I almost did everything I set out to do last week, there were a few hiccups to deal with but nothing too stressful. I am still dealing with the ‘building site’ that use to be my back garden and the initial 2.5 weeks is now on its 7th week. I did change a few things along the way so some of the delay has been down to me. The weather has also had an impact being too wet, too cold or too windy, they don’t make builders like they use to! To be fair there is no way I’d have been out in some of those conditions.
The new floor is permanently covered in sand and grit due to the dog coming and going, in and out all day long. I can’t wait for the whole project to be finished as I am constantly sweeping, hoovering and mopping floors, to the amazement and annoyance of my children and my wife. I should have guessed it would take longer than expected but the ‘gaffer’ looked and sounded really confident when he was pricing things up. Lesson learnt and, to be fair, I’m not really in a rush, so no big deal.
It will be nice to get the office sorted out soon, so I can move into a more productive space and feel like I have a level of control with my environment again. It has been tough delivering workshops, virtually, when I could be distracted at any moment by a number of different things / people, but, once again, I got through it with a few lessons learnt along the way! I think the pandemic has advanced the speed of learning and development for most people.
We have all had to adapt our lives and change many things, we did automatically, in the past. Wearing a mask has become second nature and it feels wrong to be close to people, you don’t know, when they don’t have a mask on. I am sure a lot of things will return to normal but there are some things, I hope, that don’t. Businesses have changed their policies and ways of working that seem to be better for their employees, the environment and, possibly, their profit margins.
I am off to Ireland next week to do some work and, I must admit, I am looking forward to putting long trousers on again and actually delivering standing on my feet, as apposed to sitting down all day in my shorts! I have enjoyed delivering some short sessions virtually and being able to go to the gym after and do ‘my things’ without getting in the car or travelling miles to do so.
It’s all about balance, which I think is an individual thing that needs some real planning. As we are all different and, as human beings, we all want different things in different measures in our lives. We are all on our ‘life journey’ in different places so, naturally, have differing motivations, desires and things to we’d like to achieve.
My focus and energy is different to my children’s. They are on the first rung of their careers and have an appetite to prove themselves and do well, they want to learn new things and progress. I, on the other hand, want to pay the bills, go on a few holidays, keep fit and healthy and enjoy life.
I like to have the autonomy to make my own decisions and head in the direction I want to go, without worrying about getting time off or being allowed to turn my laptop and phone off.
I want freedom and to enjoy a good life – How about you?
Enjoy your week, I hope it’s everything you planned for.