They gather as much dust as everything else around us — mind hygiene is essential. — I remember this washing-up liquid TV ad from my childhood in which one flatmate shouted to another from the kitchen, ‘Hey! Check this out: the saucepan wasn’t black after all!’ Recently, I was ready to bin my laptop case when I was advised to try washing it first. Unbelievably, as…

Too often, we see age brackets as inevitably tenets of our existence — Until a certain point in our early- to mid-twenties, we don’t care about age. Sure, we may look forward to being able to travel by ourselves or reaching the legal drinking age, but other than that, age seems meaningless. …

Doing the best with our time without idealising the past — We constantly witness proof that our memory is insultingly unreliable. Frequently, whenever two friends recall a moment they shared, the scene appears to be exceedingly different depending on who describes it. I pride myself on having a decent memory and often remember things my friends have long forgotten. Yet, I…

Probably one we don’t want to take — Mark Twain told us never to argue with stupid people because they would drag us down to their level and beat us with experience. It is one of my all-time favourite quotes. The worst part of arguing with stupid people is that we become better at it, meaning we progressively…

When rainbow bracelets and human rights are too much to ask — I have never expected footballers to be examples of edifying human behaviour. I don’t think they should be. They may be exceedingly rich and famous, and children may look up to them, but it is unfair to demand that they act as role models. Indeed, it seems it leaves parents…

Resilient systems in the modern age — Randomness is immensely powerful. A wrecking ball to predictability, randomness tears through routine and spices things up along the way. It does not only tackle boredom or provide excitement, though. Aleatory decisions are crucial for the chased not to be caught. Unpredictable actions are nigh on impossible to suppress. …

Zooming into the bubble and out of it again — One of the few truths I hold dear is that we are only as good as those around us. Any of us can experience this if we have had the fortune or courage to venture outside of our given circle of family, friends and associates. Indeed, realising that those with…

For the better, please… — Many years ago, a friend wondered how many transcendental decisions must have been made on a dare. As a teenager, I despised the practice, so popular during those years of acute hormonal insubordination, especially among boys. …

The power of admitting our ignorance is terribly underrated — Saying “I don’t know” requires significant confidence. Yet, admitting our ignorance is the only effective way to combat it. The modern world demands assertive, confident leaders. People will look up to us and expect us to have answers. Regardless of the field, if we are in charge of something, we…