We spent some relaxing and contemplative time in a few peaceful residential streets east of Marylebone station and west of Gloucester Place –

We had a whole range of questions for the street, such as –

What can be my new hobby?

Should I move into town or out to the country?

How can I get out of the rat race and follow my passion?

I’d like to move my family to a warm climate – how can I make this real?

I’m stuck in a bit of a rut and would like to bring my dream to life?

I’d like to get even more happiness in my life

I’d like to learn some relaxation tips and finally – I’m moving to Buenos Aires –what can I do there?

Inspired by the session, someone who never plays the lottery, bought a lottery ticket. We are waiting to see if we have a #streetwisdom winner !!!

…and Jack (who is moving to Argentina) now plans to run Street Wisdom Adventures there!!

We found many answers to our questions and saw lots of great things –

We started in a square that was the original location of Lords Cricket Ground (thanks for this info John!! ) and is now a rather peaceful garden

The hedge around the square was being tended to, by the rather charming master topiarist and photographer Mario –

We saw loads of other surprising stuff –

A closed down pub, that had an external bookshelf outside – battered by the weather, but hanging on….

The pub –

The book shelf ( some good reads on there! )

The Gloucester Arms. A very old pub that closed down ten years ago…….

and is now part of a girls school – the Francis Holland

Apparently the school motto is That our daughters may be as the polished corners of the Temple…Established in 1870

St Cyprian  – a wonderful Gothic revival church built in 1903 and dedicated to the eponymous 3^rd century martyr and Bishop of Carthage.

And finally…. the mews garage where the first Bentley was built , in 1909

Thanks to Nat, Jo, James, John, Andrew, Grace, Jack and David for making it such a marvellous Marylebone afternoon!!

Nick Hammond    @digital_filter    thedigitalfilter.com

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‘How do I find the courage to do what I love, all of the time?‘

(or..increase the time I spend running Creative Thinking workshops, so that this becomes the thing that I do)

As we began, we saw the start of the Walking for Homeless People – Annual Pilgrimage, on the steps of St Martin in the Field. A pretty inspirational start to the day !!

I spoke with Pascal, busking in Trafalgar Square

I spoke to him because he looked like he had the conviction to follow his dreams.
He was inspirational – he talked about the positive power you create for yourself (and for other people) when you follow your dream

http://www.pascalglanville.com/Pascal_Glanville/HOME.html

I paused in St James’s Square

Despite having worked in London for 26 years , I was last in this garden 24 years ago

I saw that some parts of the garden were carefully tended and others left to grow wild. This meant to me that some plans need to considered carefully and other times, you just have ‘to go for it’

Inspiration from the White Van Man

Working on their own and without a company structure to support them. They just get on and do , what they do.

Inspired by Napoleon III

Who lived off St James’s Square prior to the 1848 Revolution and his return to Paris in that year. I imagine he must have felt a fair bit of excitement, energy (and some trepidation) in this house !!

Looking down, instead of Looking up

I have always sought a fresh perspective by ‘looking up’ in cities (this thought inspired my website – lookupmore.co.uk) but this time I looked down. I found it helped focus my thoughts really well

Using Different Senses

Instead of looking and listening, I tried touching things. Perhaps the most under used Sense? This made me more sensitive to, and more aware of, my surroundings and my thoughts

Stephen Wiltshire MBE

Walking in a quiet arcade off Piccadilly, I found the gallery of Stephen Wiltshire. He paints marvellous, detailed pictures after seeing a location for a brief period of time only

On the video running in the window was the wonderful quote –

‘Find what you are best at… and do it all the time’

First World Problems

Passing an art gallery focusing on Art from Afghanistan, I was reminded of wider problems in the world and how lucky we are – to express ourselves and pursue our dreams

Finding Space in the City

I learnt I could do this on a busy street or in an open place – It’s all about finding  space in one’s mind

Finding Time in the City

It is possible to take time out of the hurly burly , get some peace and be creative. Street Wisdom only lasted 2 hours but I felt I had been away for ages

What else did I learn?

(some of these from the fab post session in Grace Bar on Great Windmill St)

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