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Singing as the Darkness Lifts 08/01/2024 (Episode 18)

Singing as the darkness lifts 08/01/2024

A heart-shaped crisp on a red background, 2013.

A different heart shaped crisp on a black background, 2023. 

 

Another heart-shaped crisp on brown card, 2023.
 

This morning the smell that rides on the air reminds me of my brother. There is a tinge of paraffin and I am transported back to the times when we were young and the temperature dropped, and to protect the cacti in his greenhouse paraffin was decanted into a lamp. I remember him crouched for the lighting and me finding delight in the shape of that lamp (like something from a fairy tale) and the way the wick was wound up slowly and with such care.

 

One of the highlights of last week was being featured on Annick’s blog and it felt especially good to be there at the beginning of a new year. I loved the questions that were posed and had fun answering them.  There are certain smells recounted there too so if you haven’t read it yet do have a read. Clicking the link will take you there, and if you have never heard Imtiaz Dharker read her poem, ‘I Swear' then I think you will be delighted to find a link to that in the interview too.

 

Early 2024 sees me continuing to develop my authentic coaching self. I am investing a lot of time and energy into my new path and sharing coaching sessions with people brings me joy. Shaking off myself before entering a coaching room and being fully present for another person for an hour and a half and then re-emerging gives me a tingly energy of purpose. At just over 10% of my pro bono hours completed I am now also looking forward to where this takes me this year and next. If you have ever considered coaching do make contact with me and register an interest for my special offer sessions which will run later in the year. There is no obligation if you just want to find out more.

 

My first blurb for the new book has been safely saved ready for the final touches of putting the book together, and I loved seeing it ping into my inbox. That back cover is coming together and it feels good to know that the book is already being read by poets I respect and admire.

 

I feel excited to find out where ‘Vortex over Wave’ ends up in the world this year, and loved receiving a photo for the #ElasticBandPhotos collection from Kathleen this week. Who would have thought a group of people would become linked by communication in discarded elastic band photos? This brings me joy and puts a sparkle into the day. 

 

Finding a heart-shaped crisp when preparing lunch to share with my lovely wife also brought me joy this week. I had just finished a coaching session and was enjoying making up the day’s sandwich filling of fig jam and pretend smoked cheese when I saw the crisp as I decanted the packet onto the side of my plate. After so many busy lunchtimes in dinner halls with children it is wonderful to be able to pause and share lunchtime with just one lovely person. I had a real fondness for my dinner duties during my time as a head teacher and took pride in being able to say that I had seen each child as they arrived at school and then again during their lunchtime. It always felt satisfying to sit to eat my meal once everyone else was served. My way of dismissing the children would be to nod in response to a raised hand when they were communicating that they had finished eating and it took me quite some weeks last Autumn to realise I was no longer responsible for lots of lunchtime nodding. The school cook from my last school was exceptional and I enjoyed her conversation and the way she kept me very well fed with vegan mains and puddings. 

 

And that heart-shaped crisp brings to mind the following statistics for my life... I have now seen three presenters of University Challenge in my lifetime, three Willy Wonkas on the big screen and have photographed three heart-shaped crisps.

My need for recognition surfaced when I ended my job last Summer and I have been working on this with my coach. Exploring how this impacted on my thoughts, feelings and behaviours was really helpful to me and meant that I was able to see this in a positive way. It also helped me reflect on my goals and what was and wasn’t important to me about this. There have been three recognition moments (there’s that number three again) that have been well worth celebrating recently. One of these was the time I spent re-reading the comments that came through at the end of the facilitated part of the ‘In Good Company’ coaching course because they showed that I was emerging as my authentic self as a coach. I also loved entering a zoom room and being greeted by name by a poet who I completely admire. And the fact that there is a poetry group where Ronnie is welcomed to readings and other poets bring along suitable companions!

 

Here’s to finding all the moments that make our hearts sing as the darkness lifts.

Podcast Link for those who like to listen.

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