Have been too busy these last few days to get on with much reading. Things like going to Greenwich for an overdue catchup coffee and cake session with a friend.

We also went to a great big non event. Seeing the Olympic flame make its way up the Thames. Well, allegedly. What we actually saw was a motorboat surrounded by other boats with armed police. A small crowd of us by the Cutty Sark were a little disappointed.

This morning on the tube I delved into my handbag for a book, not even sure which one is the current “handbag book.” Only certain books are suitable. They must be the right size, interesting enough to be absorbing but not too demanding, and they tend to be about some current personal development issue.

So out came “Diamonds Under Pressure,”  by Barry Farber. I had already read the first chapter but decided to read it again, as the thread of continuity had broken. It was brilliant! What a relief to read a book about success that really allows for the fact that succeeding does not happen without failing, mistakes, fear and taking risks. And there are so many encouraging stories!

The only way to get to success is to understand failure.

I find that really comforting. So much self help teaching suggests that everything should come effortlessly, like a line of falling dominos. H’m. Well I don’t live in that world. And I don’t think I set up difficulty just for the sake of it. It is more like life just is pressurizing at times. Better to look for the pearl, or the diamond in the making, than complaining that it’s tough.