Do yourself a favour. Today.
Learn to nap.
I napped today after a busy morning. In fact after a busy few days {by my new and emerging standards}.
Yesterday, I went into town on a bus. Upstairs on a bus. You should try it. You see loads of stuff you miss from a car. It’s just such a surreal environment – upstairs on a bus. Lots of my fellow passengers looked a bit growly and fierce like they were protecting themselves from me. I smiled my idiot smile. the smile that says loudly’ Don’t worry about me – I am a bit simple’. It didn’t work.
I had ‘lunch’ with an old work colleague. Someone who found themselves a ‘them shaped hole’ and got into it. Unlike Sarah Palin, Kevin Keegan and Gordon Brown – he is the right person in the right job. I meet so few in this camp that it was refreshing and a pleasure to be with him. I am learning to eat slowly and I am growing quite conscious that people seem to be watching me. Since leaving my corporate home I have been learning how to eat, what to eat and the whole exercise piece. It’s hard work after years of self abuse but its worth it. I feel strong.
I walked home {probably about 8miles}. It was a lovely afternoon and I am breaking in my new second hand ex squaddie boots {see reference to learning to fell walk}. It was just such a special time. Alone. Ipod fully charged. Present.
In the evening I went to the youth group I have worked at for years now. It’s on one of the so called ‘under privileged’ housing estates in Leeds. I think they call it under privileged because that’s what you are under whilst you are on the estate. Under a privilege. the guys we meet are great. Funny. Very bright. Leave me firmly in my place. Each hard earned victory is a huge succcess – stuff that we would take for granted like getting a place in college. Going on holiday for literally a day. Not getting excluded. I love those kids.
Today, I spent the morning with the brilliantly talented folks who are working with my wacky genius friend, Steve, setting up a business focussed on telling and hearing stoires. We took some giant leaps today thanks to the three of them. I tend to laugh a lot and just be happy that I am sat with them. I never met people like these whilst I was a corporate feller. What a relief.
Finally Tesco’s. Please note not brand placement. It was hard work. Don’t understand how they got the word ’super’ in front of these ‘markets’. it wasn’t super. It was huge. Daunting. The check out woman recognised I was a bit shell shocked and treated me like her youngest daftest son.
Home.
Napping. My head was too full. Being present. Learning new stuff. Watching the lilies. Becoming the man I am meant to be. Walking home. Loving. Being in the company of brilliant people. Being in the world. Hard work. I napped. My wife sat and typed her mails, one eye on me. I napped. My daughters put the week down and picked up their weekends. I napped. The world was a good place and still turning. I napped.
Today was the best day of my life and there was room for a nap.
Learn to nap. You are worth it.
