A perfect Summer Day
I have woken up to a perfect summer morning...
I stepped out of the front door of Buxted Park Hotel and ran round the park that I circled many, many times throughout the 1990's...
Anadi and I stayed here four months ago; February in the frost... The trees stood tall, strong, and bare, now there is abundant greenness and life bursting everywhere... The grass long, the rabbits scampering, the paths dry... And I let my body take me around the route it knows so well...
Later...
My friend and wonderful personal trainer Matt Shore, arrived at reception... It was great to see him, we last met up in September when I did my last PT session with him... Today we planned to spend out time catching up and eating lunch; but Matt also wanted to spend some time on development work for himself... We sat out in the sun and the space felt creative and fun with the accompaniment of delcious food and glorious views... Midway we were surrounded by a party of partying people, but despite this our 'meeting room space', kept its own boundaries, like a still oasis in the midst of another reality going on around us....
And as Matt and I concluded, Amy, my wonderful PA, arrived for our 'business meeting'... I believe it may have more resembled a catch up over coffee... But then Matts development session might have resembled a catch up over lunch....!
Amy and I chatted and laughed a lot, and then exchanged gifts as we have both had birthdays since we met... And beside us sat a box full of everything I had ordered!
This included running shorts, insoles for my shoes, fish oil capsules and magnesium spray for my legs....
Our abundant over spilling box attracted attention, people passed and glanced curiously...
I have never been very keen on actual shopping... In the past, before my nomadic life begun, Amy has been known to buy me a whole outfit to wear to a wedding - including the shoes - not only did I not really want to shop, but I had created a schedule that meant there were no time for it!
We also had a very easy process buying my wedding dress to marry Anadi...
I had a sudden brain wave while on my way to meet my friend Jim for a coffee... Jim and I have enjoyed many hours of 'run Philosophique' together when training to run from London to Brighton (we had even managed the coffee element as we discovered chocolate covered coffee beans were an excellent 'lift' on our five hour runs...!)
But we also enjoy actual sitting down cafe Philosophique ...!
We were meeting at 4.30pm, and at 4.10 on my way to meet him, I suddenly remembered there was a bridal shop in South street...
I made a detoured and there hanging on a rail, was a beautiful blue dress...
'Please could I try that on?' I asked...
It fitted perfectly... I made an official fitting appointment for 10am the next day, having established that Amy was free to come to 'the fitting', and hey presto by10.30am the following morning, I had my perfect wedding dress....
I recognise that shopping is an activity that many people love, and it is simply important that we recognise what we do and don't like, what are our preferences....
I love drinking coffee and sitting and chatting, whereas others prefer to be on the move...
Or like to do both...
If we are clear about what we like and what we don't like, then everything can be worked out...
It's the 'not knowing' and the 'not saying' that can create all manner of confusion in dialogue and in relating...
When we know, we can explore together from a clear space, and so plan how we spend time with one another, in a way that everyone is happy... There is no need to be compromised; If we know it is okay to meet our own needs, then there is no sub agenda, manipulation or resentment doing things we don't truly want to...
When we are able to be clear in communication, we are more likely to move to the needs of others from an authentic place, because we are connected to ourselves and own needs....
I love Amy's and my meetings... Over the years much creativity has emerged, but we make no plans and we have no structure, we are very committed to the flow, and to fun...
The time always goes fast, far too fast, and it might appear that we did nothing other than talk, drink coffee and scrabble through my box of essential items for comfortable and creative nomadic living...
At one point we vaguely explored some type of structure for how much work with people I do as I travel the globe... Amy even got out the diary and some paper, with pen poised...
But then we concluded that if I keep clearing anything that arises, everything that needs releasing, any stress or reactivity or past patterns.... and keep trusting - as I am....
it will simply find its own flow as it always has...
And any space I need will be within me, and so that will reflect in my lifestyle...
Denise who was 'much more than a cleaner' for me many, many years - I met her in 1992, and she 'looked after me' until I moved to Eastbourne in 2003 - used to say that there was an invisible light to my door and that people saw it and would always find me...