"How Fascinating!"

For me and anyone who has ever participated in the week-long institute called Leadershape, that phrase has special meaning.

During the program we show a video by Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic, in which Zander suggests that when we make a mistake we should raise our eyebrows, lift our arms, and exclaim, "How fascinating." Mistakes, he insists are how we learn and discover new things. They shouldn't, therefore, be feared or avoided.

Others might call these "Happy Mistakes," -  a happy accident or a pleasant surprise.

Whatever you call them... I made one last week.

I told you that last week was World Kindness Week and it wasn't.

That's this week. Last week was Pursuit of Happiness Week.

It's fascinating because I view the two as being inextricably intertwined. Be kind and watch your happiness quotient multiply. Be happy and our inclination to be kind naturally follows.

It's a little like the old commercial for Reeses Cups.  Peanut butter collides with chocolate and a favorite candy bar is born. Only, in our case kindness collides with happiness and Shine is born.

A happy mistake. And maybe a little fascinating too.

Shining off until...