Recently I was asked what advice I would share - something that made a difference to my success. It isn't advice as such, it is more of a cultural approach. I don't know where or how I acquired these nuggets, but there are two quotes that resonate when I think about what it takes to succeed:

‘No man is an island’

(John Donne, 1624)

‘The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair.’

(Mary Heaton Vorse, 1911)

I do a lot of writing. It is a solitary activity, but I find it is better done in good company. One of the gifts of the Covid years has been the discovery of co working. Previously I veered away from it because there were aspects of working in an office that I generally found quite trying. Co working in a local brewery and virtually online has been a game changer for me. Community matters! Working in good company has enabled me to more joyfully keep the seat of my pants on my chair.

As humans, we are social animals.

The other gift of the Covid years, via the controlled conditions of deprivation of human contact, was a deeper understanding of what it truly is to be in relationship with others. Usually, it is deeply unethical to study humans in this way due to the inevitable mental health injuries... many of us are still picking up the pieces.

Have you noticed how the landscape for socialising has shifted? For instance, people don’t just call anymore, they email or message to arrange a time to have a call. What is that all about? How can we get back to being more naturally social?

Which brings me back to the ‘no man is an island’ quote. Utilising the unwelcome insights into what happens to us when we don’t have a healthy range of social connections and activities, I created a 'Purposeful Community Workbook'. It is designed to help you to curate your community of personal connections in a way that is nourishing and suits your current needs.

The book will help you to analyse what it is that you need & want (and what you don’t) to confirm what will best serve you. As this is vitality work, you are encouraged to work congruently with your values (purpose) and to be honest with yourself about how much time and energy you have to make and enjoy these connections (capacity).

If you can do only one thing to make a significant difference to your vitality, what would that be?

Get your copy of ‘The Purposeful Community Workbook’.

No man is an island,

Entire of itself.

Each is a piece of the continent,

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thine own

Or of thine friend's were.

Each man's death diminishes me,

For I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know

For whom the bell tolls,

It tolls for thee.