Just back from a welcome break after a hectic start to 2024. As I head to my 60th Birthday (I am still only 59.5) I am taking time to stop and reflect again on my progress towards my ‘retirement’ plans. I need to make better progress this year!
So I spent the last couple of weeks taking some family and friends away who share a similar outlook on life and the definition of success. Ironically neither of them are on Linkedin. Obviously. Each of us have tried to take a path of a balanced and purposeful life avoiding the pursuit of accumulating stuff for its own sake. The others are much better at this than I am, but I am learning from them.
I have learned that people will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Anglou
My mind works at 100% trying to link multiple agendas and getting involved in too many things. I always 8-9 books ‘on the go’ and multiple tabs open on my computer.
It is Saturday morning and after 3 hours of DiY I feel the need to write and share my thoughts. Most of my thoughts are not original but I think I can help some groups I work with understand each other better.
This is what I need to get out of my haed and onto my screen today
Whether it’s for a class presentation in school or a speech at a wedding, public speaking can be nerve-racking. You can overcome a fear of public speaking, though, with a few helpful tips and a lot of practice.
Whilst I am not the greatest public speaker - I am no Obama or Mandela, but I have created my own style and confidence to carry speak in public events over the last 30 years.
I am a long time advocate for maintaining levels of activity so when I say you should follow these guidelines I mean it. Too many sports people and fitness experts on social media and elsewhere love this idea that you can always ‘push on/ through’ You CAN’T. I have seen the consequences of ignoring your body and that’s why we fought so hard against the previous NICE guidelines and want people to understand the importance of PACE
Most importantly, people who experience post-exertional malaise or PEM — worsened symptoms after physical and cognitive exertion — should be advised to rest and pace their activity.
Unfortunately, many people with Long COVID are being encouraged to exercise and get back to work.
When pollsters ask about the top priorities for voters it is always a slight surprise to elected politicians. I have always sensed a slight gap between the policy analysis and voters feeling. They are not always on the same page. But as a politician I used to monitor them closely. Not so we we would always follow the trends, but so we could understand what people were feeling at a particular time. The numbers vary enormously from one year to the next and could depend on the ferocity of newspaper headlines even for a short time.
Health inequalities are entrenched in this country and life expectancy has been getting worse in the poorest areas. This was brutally exposed during the covid pandemic when people under 65 in the poorest parts of the country were four times more likely to die. Now, as we face the cost of living crisis and the NHS faces increased pressures, we risk things becoming worse still.
I have finally decided to start tidying up my past photos and documents from my time in parliament between 1997 and 2010! It has taken 13 years to decide to tackle the pile of rubbish I have had in the garage for 13 years after having to close down my office and lay off my team in 2010. The paperwork will start being shredded over the Summer!
I have written numerous times about one of my favourite books - The Freedom of Simplicity by Richard Foster. Whilst its a faith based book the lessons can be translated into a secular context.
At times in my life I have become aware that I have worried about what others may think of me, when straying from the lesson of this book. You need to be the true version of yourself and not try to impress others with a false image of yourself.
I am currently in the transition phase of ‘retirement’ as many of you know! I am taking longer breaks away from my volunteering, taking less paid gigs and disappearing from social media for longer periods. I don’t feel the need to post every day to capture attention!
I am pretty sure most people heading to the Polls next week for local elections are not really thinking much about the structure of our authorities and the devolution debate. In fact we know about 60% of people probably wont even be bothered to vote in many wards.
The devolution debate is hardly a policy area to generate much excitement beyond the policy makers, and local authority officials and elected members? I am not so sure anymore. I see much more interest in communities and business about what greater local powers could mean to empower local communities.
Niksen “literally means to do nothing, to be idle or doing something without any use,”
After another break idling my time away in Tuscany avoiding emails and 'work' I think for some time I managed to reach a state of 'Niksen'. But it takes effort!
Too often in the past I have said "Yes I am away but you can email me and I will deal with it" As a public servant I did feel I needed to be available 24/7 and probably quite rightly so - up to a point!
We have to learn why the same countries head up the world happiness league consistently!
It is not by accident. They pursue policies of wellbeing and tied to greater equality and equity. In one sense it isn’t rocket science.
I have been reading and writing a lot about wellbeing recently. It is not new to me but I seem to have a deeper understanding and relationship with the topic. When I left Parliament I wanted to pursue x major issues: International development, Sport and physical Activity Policy, Economic development AND Wellbeing policies.
As I spend more time working on these I realise now that Wellbeing is the extra topic I want to pursue but the golden thread that runs through the others.
In much of my work there is quite rightly a big emphasis on tackling inequalities and working towards equity across a wide range of recognised characteristics as recognised by the 201 Equalities Act.
However, as research continues to show social class remains one of the most important determinants of life chance, Of course there is always a wide range of intersectionality with the issue if equity but I always feel it necessary to make sure this is not lost when debating inequalities across society.
As this Report highlights - Social Class is still the biggest barrier!
As usual I don’t really bring much that is original to the debate around Wellbeing. There are experts, books, institutions and impressive individuals doing a much more impressive job. All I can do is amplify the message into the areas I work in politics, sport, physical activity and economic regeneration. In each the ‘wellbeing’ debate are vital but sadly largely overlooked.
This Talk ahead of the launch of the latest book from Richard Layard is well worth a listen, as it addresses the wider issues and provides the hard data to show why we should all take this seriously as a policy area!
As part of my continued obsession with tackling inequalities and poverty this is another timely report about the role of ‘Place’ in that vicious circle.
Health inequalities are entrenched in this country and life expectancy has been getting worse in the poorest areas. This was brutally exposed during the covid pandemic when people under 65 in the poorest parts of the country were four times more likely to die. Now, as we face the cost of living crisis and the NHS faces increased pressures, we risk things becoming worse still. This report focuses on healthy life expectancy (HLE) - the age which people can expect to reach in good health. This research was designed to support the stated ambition of the government: “By 2030, the gap in healthy life expectancy (HLE) between local areas where it is highest and lowest will have narrowed, and by 2035 HLE will rise by 5 years.”
It may be rather tedious to spend time considering ‘how’ to deliver policy rather than working on the new ideas for many people involved in politics. After all those energised enough to get involved in politics are usually impatient to change the world to match their ideological perspective. In recent years it has become even more pronounced that chasing headlines have become more important than delivery. But this can only get you so far!
When we talk about investing in Green Technology and a sustainable economy we underestimate how significant the UK's Green Skills Gap really is.
Many of our local leaders have recognised this but it needs a national strategy and funding if we are to reach our dual goals of Net Zero and an inclusive and sustainable economy.
This New Economics Foundation report couldn't be more timely as we wrestle with this issue. LLEP
The Impact of Local Government Funding Cuts on Public Services
Local government is responsible for delivering a range of vital public services, such as social care, housing, education, transport, waste management and libraries. However, these services have been severely affected by funding cuts from central government over the past decade.
Like millions I am excited by what AI can mean for society, but still remain wary so I have given it a go.
Below is the text of a blog I asked it to write on Devolution deals. Not exactly what I wanted but it took me 5 seconds to ask and about 10 seconds to produce!
What do you think?
