Games We Played

Growing up in the 1960’s, I played lots of games outside with my friends.
Who else remembers some of my favourites?
Kick the Can, Kerbie, British Bulldog, Skipping Rope Games, Conkers, Marbles, Hopscotch, Hide and Seek, Rounders, Statues, Jacks, Cowboys and Indians, and endless games of football – played everywhere, as there were fewer cars around.
All of these games brought us together outdoors.
Favourite toys included Action Man, Meccano, Lego, train sets, Airfix kits, Etch-a-sketch, Yo-yo’s and by the late 60’s, skateboards and space hoppers!
There wasn’t ever time to be bored, and best of all, there were no health and safety rules!

The value of outdoor play

Playing outside was both fun and a little dangerous too!
Our social skills developed as we actually made friendships, built relationships and talked with others face to face.
Our personal resilience increased as we fell off swings, got a bruised knee, cut a finger or whatever, getting roughed up a little seemed to part of growing up.
And we learned a lot about working together in teams, having lots of fun and learning to lead.
In short – we played together – outside in the fresh air!
As children, it was a time when we were all free of the trappings of today’s digital age of online games, the latest consoles, tablets, movies on demand and smart phones that have all moved childhood indoors.

My recollection is we were much more in tune with each other, by just having play time together, outside on the streets or in the playpark.

And today?

Regrettably, the innocence and freedom of those childhood years, seems to have gone forever.

Sadly, this world of independent children’s play has today largely vanished.
For years now, Monic and I take a walk every day and we have noticed something.
Rarely, do we ever see children playing outside, or for that matter anyone outside.
This lost world of children’s play is now evidenced by physical and psychological consequences, where obesity and mental health issues are rife in our rising generation.
Growing research by Jonathan Haidt and others indicates that Play time has been replaced by Phone time.
You may have seen an active campaign recently in the UK to have a “Smartphone Free Childhood” encouraging parents to delay giving their children smartphones until at least age 14 and growing demands for them to be completely banned in schools altogether.
Perhaps its time to revisit some of these great outdoors games with the grandkids?!
What was your favourite street game when you were growing up?

 

Remembrance

The world I live in, is not what I want it to be.
I’d love to live in a world filled with 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆.
The kind of peace that allows for stability, growth, and unity among people of all nations.
We are after all, brothers and sisters, children of God.
In a peaceful world, we’d be able to resolve our differences through diplomacy and dialogue, by valuing our diverse cultures and develop deeper mutual understanding.
Peace creates a place where individuals and communities can thrive, free from the fear and trauma of any conflict.
Such a world of peace will encourage compassion, where nations prioritise humanity over dominance, power and greed.

War

War, on the other hand, creates massive divisions, devastates economies, and leaves long lasting scars on generations, trapping people in cycles of poverty and displacement as we witness now.
War’s effects are not only confined to battlefields; they impact families, disrupt education, and lead to significant challenges for all of us.
All this violence creates instability – societies struggle to work together and address the many global issues we see now, including climate change, poverty, and injustice.
Sadly, we continue to live on a planet filled with the ravages of war.
“Imperfect people share planet earth with other imperfect people.” – Russell M. Nelson.

Peace

Yet, I know that peace can come to all who earnestly seek the Prince of Peace, and turn to Him, even Jesus Christ.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” – John 14:27
Here in the UK, Remembrance Sunday is a special time of reflection, respect, and gratitude, that brings a renewed commitment to peace and understanding.
Like many millions today, I will take some time to pause and reflect to honour the bravery and sacrifices of those who served and lost their lives in wars and conflicts.
I hope, by reflecting on the past, it will inspire us to work toward a future free of conflict, by trying to understand one another better.
The poppy I choose to wear is a powerful symbol, representing the millions of lives lost and reminds us of the hardships faced by soldiers and their families.
Lest we forget, I simply want to pay my respects to the fallen.
To those who gave of their lives – that we may have our freedom today.
In 1916, John Maxwell Edmunds said, “When you go Home, tell them of us and say, For your Tomorrow, we gave our Today”.
For those who gave everything, we will always remember them.

Morning Routines

“Nothing much happened today….”
Those were the opening words of my first diary entry on January 1st, 1978.
Since then, I have written thousands more.
In a few weeks’ time, it’ll be 47 years since it all began.
And my daily morning entries have filled 49 page a day journals (a couple of years 1983 – 1985 I filled a few.)
I am grateful for my mother.
Since Christmas day 1977, with her gift of the little diary, every December 25th since, she has presented me with a new journal for the year ahead.
Filled with priceless memories, stories, insightful experiences, a few travelogues and a number of boring entries too 😉, they have become a record of my life.
They are a way to remember.

Mornings

I believe that how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day.
In 1977, I began my years at High School in Dunfermline.
That summer, I started an early morning newspaper round.
Those early rises allowed me to establish regular morning habits that developed into consistent, reliable daily patterns from a young age.
I discovered that if you start every day with intention, a disciplined mindset is the result.
It has been the foundation for steady growth in my personal learning, development, family and professional life.
A structured morning routine helps you to focus on any priority tasks for the day ahead, without feeling hurried and to plan your time and resources accordingly.
Finding a morning routine that suits you, may take a little time.
The important thing is to commit to a routine that supports your own goals and lifestyle.
For me jotting down my thoughts of the activities of the day before in my journal is a powerful way to slow me down and clear my mind.

Top Tips

– Set a regular, consistent wake up time.
– Hydrate immediately and drink a glass of water.
– Journal – Start small – my first journal entry was just 12 words.
– Meditate & Study
– Prioritise your day.
As opposed to those first few words of my journal of 1978, something of real value happened that day, which has set the daily routines of my lifetime.
What did you do this morning?

In Harmony

Every Sunday morning, ever since I can remember, I have attended a Sacrament meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Like many other religious denominations, in our communal worship, we sing congregational hymns together.
I have a few favourites that I have grown to love.
The last few years whilst serving in Belgium and the Netherlands, I also learned to sing the hymns in a different language and enjoyed getting my tongue around the more difficult words!

The Results…

In every congregation, there are some who sing very well, some who used to sing quite well, and others who have yet to find their singing voices! 😉
Sometimes the result of our communal singing together is pleasing to the ear and on other occasions it can be less so!
All are welcome to join in regardless of their singing ability.
Expressing our individuality is accepted by all.
In our congregational singing, each of us joins our voices and hearts and souls with no regard to elegance, exactness or talent, unitedly strengthening our combined faith in God.
I have many memories of disharmonious moments, including times when I’ve been way off key!
Yet, occasionally, when we make a concerted effort to sing together in real harmony, our joined voices create a sacred atmosphere that helps us all to feel closer to God.
“𝑯𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚” is the pleasant combination of different notes of music played at the same time.
Over the years, I’ve found that singing hymns together offers an opportunity to strengthen that harmony, both musically and spiritually, aligning our voices and hearts with the purpose of worshiping God and reinforcing gospel principles.
Singing hymns together is a form of participation that transcends our spoken languages, bringing people of different backgrounds and experiences into harmony—literally and figuratively.

Our Beliefs

As we sing, we are reminded of our shared beliefs and values, united in song from the youngest to the oldest.
The powerful messages of the words also reinforce bonds of friendship and foster a sense of belonging.
This unity creates an environment where we all feel supported and spiritually connected.
Even scripture underscores the importance of singing praises as a form of worship.
For instance, in Doctrine and Covenants 25:12, the Lord declares, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.”
It is a wonderful feeling to be in harmony with others.
What creates harmony for you?

Unhurried

Whilst attending a coaching summit for a few days this week, one coach reminded us of an experiment conducted by social psychologists John Darley and Daniel Batson at Princeton University’s Theological Seminary on the Parable of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:29–37).

They wanted to know why people help in some situations but not others.

They studied one allegedly charitable group: 67 seminary students training to become priests.

The Challenge

The students were split into two groups.

Half of the students were told to prepare a sermon on job opportunities while the other half were told to prepare a sermon about the Good Samaritan.

They were then told to travel to a different building to give their sermon.

Unbeknownst to the students, the researchers had assigned them to one of three groups.

Some students were told that if they left immediately, they would be early, others were told they would be on-time, and the remainder were told they were already late.

Each student walked alone to the building to give their sermon.

On the way, they encountered a man slumped in a doorway, clearly in distress.

From afar, researchers watched: Would the seminary student stop to help the stranger in need?

The Result

Darley and Batson found that only 10% of seminary students in the hurried condition and their eagerness not to be late, stopped to help the man.

In comparison, 63% of the participants in the unhurried condition stopped.

In other words, being in a hurry can lead even trainee priests with the Good Samaritan on their mind to ignore a person in distress.

The study reinforced an essential gospel truth: we cannot serve others effectively if we are constantly rushing through life in a hurry.

Our pace of life can play a large role in whether or not we authentically demonstrate what we declare to be true.

The Saviour Himself often took time to pause, to notice, and to minister to individuals in need.

He was never in too much of a hurry to reach out to the sick, the needy, or the weary.

Are you too busy, too rushed, too hurried and sometimes unkind to others?

I know, if you slow down, even for a minute, situations become clearer.

Don’t let being in a hurry stop you from doing something good today…

How are you eliminating hurry from your life? Please tell!

Darley, J. M., & Batson, C. D. (1973). “From Jerusalem to Jericho”: A study of situational and dispositional variables in helping behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 27(1), 100.

A Ball of String

Recently I was asked, “As a facilitator, what are your favourite learning tools in your backpack?”
I smiled…
There are many “essentials” that I carry in my backpack when I facilitate a workshop.
– Pens, markers (sharpies or neuland refillables), dry board markers, paper, post it notes.
– CCS Cards, Organisation Cards and other cards to write on
– My laptop, a pointer/clicker, extra batteries, an external mouse and a thumb drive.
– Masking tape.
– Power adaptors
– Rubber bands and Paper clips
And last but not least, my very favourite, it goes everywhere, my 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈!
It’s a short list but these few supplies have gotten me out of a lot of jams, consistently bring energy to the room, and help me to create memorable moments in any learning session.
So why a ball of string?
A simple ball of string is often underestimated, but it is a highly effective tool in facilitation.
Its versatility makes it a powerful symbol and practical tool for measuring and demonstrating different behaviours and concepts in various workshops.
Here are 2 simple examples of how I’ve used it recently…

Example 1

As a measurement tool, by using it as a line on the floor and asking participants to gauge their thoughts and feelings about something.
For example, I explain that one end of the line is “Strongly Agree,” the opposite end is “Strongly Disagree,” and the middle represents a neutral stance.
The activity always involves making decisions about how much they agree or disagree with statements or questions that I ask.
On every occasion, I invite participants to position themselves on the line to indicate their view, leading to some fascinating discussion and varied opinions.
Another one I use string for is to help people understand the importance of connection and communication within a team.

Example 2

When one person talks or shares an idea, they hold onto the string and toss the ball to someone else.
As the string weaves across the group, it creates a visual web of connections, symbolising how each person’s input influences the others.
It can be a powerful illustration of interdependency in any team, and how communication flows through and binds a team together.
A ball of string is more than a basic tool as it can symbolise and practically demonstrate essential leadership behaviours.
What’s in your backpack?

Psychological Safety and Experiential Learning – A Powerful Combination

Creating a psychologically safe space combined with experiential learning can lead to transformative leadership development, enabling participants to engage more deeply, reflect more openly, and grow more meaningfully.

In my recent leadership workshop with the senior management team (SMT) of Stovax Gazco, we incorporated several learning tools, including Nancy Kline’s “Creating a Thinking Environment,” RSVP Design’s “Images of an Organisation,” the Stakeholder empty chair analysis, visual thinking with leadership journeys and a few other experiential activities too for good measure!

The success of the workshop highlighted the immense value of fostering both psychological safety and hands-on, experiential learning.

No Fear

At the heart of psychological safety is the belief that people can share their thoughts, ask questions, and admit mistakes without fear of judgment or repercussion.

This concept, championed by Harvard professor Amy Edmondson, is crucial for effective team dynamics and leadership development.

In a psychologically safe environment, participants feel free to be vulnerable, express their uncertainties, and explore new ways of thinking, which are essential elements of learning and growth.

During the workshop, Nancy Kline’s “Creating a Thinking Environment” played a pivotal role in establishing this safety.

The tool emphasises attentive listening, where individuals feel heard and respected.

By giving participants space to think and speak without interruption, it encourages them to engage fully and offer their best ideas.

When leaders are encouraged to think aloud in a judgment-free zone, they begin to stretch their thinking, explore new perspectives, and challenge existing assumptions.

This creates a fertile ground for innovation and leadership development.

A learning environment

Coupling psychological safety with experiential learning creates a dynamic environment where participants actively tested new skills and approaches.

Experiential learning focuses on doing, reflecting, and applying insights to real-life challenges. It is my experience that this active participation leads to deeper engagement and retention of knowledge.

For instance, RSVP Design’s “Images of an Organisation” allowed the SMT to visualise how they perceive their organisation.

Using metaphors and images, participants engaged in dialogue about their current structure and challenges. This visual approach not only sparked creativity but also made abstract organisational concepts more tangible. It was an engaging way for the team to understand and rethink their roles within the company, helping them to align on strategic priorities.

Similarly, the Stakeholder empty chair analysis was a powerful tool for empathy-building and team coaching. By placing an “empty chair” to represent key stakeholders, participants could envision the concerns, needs, and perspectives of others in their decision-making process. This experiential exercise deepened their understanding of the impact their leadership decisions have on others, fostering greater empathy and collaboration within the team.

Visual Thinking

The use of visual thinking with leadership journeys enriched the experience further by encouraging each member of the SMT to map their leadership development in a more creative and personal way.

This exercise allowed them to visually reflect on their growth, challenges, and aspirations. The combination of visual and experiential learning helped them to connect emotionally to their leadership roles, making the learning more memorable and impactful.

It is my experience that creating a psychologically safe space combined with experiential learning tools can and does have a profound effect on leadership development.

When participants feel safe to express themselves and are actively engaged in their learning process, they become more open to change, more creative in problem-solving, and more committed to applying their insights in real-world settings.

The Stovax Gazco leadership workshop exemplified how these two elements can come together to create a powerful, positive learning experience, ultimately leading to stronger, more empathetic leaders.

Guarding Against Silent Judgment

Five years ago, I wrote about the dangers of pointing out faults in others. See https://www.darylwatson.org/…/the-dangers-of-pointing…/
Reflecting upon that blogpost, one thought comes to mind as I try to do better, is this… “I choose not to let passing judgment become a silent habit that I don’t know is happening.”
It’s easy to slip into judgmental thinking without even realising it, by quietly critiquing others’ choices, behaviours, or appearance in our minds.
Just the other day, I caught myself doing that very thing.
When unchecked, this internal habit can become a barrier to compassion, humility, and true meekness.
Passing judgment often starts as a whisper in our thoughts.
It might seem insignificant, a fleeting observation of someone else’s shortcomings or differences.
However, these seemingly small judgments, left unaddressed, can build up over time, shaping how we view and interact with others.
Worse, they can become so ingrained that we may not even recognise when we’re doing it.
Our perceptions of others become clouded by preconceived ideas, biases and crazy notions, which can erode our ability to extend love and understanding.
To counter this, it’s vital to actively constantly cultivate self-awareness.
Just as we try to monitor our words and actions, we must also be mindful of our thoughts.
A helpful practice is to pause when a critical thought arises.
Ask yourself: “Why am I thinking this? Is it rooted in compassion, or is it a reflexive judgment?”
By catching these thoughts in the moment, we can prevent them from taking root and influencing our attitudes.
More importantly, we need to replace judgment with empathy.
We are each on a unique journey in life, filled with struggles, difficulties, and stories we may never fully understand.
I believe when we shift our focus from judgment to empathy, we can begin to respond with kindness and support, rather than criticism.
We can remind ourselves that, just as we desire grace for our own imperfections, others deserve the same grace.
I am more committed than ever to avoiding the silent habit of judgment.
It requires constant vigilance, self-reflection, and intentionality.
By staying mindful of my thoughts and striving to replace judgment with empathy, I hope to become more mindful of my interactions, seeing the best in others and focusing on love rather than faults.
How can you prevent judgmental thoughts entering your mind?

A snapshot of joy

Laughter is one of the most powerful and life-affirming experiences we can have.
And so it was as Ali, and I, visited my mum on Friday evening.
As we sat together, reminiscing about old times, sharing stories, something spontaneous happened that turned a quiet moment into one of pure joy: we started laughing.
At the end of our visit, we simply decided to take a picture together.
For some reason, the very suggestion sent us all into fits of laughter.
It wasn’t the idea of the picture itself, but rather the delightful simplicity of the moment that made us chuckle, giggle and laugh until our sides hurt.
Earlier in our visit we’d talked about some health concerns, yet as the laughter began, it was in many ways a form of release—a way to break free from the weight of life’s burdens, even just for those special few moments.

Wellbeing

Our visit with my 89-year-old mum reminded me of just how essential laughter is to our well-being, offering a connection to joy even in times of challenging health.
In her lifetime, I know mum has witnessed challenges and joys, yet in our moment of laughter together, it served as a bridge between the past and present, reminding us that life, at its core, is about finding joy in the little things.
For each of us, that moment wasn’t just about taking a picture, but about capturing a memory of joy with the people we love, creating an even stronger bond that no words could truly express.
Reflecting on the shared experience with my mum and brother-in-law, I realise we weren’t just laughing at the idea of taking a picture, but at the joy of being together, of being present in each other’s lives.

Joy

While also lifting our spirits and lightening our loads, it was a celebration of love, family, and togetherness, all wrapped up in 𝒂 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒋𝒐𝒚, through the healing power of a good laugh.
Let’s not to take life too seriously and cherish those fleeting moments of joy that come from simply serving and being with the people we deeply love.
There is a time to have fun, laugh, play, learn and serve together.
Dale G. Renlund said: “To effectively serve others we must see them… through Heavenly Father’s eyes.
Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all His children.”
Looking upon my mum as a child of God, being able to laugh with her, and as we ministered to her, we felt a healing and strengthening warmth that will last forever.
Why is it important to be able to laugh at ourselves?

“I don’t know…”

And yet – why can so many of us not say it?
Perhaps fearing someone will think less of you, if you don’t know.
For many, not knowing something can seem like a personal failure.
Worse still, pretending to know something you don’t, can put a lot of pressure on you.
We simply cannot know everything, and we shouldn’t pretend to.
The truth is nobody has all the answers.
Many years ago, early in my sales career, I was frequently asked questions about products, costs, how things worked etc, and I’d respond with; “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘!”
I’d learned to use the words some years earlier as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an 18-year-old in London, where I’d constantly be asked questions that I simply didn’t know the answer to.
It didn’t signal the end of my faith, but the very beginning… as quickly I’d say; “I’m happy to find out…”
And off I’d go in personal study to find the answer to the question at hand.

With life…

So it is throughout my life…
I have found “𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘” to be a powerful and helpful phrase for many reasons:
– Admitting you don’t know something shows honesty and humility, which fosters trust.
– By acknowledging that you don’t know something, it can open a door for learning by creating space for curiosity, growth, study and learning from others.
– Saying “I don’t know” relieves pressure, gives you time to think and allows you to be more open-minded.
– In group settings it can encourage collaboration as others are more open to share their knowledge and experiences.
– It stops you from making assumptions or giving misleading information.

With Faith…

When it comes to matters of faith and life, I learned many important lessons as a young missionary.
I didn’t ever understand everything, I didn’t pretend to and still don’t!
Yet, when it came to those frequent moments of truth, I focused on the things I did know, rather than what I didn’t know.
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi said, “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things” – 1 Nephi 11:17
When we admit to not knowing something, it allows us to move forward in a much humbler way.
It fills our hearts and minds with a greater faith in God, through hope and prayer, that He will make up the difference.
He always does.
Perhaps it’s time we all need to start using “𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰” more often.