Traditional stories are transformative, flicking a switch on a mood in an instant, or working in silence, like a seed. Traditional stories are often ‘flash fiction’ as brief as the burning of a match. Take this Scottish traveller proverb, 'A story flies eye to eye, mind to mind, heart to heart.' Ben Okri says ‘the great essays on storytelling are done in stories themselves.’ Here’s a take on an old Jewish tale that does just that:

How can the schools help develop the life skills YOUR child needs the most

This quote appeared on social media recently and maybe familiar to many of you. It is new to me although its message is not. The words are so profoundly relevant to the world we live in today that I will repeat them, and then reflect on them from a personal perspective.

My eldest son Max celebrated a very special birthday 2 weeks ago. He officially become a “teenager” and at this gateway to adulthood, I decided not to buy a card but to write him a letter instead. So this week, I have created a (less personal) version of this letter for you with 7 minus 1 tips for negotiating life. Why 7 minus 1? Well, there was a 7th tip for Max – but that one was all about how his mum will always love him, no matter what. And I figured this is less useful for you!