On Monday 28 November, around 40 volunteers from various teams within the network gathered at The Modern Pantry in Clerkenwell for dinner and some festive fun.

The evening was a celebration of what had been another successful year for the network and was a chance to thank all the invaluable volunteers who dedicate their time, expertise and energy to improving and expanding the NZBWN.

Sitting in a slightly darkened basement room of an old building in London, I was part of one of the liveliest discussions I have ever been in about Optimism. 

The basement is part of Ozone Coffee in Old Street, London. A great New Zealand business where the food and coffee were both top notch. Add into that 15 Kiwi ladies, who get together once every two months as part of the NZBWN, discussing Martin Seligman’s bestseller Learned Optimism and sure enough, there was a lot to be said (and consumed) in our two hour get together.

Martin, often known as the father of Positive Psychology first published this book in 1990, followed up by many others on the same topic. In addition, he has done a very popular TED talk and has toured the world speaking on this topic. Many of us were lucky enough to hear him speak when he was in London; some around the table were self-proclaimed Martin ‘groupies’!