an interesting run actually from a suburb called " Cockfosters"( yes I know it does exist) to Heathrow Terminals 1,2 3 and sometimes 4 and 5.It looks pretty much like the picture below. Smelly armpits, stale breath, someones snack in you hair, and it gets worse.





During the winter its the smelly coats, and the fact that the hygiene standard falls i.e. The thought is why should I have a shower or wake up slightly early to have, what a shower? Have you seen how dark it out there, even the sun is not up. Love it when someone takes action ( see image below) and makes people aware " You Mr, yes you... You stink"





Back to my hair, so there is a particular smell, that my hair has mid week. And I wondered for a long time, what is this, strange!! After much investigation the conclusion that I have come to is it is the Piccadilly line.
Hence the title " My Hair Smells Like the Piccadilly Line"

Reasons why I love Christmas in London

There is something in the air when Christmas is near. You can feel it all around you. The decorative lights in Oxford Street, Regent Street and Convent Garden come on, all the big brands compete to put on a show.
Mulled wine is back Yes!!love it.  The smell of roasted chestnuts. The Christmas markets. The cold that you feel on your nose. Santa , who can forget him. The best part is the Christmas tree in Trafalgar square and the singing of the Christmas carols. And of course the continuing bets on if it will be a white christmas.

Everyone has a spring in their steps and for once Londoners are not complaining about the weather or the travel !!! And just like Christmas that happens only once a year !!!

Saving Mr Banks; A story to watch

For many years now I have been a fan of Mary Poppins.

So " Saving Mr Banks" was a film I really wanted to see. Starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and based in 1964 Hollywood. It is a great movie  for anyone who has been a fan of Mary Poppins, the nanny with powers, and a brocade bag.This blog is not a review on the film it is just a commentary on the fact that all our experiences make us who we are. And we all need be a delusional sometimes to face our reality. So was P.L. Travers delusional? And did Walt Disney, the man who made the world laugh by creating the most famous mouse in the world " Mickey Mouse" understand that and get P.L.Travers to share Mary Poppins with the world.
These are questions which need thought and frankly I don't think there is right answer. But I have to say even if you are not a "Mary Poppins" fan and have never read a book, it does not matter the movie" Saving Mr Banks" is about human interaction, life and how experiences in our childhood live in the deep recess of our mind and they surface when we have trigger them unwittingly.

Watch the trailer for " Saving Mr Banks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujxpk2IdDmM 







The original movie was made before my time, but I remember watching it many years later and thought yes this imagination.
 " Mary Poppins" was a movie made by Walt Disney in 1964. A great feel good movie. Its worth a peek. It will make you smile
If you have never seen it click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3zAbQ0aMK8

Perils of travelling in London

Today was a great day. Read a fantastic book one of my favourites by Brian Weiss " Many Soul Many Bodies". Attended a course on Agile; and was told to roll Agile out across my organisation.

So in my mental state of blissfulness, I boarded a train to go to Hatfield (well its a satellite town of London). This was for a romantic meal with the Mr. Now must say I was walking on sunshine yes , though its winter cold and dark.


Anyway after passing many small villages Read: Hadley Wood, I thought let me do a Google to see if my London zone 1 to 6 travel card will do for the travel. I know, I know a bit late in the day but hey who is perfect. Finally after painful trawling the intermittent internet Trip Advisor, I repeat Trip Advisor finally gave me the information that yes I did need a ticket and it will cost me £4 to top up my current travel card.I thought they must have an oyster card reader at the Hatfield. Seriously they must have oyster everyone does.

Sadly to my dismay I arrived at Hatfield , NO OYSTER CARD READER OMG only tickets and a very rude First Capital Connect member of staff. He looked at me and said " this is not a valid ticket." I said " Yup, I know your website does not have details, So I have just found out."

He said " Well you cannot travel with out a ticket!" I was getting angry I said " I have not travelled without a ticket I have a ticket it is was till zone 5. Can I pay the difference."  " No"  he said "pay the fine." I was being treated as a criminal and was not enjoying it. I will pay I thought but I will get you. I said " here" paying him the money (£20 for a small mistake as there was no information) so angry. And I want to appeal He said " Oh you can Google that" At this point I did loose the plot " What is the point of this piece of paper if it does not have appeal details."

Lessons for the customer service staff of First Capital Connect, get a crash course in etiquette and manners or you will see a mob of angry commuters