I'm sat in the departure lounge at Glasgow Airport - not somewhere I have been  often so far this year. Its quite quiet but everyone here seems to be in the same state of bored anticipation that I am. We're not going anywhere exciting - its a flight to London Luton - and certainly for me the reason for flying is interesting but not thrilling (sorry Bitternes)!

It has made me think back to starting my first proper job for British Rail, as it was called in those days. I entered an office full of people who seemed to be a little bored, resigned to being there and certainly not excited by the prospect, looking forward with mild interest to the point when they would retire and life would become more fun.

Ever since coming into contact with xpand's Creative Life Planning concept, I have realised how unwise it is to neglect playing and enjoying life until I am old(er) and grey(er). Lets spend time NOW doing things we enjoy.

Every time I think back to that first job, I wonder why people would endure a job that they tolerate at best and continually moan about. Some folks I knew had commitments to family support that scared them into not moving but for the majority, they seemed to be under the impression that life had dealt them this hand and they just had to put up with it.

Yes, there are obstacles but mostly they can be overcome - lets do it.

It seems that the majority of people that are unhappy with their job feel that way because of their boss not being ideal. I had a closer glimpse of this earlier in the week when my wife was very publicly dressed down in front of her colleagues and, unsurprisingly, was less than impressed. Because she's on a short term contract, it had less of an effect then it might have done if she was permanent staff but even so, it annoyed her.

There's lots of talk about managing your manager but sometimes, your best efforts are useless if they have a bad day and take it out on you. Which we all have sometimes, so we need to be a little forgiving. However, if you are in a situation where it is accepted by all your colleagues that this is simply a normal part of your manager's behaviour then its completely understandable to feel a little negative towards them and the company. If your organisation is toxic and generally has a disrespect for its people then you can probably expect more of the same at some time in the future, even if your manager changes, so maybe thinking about a move is not unreasonable.

Obviously, if they are actually abusive or a bully, then you should have recourse to the normal channels. However, if they are simply giving you negative criticism that you have not earned, particularly in the public arena, then a job change might be your only option.

How bad it needs to be to overcome your own inertia and to outweight the good side of the job only you can determine, but I found that eventually, when a boss unquestioningly relayed a clients unfounded criticism without first checking its veracity with me or my colleagues, the time had come to work for myself.

Nobody grows old living a number of years; people grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, distrust, fear and despair...these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust. Whether seventy or sixteen, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement of the stars and star-like things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing child-like appetite for what is next, and the joy and game of life.

My friend wrote this inside my birthday card and I needed to share it. I don't know where it comes from but I feel it is so true. It doesn't matter how old we are, it is our take on life that really shows our age. I suppose it relates back to the half-full/half-empty idea that I have talked about before. Do we have a real enthusiasm for the good things that are possible or do we only look at the problems that are in our way? Do we struggle to set goals for ourselves because we see so many barriers to achievement or is our problem more focussing on only a few of the many things we still want to experience and enjoy?

Inevitably there will be things in life that knock us but how do we get back on top to avoid growing old prematurely. I think this writing says it all:
1. Go back to your ideals - maybe they were things born of youthful zeal and idealism but has our cynicism jettisoned too much? What ideals do you want to return to?
2.Get really enthused and excited about something - what do you feel passionate about; how can you be more excited about it?
3. Share it - who can you share your enthusiasm with, hopefully getting them excited in the process? As you talk, it will confirm the excitement inside you.
4. Deal with the things that trouble you - don't ignore them; talk to a friend or a coach, work through them to come out the other side. Don't let them permanently bow your head.
5. Remember something wonderful - whatever it might be, think of something today that amazes you; maybe about people or nature or science. Then tomorrow, think of something different. Be permanently amazed at the good that is still present in the world.

Go out and enjoy this game of life!

Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you.

One of my friends introduced this to me on a RYLA course last year and the idea of the trees not being lost became a bit of a theme for the week. I keep coming back to it because of the memories but also so many good concepts in it.

• How often do we run around so madly trying to do so many things when actually what we need is to stop. But instead we run in ever decreasing circles until we acknowledge that we have seen these trees before and that the edge of the forest is no closer than 20 minutes ago when we were last here.
• Even if Ents are merely fictional (aren't they?) the great age and stature of some trees implies a wisdom of years and experience that far outstrips mine. They have seen more than me throughout time and maybe they know more than me.
• Lost are they who don't appreciate the beauty of nature. It was a delight to get talking to someone in the heart of busy Glasgow yesterday who had a heart for the outdoors.

Next time you see a stand of trees, take 30 seconds to stop. And listen.

'Lost' by David Wagoner, from the book "Traveling Light: Collected and New Poems" published by the University of Illinois Press in 1999