The red shoes never fail to disappoint. They connect me to fascinating  people and the life lessons and insights just keep coming.

Sshh  – Don’t tell them but I’ve figured out their magic.

Here it is.

I’m always fully present when I wear them …laying in wait for  that extraordinary thing to happen. Being in the moment allows me to see all kinds of wonderful things that I would have missed otherwise.

Next…When we expect great things to happen…….they do.

I’m betting I look open and friendly – an invitation to approach. As humans we long to connect with one another but often we need a conenctor piece….enter the red shoes…the catalyst for contact.

There you have it….the magician’s secret is out and it’s not trickery.

In Bali…the red shoes connected me  to fascinating people from all over the world.

Many were ‘older’ but had the youthful look of someone decades younger. It got me thinking.

Ever notice how some people remain ageless throughout their lives?  They are vibrant and quick…they laugh readily…their faces seem to glow with health despite the number of birthdays.

We can assume they eat a healthy diet, get regular exercise and have a well honed funny bone and I’m sure they would all describe themselves (as the people in Bali did) as lifelong learners.

Lifelong learners are permanently poised at the gates of learning.

They are curious, questioning and always picking up on something new. If something grabs their attention, a fresh round of questions form and they’re off on a mission to find out more. They take classes, love to engage in conversation with people of all ages and backgrounds, read a diverse range of topics and travel whenever they can. The world is their classroom.  They continually push the boundaries of what they know, grapple with new ideas and find joy in expanding and stretching themselves.

reACTION [to change in the response to stimulus]: Curriculum of Me

Six months ago I started what I named The Curriculum of Me. The purpose is to create a loose structure for the on-going growth and evolution of ME. I engage in it one full day a week (ok…sometimes it’s 2 half days). I have found many resources but my favourite go-to source is TED talks. There are thousands of riveting talks by remarkable people who are today’s innovators and  thought leaders AND it’s free to the world. The range of topics is endless. I make a point to watch not only those that are of immediate interest (design/psychology/entertainment) but those outside of my ‘zone’ (science/technology).

TED talks will amaze.  The learning will excite you.  Your horizons will be stretched. You will feel alive.