Face masks are the new socks

My first proper post

Hi everybody. Hope you've had a great week and enjoyed the bright weather (at least for me) today.

What have I been up to this week? Had a History test which went ok. I felt it was harder than my End-of-Year exams in June.

Played a cricket match after 3 weeks! Wasn't sure how it would go. It could have gone like my first match this season (3 overs, 2 maidens, 2-1) or could have been horrific. In the end, despite mainly being a bowler, my most significant contribution came with the bat.

It was the final of the Warwickshire Premier League. Batting first (against our will), the batsmen didn't get the runs required. We finished runners-up after dominating throughout the group stages. A sad way to finish what has been a successful year of cricket, for me, personally, but also for my team.

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Anyways, that's done and dusted; what do I have to tell you this week?

The subject line's inspired by a thought I had this week when drying my batch of clothes. I have a total of 6 reusable face coverings and yet, like socks, they've kept disappearing!

Another thought I'd like to leave everybody on is...gratitude for the simplest of things in life. Earlier in the week, at lunchtime, one of my friends at school, Raheel, complained that the tortilla wrap in his chicken wrap was slightly moist and he seemed to be making a fuss of it.

Me (being the wise sage I am 😉) told him that he should be grateful that:

• he is able to eat food

• he has the choice to pick what he wants to

• the food pod hadn’t ran out of wraps

(you get the gist). Thinking back on it, there could be so many other things he could be grateful for: having a seat to eat, the weather for not raining etc

My point is, when all seems down and lost, try to come up with 3, just 3, things that you have that somebody might not. I challenge you to mindfully have a go at that this week; I can guarantee that you won’t regret it.

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Book of the week 📖

Still reading “Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World” by Danny Penman, J. Mark G. Williams, and Mark Williams. Been a little sloppy this week with the reading but some good insights so far.

Podcast of the week🎙️

Laura Vanderkam on her short-form Before Breakfast podcast this week. On Thursday, she argued that planning doesn’t take time - it makes time. She proposes a way to prepare for weeks ahead towards the end.

Article of the week📰

I read this one on holiday last month (yes, I read productivity articles on holiday. So what??) and found it fascinating. Seriously, some useful tips - https://www.nirandfar.com/motivation-hacks/

Here are my notes from it (no cheating though, worth the time to read!)

Quote of the week💬

“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.” - Maya Angelou

Have a great week everybody! I’ll see you next Sunday

Adi