How “mooty the turnip” turned my life upside down in a year!

For the first 18 years of my life, the Isle of Man was my world.

Its events, traditions, sports, gatherings, people and communities, were everything I knew.

Despite a few trips to relatives in Sheffield, Liverpool & Portsmouth, usually as “minder" for my grandma, the Island was my “oyster”.

Little did I appreciate at the time; it was also fundamental to the beliefs and values I had adopted for life.

At 18, in mid-September, with a giant trunk of belongings and my “A” level certificates, I decamped to Middlesbrough to take a Business Degree.

One of the chemical engineering lead Industrial cities of the North East, could not have been more different from my birthplace, but I loved it.

In late October, in my first year, I headed to the local Supermarket to buy a turnip, a carrot, a candle and some string. Items that were surprisingly difficult to find, compared to Isle of Man.

For the next few days the Halls of Residence cutlery was well used fashioning my turnip (moot) lantern for “Hop Tu Naa” (pronounce Hop Chew Nay).

My new mates were fascinated by my antics and I quickly realised that they had never seen a turnip lantern before and had no idea what “Hop Tu Naa “ was, nor did they know the words to the “Jinny the Witch” song, that accompanied visiting homes with your lantern.

With their support, we performed for neighbours, what I later discovered, was a ritual for ushering in the Celtic New Year.

The idea that I was the only person in Middlesbrough at this time with a turnip lantern was fascinating to me. Until that experience, I believed categorically,that 31st October was “Hop Tu Naa” and only ever that, and everyone knew it.

Since then I have experienced, Halloween, Trick or Treat, Pumpkins, Celtic New Year, All Hallows Eve, Samhain,Night of the Living Dead and this year Galoshans.

The Middlesbrough experience was a revelation to me, in helping me realise, probably for the first time ever, that something I believed to be real and true, wasn’t. So I had a choice, change what I believed and embrace other celebrations of Halloween or stay entrenched in only what I knew.

So each 31st October I smile fondly recalling my Middlesbrough turnip lantern, and how influential it was to opening my mind to new experiences and possibilities.

My hope today, is that reading about my turnip lantern, helps you think differently about something that no longer works for you or serves what you are doing today.

Just because you’ve always believed something to be true, what if it really isn’t or it’s no longer appropriate in the context of what you do, or want, today?

So, on a night when scary things are reputed to happen, here’s the opportunity to face some of your own beliefs and fears.

Write down your answers as you run through these questions:

     If you could have or be the one thing you’ve always wanted, what is that?

     What is stopping you from having it?

     Why do you believe that is true?

     How would it be if it wasn’t true?

     What do you fear doing that would fix this?

     Why?

Then based on your answers above,

What is the one thing you are prepared to commit to today, to begin fixing this?

Write it on a post-it and stick to the fridge, computer screen, mirror or anywhere you can’t avoid each day, and think really hard about it.

Practice it, again and again and again, above all “Just Do It”.

See how you feel, and then repeat.

By the way, what was my one thing for today?

A year ago I said in this original piece that it was my first article for LinkedIn.

Today I post every week day on here and have a growing band of connections and followers – thanks for the support and Happy Halloween to you all.

  I’ve also given up working, recently left the Isle of Man to embark upon a big adventure accompanied by husband and Bertie the 13 year old Miniature Schnauzer, am collaborating on an amazing piece of development with a young coach in Inverclyde Scotland - where I got to experience Galoshans for the first time this week.

So by reading this far, what seemed an innocuous change to one of my beliefs on 31st October 2018, and look what it started.

 Thanks, and have a great “Hop Tu Naa”.

 The world is changing faster than ever and it is the Maverick Mindset that copes best with dynamic & turbulent times.

 Hope this helps connect you with your "Inner Maverick" or make friends with one who sits near you - let me know.

#maverickmindset #maverickatlarge #change #selfleadership