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Get stuck into a good novel, read more to your children, flip through a magazine, start a journal, write a story of your own… what will this inspire you to do this weekend?

Download a hi-res version here.

 

 

Andrew Stanton’s TED Talk: The clue to a good story

Some of my earliest and most treasured memories are of being tucked up in bed, listening to mum or dad read to me. I couldn’t wait for story time because I knew I’d get to spend time in some magical fantasy faraway land before drifting off to sleep.

It is in our DNA to love a good story. These words, in an advert by Sky Atlantic, summarise just why stories can be so powerful: “Stories, we all spend our lives telling them, about this, about that, about people… but some, some stories are so good we wish they’d never end. They’re so gripping that we’ll go without sleep just to see a little bit more. Some stories bring us laughter and sometimes they bring us tears… but isn’t that what a great story does – Makes you feel? Stories that are so powerful… they really are with us forever.”

Today we invite you to immerse yourself in the world of words, unleash your creativity and discover the power of a good story for yourself. Here’s how:

1)    Dive into the book you’ve been meaning to read for weeks

2)    Take a trip to your local library, browse to your heart’s content and be inspired

3)    Put pen to paper and write! A short story, your very first blog post, begin that best seller!

4)    Visit your local bookstore and treat yourself to a new read

5)    Make a cuppa, relax and enjoy that audio book

6)    Write a book review, send it to your local newspaper or magazine and see what happens!

Need some more inspiration? Watch filmmaker Andrew Stanton’s TED talk.

“Storytelling is medicine for the spirit and healing for the soul.” – Linda Goss

 

“For many years I lived with a guarded heart. I did not know how to extend love and compassion to myself. In my fortieth year that began changing. As I grew to love all of who I am, life started changing in beautiful and mysterious ways. My heart softened and I began to see through different eyes.”

This is the introduction to the beautifully simple and inspiring little book of wisdom, When I loved myself enough, by Kim McMillen. In it, Kim shares her tips for living in peace and joy and by the end her message is clear: our time on earth is limited, we are never alone, and the key to loving others is to first love ourselves.

It’s great advice, yet many of us don’t know what it means to love ourselves – to really, truly love ourselves. Instead of nurturing ourselves we compare ourselves to others, tell ourselves that we’re not good enough and complain that we don’t look or sound the way we’d like to. Often we don’t believe that we’re actually worth loving. The reality is that we are more than good enough, we’re all perfect in our own unique way and we’re definitely worth loving!

Feeling worthy requires us to see ourselves with fresh eyes of self-awareness. Rather than looking outwards and seeking approval from the rest of the world, we need to spend more time being quiet, looking inwards and listening to the only voice that really matters – our loving, caring, nurturing inner voice.

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From my 2002 photo album

Fifteen years ago someone took a chance on me, a recent graduate living in Japan in my early twenties. I found myself as Employee Number Five in a tiny start up company that would grow to hundreds of staff in the space of three years. We were the FIFA World Cup Accommodation Bureau for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and a case of being ‘in the right place at the right time’ saw me in charge of all the accommodation for all the professional teams playing in one of the biggest sporting events on earth. And if that weren’t enough, a few months later I was also given responsibility for all the ticketing in one of the World Cup venues. Looking back it was complete madness.

Yesterday saw Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Twelve years before, at the 2002 World Cup Final, I had been sat in the stadium cheering for Brazil (as England were long gone). This time I was sat at home with my baby asleep on the rug in front of me, a world away from the craziness of the 2002 tournament 12 years before. And it made me think of this…

You are not a sum of the job titles you have had, or the companies you have worked for. Having experiences is so important, but having exactly the right experience is not always necessary. When I found myself, at the age of 25, with a staff of 20, three mobile phones and ticketing responsibility for a stadium of 50,000 seats, it wasn’t because I had done that job before. It was because I was cheeky, keen, willing to learn,  and up for anything. It was because I took a deep breath and asked a friend of a friend to introduce me to the guy who eventually gave me my job. It was because I knew I wanted to be part of something amazing, and I went after it.

So many things have come out of that experience. In fact, without it I would have had a completely different career path, not to mention never having met the mother of my god-daughter (who was the friend-of-a-friend who got me the job and then offered me her spare room until I found somewhere to live).

Sometimes jobs can be exciting. Sometimes they are dull. Sometimes they stretch us. Sometimes they are mind-numbingly simple. But there is something to be taken from each and every one of them, whether that is learning some new skill, meeting someone who will be important in your life, or even discovering what you DON’T want to feel like at work.

However you feel about your job right now, think about how you can make the most of the situation you are in to learn something, try something, or build one more connection before, perhaps, you move on. And if you love your job, take a moment to think about all the twists and turns, the steps and the bold moves that got you there. What a journey!

 

 

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Our small (and perfectly formed!) team is growing by the day… I’m delighted to introduce you to the newest member of the Do What You Love family, Henry Titley. Henry will be taking on the role of Business Analyst here at DWYL HQ. He’s at a pivotal point in his life when his decisions and subsequent actions will dictate the path he follows and the person he’ll become. We’re thrilled that he has chosen to join us and we’re excited about working with him to elevate the company and his life to new heights! – MR K

On top of the world: Henry is thrilled to be part of the Do What You Love team

Never happier than when he’s out exploring mountains, oceans or even the local countryside, Henry loves a challenge. He’s in his element when he’s lacing up his walking boots, strapping on his skis or jumping on his bike to discover somewhere new. He says: “Nothing beats an adventure; whether it’s alone or with friends or family, adventures are what make life so exciting.

Out-going and open-minded, Henry thrives on trying new things. He enjoys new experiences, learning new skills, listening to other people’s points of view and researching places he’s never been to before. When he’s not seeing the world he can be found in his back garden, map or book in hand, dreaming about his next crazy expedition and planning how he’ll make it a reality.

“I left a good job in the city after 15 years because I wanted every day of my life to be enjoyable, not just my days off. I realised that I was never going to achieve all the things that I wanted to in life by sitting behind a desk, working for big corporations. It was time for a change.

After hearing all about Beth and Paul’s adventures abroad and their philosophy of living a life of doing what you love, the opportunity to work with them was far to good to miss. I’m so happy to be involved in something that excites me and that I believe in so passionately. And what’s more, it doesn’t involve commuting on crowded tube trains or sitting in an air-conditioned office!

Over the years I’ve come to realise that there is a point to everything; decisions matter, what you do today shapes your tomorrow and above all every day is yours to be enjoyed. For me being part of Do What You Love, which helps people to achieve whatever they want to in life, is as worthwhile as it gets.”

 

On my happy list this month… lovely surprises! Earlier this week I received a box of gorgeously wrapped goodies from my sister, including a beautiful card and some craft supplies to inspire me to be creative. I was so touched by her random act of kindness. How can you surprise someone you love today?

Each month we share a free downloadable ‘Happy List’ as a place for you to capture the things – small and big – that have made you smile and feel inspired each day. Get yours here.

Wishing you a July filled with sunshine and joy,

Rachel

There comes a day when each of us decides to put fears and excuses aside. A day when we decide to listen to our heart – and follow it. And a day when we decide to take those first small steps towards making our wildest dreams come true.

Let today be that day for you.

The Great Diary Project – V&A Museum of Childhood

Dolls, daydreams and diaries… we all remember what it was like to be little. And this summer the Museum of Childhood in London is celebrating all those things and more with an inspiring showcase of story-themed exhibitions and displays designed to take us on a trip down memory lane.

One of the many highlights is ‘The Great Diary Project’ which features diaries from 1813 to 1996 and focuses on the lives of children at particular moments in history. From tales of bedbugs during the Napoleonic Wars to coded accounts of wild teenage behaviour during the Blitz, it’s a fascinating insight into how attitudes have changed over time and how peoples’ unique voices can be captured so beautifully in this very private kind of writing.

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