Here is your Seven-Bullet Monday
1. A quote I am pondering:
"And she wipes weary from her eyes, glued to the high-definition glare of her low-definition life." – Jason Reynolds
What I find powerful about this quote is the contrast it paints between the desire for high-definition TVs and screens instead of a desire for a high-definition life. I'm all for high-definition screens, but we should not allow them to impact our leading high-definition lives.
2. A question I am asking myself:
When will I stop talking and talking?
This week, I have a sore backside after repeatedly kicking myself for not shutting up and listening more. Too often, I get so excited about topics, and I land up delivering rapid-fire monologues, only to find the fire-hydrant of my verbosity has knocked my listener to the floor. The wise old owl …. The wise old owl……. The wise old owl. Say it enough times, and maybe one day I'll be like the wise old owl 😊.
3. A book I am reading:
Ain't Burned All the Bright – Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
You should be proud of me for completing my first non-audio book in over a year, and it's a hardcover at that! #HughCanRead. This book, written by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Jason Griffin, is unlike any other book you would have read. It viscerally captures what it's like to be a black teenager in America right now and does it through short texts and drawings on each page. You can read it in as little as 30 minutes or take as much time as you want while pondering the drawings and texts within. It is quite the reading experience and worth the purchase in my view.
4. My favourite podcast this week:
Ologies with Alie Ward – ADHD with Russell Barkley
If you are interested in ADHD or have loved ones with this condition, this podcast is for you. Russell Barkley has dedicated his life to understanding ADHD and helping those impacted. He's written 27 books and 280 scientific papers on the subject, improving millions of lives in the process. I learned so much about ADHD from this inspiring pioneer.
5. Hugh-Tips
Carefully think about what insurance you have and why
Most of us have a couple of insurance policies that we roll from year to year without really giving them much thought. Firstly, if you don't insure or you under-insure, I would advise you that there is a good chance you will have some significant event in your life at some time. You don't know where or when that will be. The principle underlying insurance is that you can afford to pay premiums, but you can't often afford to pay the catastrophe when it happens. That's why I think insurance is part of a solid financial plan, and very importantly, it gives you peace of mind. The next question is what policies I should have and how much cover should I take.
One policy to think about is Life and Disability Insurance. Does my employer cover me and, if so, how much is the cover and would that be enough should something happen? Another one is to ask yourself is if the third-party cover on your car insurance is sufficient (this is typically a low-dollar-high-cover, so it is worth maximising, in my view)? Have you considered Identity Theft Insurance – this has been an increasing threat over the last decade and can be an incredible inconvenience and costly should it happen to you? It is often an inexpensive addition to our household policy. Finally, my pet peeve is mortgage insurance, because the premium stays the same even though the cover reduces with every mortgage payment. So, unless your mortgage facility requires it, I recommend you consider life insurance instead.
6. My highlight this last week
Cooking for a well-known chef ….. and her surviving the experience!
Those that know my lack of culinary skills would have scoffed at the thought of a chef trying out, and enjoying a meal, cooked by me. But it did happen this week, and I passed, not with flying (or is it frying 😉) colours, but I at least got a B. And, yes, it was only spareribs and simple veggies, but everyone must start somewhere.
7. My challenge to you for this week
Do something extra for International Women's Day
International Women's Day is held on March 8 each year, and the 2022 theme is #BreakTheBias. This year, we are being asked to imagine a gender-equal world; one without bias, stereotypes, and discrimination; a world in which diversity is valued and celebrated. At our Company, we are doing several things to make the day memorable for employees, particularly respecting and celebrating our women colleagues. Please think of something meaningful that you can do this Tuesday to make a difference in your sphere of influence.
Have a productive week