Managing change - It is OK to go slowly!

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The thing with change and transition is that it’s a strange place to be – the transitional space, you’re neither here nor there, you’re at that in between stage of letting go of all that is familiar, of all that you have been doing for many years, of all that you can do with your eyes closed (well almost!). You find yourself moving towards the new space, the space where you really want to work, the place where you really want to share your skills and talents. The place where your hearts skips a beat with excitement because you know that you will enjoy this work more so than any of the other projects you’ve been involved in and the place where you know you can make a difference!

And what’s that like? What is it like opening the gate to the field of unknowing? What are the feelings and emotions attached to all of this? What are the questions that will be asked? What are the challenges that lie ahead? What is the learning in store for me? Who and what are the new points of contacts that will provide help, guidance and direction?

I don’t have all of the answers to the above just yet. I wonder if I will have them in three or six month’s time. What I do know is that I’ll never find out unless I explore, move forward and engage more enthusiastically in the new space. I am progressing and doing that albeit via a slow and meandering route and that feels good for now. Maybe some projects aren’t meant to be rushed. It may be that by taking time in the early stages of a new project encourages better relationship building and more authentic connections being made. I believe that by taking time to do this more trusting and reciprocal connections will be made and in turn create a ‘win/win’ for both parties.

What are you constructing today?

'Look closely at the present you are constructing: it should look like the future you are dreaming.'

- Alice Walker

American novelist, short story writer.

This quote caught my attention this week and made me stop and think. What caught your attention and what did that do to your thoughts, musings and wonderings of 'what if'?

Write a real letter today!

This week I received not one but two of those old fashioned letters. Remember them, a handwritten envelope with your name and address, real paper, real pen and lots of news, gossip and goings on! I love letters, I love receiving them and to be fair I do enjoy writing them too.

It has got me thinking about the art of letter writing. Is letter writing becoming a dying art? Aren’t people writing letters any more? Why is that? Is life becoming so busy and hectic we don’t have time? Is it because the process is too slow for our fast and frantic world? Is it because we no longer have the patience to wait for a considered reply? I guess there are many reasons, including, I don’t know how to write a letter. There will be those of us who argue that letters are written today, we know them as emails. Come on, do they really have the same effect? When was the last time you chat down with a cup of coffee and read a really good email? When did you last read and laugh about the adventures and antics your friend got up to while travelling to the other side of the world? I do write and receive emails, every day in fact. It’s a key part of the work that I do. But it’s not quite the same as a good old fashioned letter. The ‘ping’ of an email to my inbox just doesn’t have quite the same sound as a letter popping through the letter box and falling on the mat, come on, does it?

As a student in the 70s (pre email and inboxes) I received a letter every week from my grandmother. The letter was short and sweet with a few words about home and signed off in my granny’s familiar handwriting. At the bottom of each letter she drew a little bird and each letter contained a crisp £1 note. It was her practice on a Monday to collect her pension and post a letter to me when she went to the Post Office. Needless to say, the £1 notes have long since gone but my treasure trove of special things contains a couple of those lovely handwritten letters from her.

I’m launching a campaign to bring back good old fashioned letter writing. Care to join me? Today, take a pen, some paper, a brightly coloured envelope and write a letter to someone you know, love, would like to know better and just write until the pen stops!

And the colour is ...pink!

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Whilst out walking recently I came across this very pink truck. In the sunshine it looked very bright and beautiful. I loved the girly pink, a feminine touch of colour to what may be a rather messy business. It reminded me of one of Mary Poppins’ songs – ‘In every job that must be done there is an element of fun …’

Well done, Caroline!

What have you spotted recently that made you smile?

What do you wish for?

Photo credit to an unknown photographer who took this fun shot.

The most important thing in life is to stop saying "I wish" and start saying "I will." Consider nothing impossible, then treat possibilites as probabilites.

David Copperfield

I wouldn't consider myself greatly unfit, although I wouldn't consider myself a paragon of fitness either. But I'm no authority on paragons of fitness, I do have a reasonable idea what that means for me, a reduction in the chocolate intake and a little more exercise! Oscar Wilde once wrote "I can resist anything but temptation" and I know exactly how he felt. For me temptation often includes a certain mint chocolate bar of bubbles. You know the one! I refrain from using the name only because if I do so, I may be inundated with endless free bars. Ah even now, the thought of it makes my mouth water. I have found that it's been a great solace on certain days and it's worked equally well as reward measures too. It's also been known to generate a little exercise by walking to the shop to buy a bar of the said mint chocolate energy generator. No doubt the calorific writing on the back of the package may reveal some unhealthy statistics but I find that I'm now at a stage that I can't always read such small print, this can be so convenient you understand.

I know I could/should perhaps be a little fitter. Of late I'm finding that there is often a reluctance to engage in aerobics and such like. I did have a go at spinning once and I quite enjoyed that and I was most surprised at how energising it was given that it was a stationary bike, lots of music and a most enthusiastic instructor. Perhaps it's time to revisit the spinning classes again or maybe enrol in a few dance classes? Who knows, it might even take away the occasional (just occasional mind!) feeling of guilt when I break open another mint chocolate bar of bubbles.

"I wish I was fitter and I will be fitter because nothing is impossible". I'm off to chant my way to the sweet shop now ..I mean gym, of course! There may be some intermittent reports later.

What do you create with your junk mail?

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I’ve been ‘blog dipping’ again and I’ve dipped into Fiona’s blog at Planting Words. I dip in and out fairly often as I enjoy her writings and her take on life. But don’t just take my word for it, dip in yourself and see. Anyway, yesterday she wrote a clever little piece inspired by a piece of junk mail which I quite enjoyed. It got me thinking about the ‘what’ that helps us to begin a piece of writing, I mean junk mail? Well done Fiona. So when my junk mail arrived yesterday (I’m very fortunate to have a delivery every day where I live!!) instead of the usual rush to the recycling bin, I stopped and scribbled.

So here it is especially for you today a little ditty entitled ‘Pizza poetry’. I don’t expect it to win any prizes but if makes you smile, cringe or even consider an alternative to recycling junk mail then it makes my effort all worthwhile.

Have a happy weekend.

Pizza poetry

Pizzas wi’ peppers, Pizzas wi’ cheese,

Pizzas wi’ mushrooms, Lots to please.

Chicken wi’ nuggets, Chicken wi’ chips,

Chicken wi’ sauces, To last on the lips (hips?).

Pizzas wi’ flavours, Spicy and bold,

A bottle of pop, A feast to behold!

In my last post, I asked about what inspires you to blog. It set me thinking about ‘what happened during my week that was of interest to write about and share with you too’ Well I must report that the week has been full of lovely events, celebrations and meeting lots of amazing and wonderful people.

I must confess I’m less of an on line person (minimal Facebook user and a once a week blogger) and more of a face to face communicator. I like to see and talk to people in real time. I like to see the colour of a person’s eyes, the smile and laughter when a joke is shared and the look of disbelief when the tall tales are told. I do enjoy getting together with family, friends and colleagues and having a good old fashioned chat. For me that’s what I call real communication. Don’t get me wrong I do appreciate that there is a place for faster communication methods in this fast and speedy world we live in. I do sometimes wonder by engaging, are we adding to the stress and strain of our already busy lives. Maybe that is a blog post for another day!

This week there’s been lots of opportunity to do lots of the good old fashioned ‘talk talk communication’ – a lovely boat trip and picnic with The Man and friends celebrating our wedding anniversary. The day was hot, the picnic was delicious and the bubbly was chilled to perfection.

Then there was the attendance at Sue’s Inspire Day with colleagues at the delightful Bix Manor where we updated on our respective ‘life journeys’, caught up with old friends and acquired a few new skills too. I loved the African drumming workshop and if you ever need a grand boost of energy and enthusiasm to kick off a training course or event, then I wholeheartedly recommend Doug at SewaBeats – amazing!

Interesting to note that the theme of energy, music and positivity carried through my week with a carnival afternoon at the school where I occasionally work. I loved watching the children engage heart and soul with ‘When the saints go marching in’! The banging of drums, the tooting of horns and the sheer enjoyment on their faces said it all.

Yesterday I attended an excellent Women’s conference and heard from several very inspirational ladies who shared their own stories. One particular speaker, Lynn Pereira demonstrated incredible bravery and courage after a terrible acid attack.

During the week I have been inspired by so many wonderful people, those who have demonstrated courage, those who have shared fun and laughter and those who have simply been present to the moment. It’s been a great week. How was yours?