Happiness

  • In Search of Silver

    This walk takes place in mid-March, starting in Druidale, in the central hills of the Isle of Man. As Spring awakes, something too awakes in me. A fresh breeze stirs in my chest, and I feel the need to get out there, into nature. As much, in fact, as is humanly possible.

  • Stop and smell the roses (and the wildflowers too!)

    Stop and smell the roses (and the wildflowers too!)

    This picture was taken the other day as I was on a quick stroll. Oxeye Daisies never fail to uplift. A couple of years ago I might have appreciated wildflowers with only my eyes. These days, I also take a moment to appreciate their scent…

  • Climbing a hill to find a big sky…

    Climbing a hill to find a big sky…

    The sun shines, I have a spare hour, and I feel drawn to climb a hill. I don’t feel like driving so I head out the door and just start walking. The nearest hill borders the town on one side, and the sea on the other. Today I’ll be walking along its landside. I have…

  • Casting shade…

    Casting shade…

    The more you judge, the worse you feel. Research shows that developing a non-judgemental attitude significantly improves our happiness and general well-being.

  • A miniature jungle

    A miniature jungle

    This is another shot from my allotment. I know, I know. Weeds – the gardener’s nightmare. But I love it. If you get your head down low and take a few moments just to observe, you begin to see so much.

  • Red Campion at my allotment

    Red Campion at my allotment

    I returned to my allotment for the first time in a little while. Things have been busy, and so, it would seem, have the wildflowers.

  • Country lane daydreaming

    Country lane daydreaming

    It’s the middle of May and I’m walking along a beautiful country lane. I’ve got a quick half an hour to stretch my legs before getting home to work. The air is warm. The breeze, floral and sweet.

  • How I boosted my immune system and reduced morning anxiety

    How I boosted my immune system and reduced morning anxiety

    Okay, I didn’t think in a million years I’d be recommending this tip, and yet here I am. But I can tell you now, this one habit has made a huge difference to my daily life—in a variety of crucial areas.

  • Paddling on a hot afternoon

    Paddling on a hot afternoon

    It’s amazing how much colder the water is if you stand in the fast moving flows compared with the wider, slower sections. Needless to say, we splash over toward burbling cascades by the rocks.

  • Walking thoughts: Of scent and sap.

    Walking thoughts: Of scent and sap.

    I came upon this little patch of wilderness on my travels yesterday and was transfixed by the complexity of every level of life. In the distance, the fields and scrubland teemed with insects, wildflowers and birdsong. The air shimmered with the mid-afternoon heat.

  • How perceived time pressure affects our lives

    How perceived time pressure affects our lives

    If you feel pressed for time on a daily basis, then you’re probably experiencing time poverty, and it’s a huge problem in society.

  • Quiet connections in a woodland glade

    Quiet connections in a woodland glade

    The air was suffused with message-carrying scents and invisible instructions inside grains of pollen. Under my feet, I was aware there must be a knotted network of root and mycelium. And, breathing in this earthy air, I too felt a deep sense of peaceful connection.