In a well-known and well-loved story George Fox the Quaker founder was consulted by William Penn who was concerned about whether he should continue wearing his sword, something that was customary amongst people of rank at that time. George Fox replied ‘‘I advise thee to wear it as long as thou canst.’ Some time later William Penn […]
Being pretty, attractive, beautiful …
A friend tells me that her grandmother said to her, ‘You may not be pretty, but you are attractive’. I am not sure what I might have felt if someone had said that to me when I was young, but was her grandmother was on to something? Would you, would I, […]
Philosophers, scientists, politicians, poets and musicians, as well as each of us, will have our own idea of what happiness is. Is it ‘feeling good’, or experiencing satisfaction for your life? Is it getting what you want in life, or perhaps living according to your values? It may be that it is a combination of […]
One of my favourite books is ‘Happiness is a warm puppy’ by Charles Schulz – what wisdom! In it, Snoopy and his friends identify what makes them happy – everything from ‘scoffing junk food’ to ‘climbing a tree’, to ‘finding someone you like at the front door’. Looking through it, for the first time in […]
Research suggests that being able to forgive may lead to greater wellbeing and better physical health. Where does forgiveness come from, and can we do anything to help it along? Some in a discussion group I attend believe that ‘forgiveness comes through grace’. There is something attractive in this notion as it suggests we cannot […]
Do you hold grudges? I am sorry to say that sometimes I do. Grudges can feel like a real burden but at the same time can be really difficult to let go. They can also affect the quality of life in the present. Of course, there can be small everyday irritations. There can also be times […]
We are all different, in many wonderful ways. And one difference is in the unique set of strengths or gifts that we each hold. Do you know what makes you unique? As a positive psychologist and coach, I embraced the notion of strengths in my work – how to identify them, how to make the most […]
I have heard that it can take many years for someone to walk into a Quaker meeting for the first time, and for some, it can take courage. Recently a number of us reflected on what brought us to Quakers. Amongst us, there are Friends who first came to meeting decades ago, people who have only recently […]
Today the snow has come. It’s looking very beautiful but has meant cancelling a visit this morning to someone I have not seen for some time. Another friend is also snowed in. We were due to meet tomorrow in town midway between our homes, and so this has also been postponed. However, on the bright […]