Ohmigosh we’re 100! Whodathunk it?! This is officially the centenary edition of the Philosopher-in-Residence blog and I’m thrilled that this milestone also comes in the good ship Make Me A Plan’s fifth birthday year. Do keep checking out our social media for lots of fifth birthday fun, throwbacks, special offers, competitions, new launches and much more!

On the subject of throwbacks, the very first Philosopher-in-Residence blog was On Freedom, almost exactly four years ago to this day, on 13^th August 2019. The world hadn’t had covid, I hadn’t had meningitis, and some of the things I talked about in that inaugural edition (especially about flexible working) certainly contextualise that point in time. You can flashback to the first blog here, and browse all the back catalogue of blogs and thought leadership in the NEWS section of the Make Me A Plan website.

https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/on-freedom/

When I started writing a philosophy-themed blog, the aim was to have a creative outlet for what I think are the big questions: for the individual; for groups or organisations; for this age; for the world. Other than of course following the United Plandom style guide/tone of voice, the one rule this blog has always had is that every topic has to begin with “ON” (kind of like when Facebook made you start a post with [YOUR NAME] is…, but minus the lawsuits with former university peers and data mining).

Since then, I’ve philosophised on everything from coming of age, to climate change, discrimination to love, things that fill your heart with glee or furrow your brow with concern.

The golden thread I’ve sought to stitch these fortnightly musings together with is some practical advice, or reassurance of hope, whatever the topic is.

So to stick with that value, and since the very first Philosopher-in-Residence blog was accompanied by a photo of the view of Laugharne Dylan Thomas saw when he penned many of his works, I’ll leave you with some philosophy from a fellow Celt, fellow pseud and true master of the art:

Time passes. Listen. Time passes.
Come closer now.
Only you can hear the houses sleeping in the streets in the slow deep salt and silent black, bandaged night.

Dylan Thomas – Under Milk Wood

Next fortnight, I’ll be musing On Summer, in the first instalment of the new four-part series On Seasons. Even if summer itself hasn’t shown up by then, you’ve got no excuse not to!

Please get in touch with any particular aspects of this subject you’d like me to write about.

In the meantime,

Happy Planning

PS If you want some other free tips for your business life, check out the Working Well blog – out fortnightly on Wednesdays, courtesy of Make Me A Plan’s Productivity Expert, Penny Le Kelly. Browse the latest edition here:

https://www.makemeaplan.com/news/education-education-education/