Get involved in what? Anything really (or at least almost anything). I guess what I mean by this is to take an interest in your world. Don’t watch it on television but go out there and interact with it. Too many people are living their lives through the lives of others seen on that little screen. Or even living their life vicariously through the lives of others in the real world (gossip and tittle-tattle keeps them going). There is a great big wide world out there full of life, vitality, energy, experience, drive, excitement. Get involved means get out there and be part of it. Get out there and find out what it all means and how it works. Watching TV is warm and safe and comfortable. Being out there can be scary, cold, uncomfortable. But at least you know you’re alive.

People are always complaining that life goes faster as we get older. But my experience is that the more we do out in the world, the more time seems to be stretched. If we watch TV, whole evenings can vanish before our very eyes.

Getting involved means co-operating, contributing, taking part. Not watching from the sidelines while someone else has your life for you. Getting involved means rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty but having an experience along the way, a real experience. Getting involved means joining in, offering help, volunteering, turning a theoretical interest into a real one, being out there and talking to people. Getting involved means having fun, real fun, not TV fun. Getting involved means helping other people appreciate and enjoy their lives a bit more than they would have done without you.

I have noticed that successful people – and that is what this book is all about, and by successful I do mean content and happy rather than wealthy or famous – have outside interests that don’t earn them any money or bring them any kudos. Stuff they do for the fun of it, to be helpful, to encourage others. They often find the time by doing it instead of watching more TV (seriously).

They become volunteers, mentors, school governors, local business advisers, charity workers. They join groups, associations, clubs, societies. They get out there and belong and have fun. They put themselves out there to make a difference or share an interest. They go to evening classes in ridiculous subjects. Maybe they laugh and poke gentle fun at themselves for doing it. Maybe they even sometimes wish they hadn’t got involved as some things can creep up and take over your life. But they are part of something. Part of the world – in a full and proper sense.