You may have noticed that the WOM dropped off the radar a while back. (Or you may not have noticed!)

There are no really good reasons for this. I simply allowed life to get in the way and justified my inactivity by telling myself that building and decorating in my new house were too time-consuming and I was over-tired and needed a break. That changes in WOM personnel made life too difficult to continue. That not enough people were interested in what I had to say. That being rushed off to hospital and operated on made it impossible to do everything I wanted and something would have to suffer – and WOM was the prime candidate.

However, I have given up all that drivel and will be resuming my diary/blog and video activities forthwith. As ever, my intention will be to offer you new options, insights and ways of looking at things so you have more fun and freedom and are happier and more fulfilled in your life.

So what is my contribution for now? Simply to point out that life overtakes you only if you allow it; if you use events as an excuse for inaction. What did Lennon say? That life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans? Well that’s fine, so long as you don’t let it stop you doing those other things.

How could I possibly claim lack of time to produce a 3-minute video? That a minor change to our structure is so disruptive that I can’t write a half-page blog? That I need more than one person to benefit/enjoy what I produce to make it worthwhile? Or that lying in bed for four days (not in pain or even real discomfort) is overwhelming odds against doing something I truly enjoy? Only by kidding myself; allowing my inner voice to convince me that I have every right to take time off, to rest. It’s only reasonable after all, what do people expect for goodness’ sake?

There is an old Taoist saying; the journey is the reward. Or, as Robert Louis Stevenson had it – to travel hopefully is a better thing that to arrive, and the true success is to labour. Life is a journey. Depending on your beliefs, we are only here once and the end of life leads to oblivion. And even if that conflicts with your personal beliefs, it seems to me good sense to live life as if it is the only one we will ever have.

And if that is so each of us will leave only the tiniest scratch on the history of the earth, the solar system, the universe. And whatever we accomplish will be forgotten within a cosmic second. It is quite possible to find the concept depressing. Or enormously liberating. Since what I am proposing is that our life is essentially meaningless and insignificant; we can give it our own meaning and significance.

So let’s not kid ourselves. The only thing stopping me doing whatever I really want to do is me, and my need to justify my lapses by making my problems seem overwhelming. I believe this to be true for you too.

Of course, we will lapse, that’s part of being human. And as soon as we spot ourselves kidding ourselves we owe it to ourselves to call our own bluff! And just get on with it, whatever ‘it’ may be. What’s not to like? Choose whatever you will and just get on with it.

I hope you find this useful. I apologise for my latest lapse – until next time …