Our Own Road Less Travelled
We emerged from our hotel this morning to a glorious, winter bright English morn...
I had run indoors for fifty minutes on the treadmill before we packed up and left...! I believe I am an unusual mixture - a runner who loves the outdoors, adventuring along the road less travelled; but one who also loves the treadmill. I enjoy the consistent pace, the body relaxing into the rhythm, and the different type of 'meditation on the move'. The gym was silent and empty when I arrived; it felt a bit like entering my own temple, my own quiet space....
As we headed out of the car park, the sun shone in a sky sunny and blue with no rain! I had to remind myself on which side of the road to drive on, as we sped out into the M25 and back to Buxted...
We drove through East Grinstead, and serenaded Cecilia, who lives there, with the song by Simon and Garfunkle... "Cecilia you're breaking my heart...' we sang loudly as we by-passed the town... It is a bit of a tragic heart break song! But none the less, it felt good to sing to our friend, who we have not yet met...
I recorded a podcast with Cecilia five years ago. She had just broken the 5000m track world record to become the fastest 70 year old. We are Facebook friends now and I applaud the wonders of technology that is uniting us all profoundly and immediately.
In many ways the internet, and a platform like 'Facebook', means that we can all be in one big room together, often getting on with our own things; but then looking up', connecting, having a chat, letting one another know we are there. I witness much kindness and support on 'Facebook' where we celebrate and acknowledge one another.
Anadi and I were welcomed warmly as we arrived at Buxted Park. Anadi went off to work on his latest project, and while I was waiting for some clients, I enjoyed a long conversation with Marc, the deputy manager of the hotel.
He has two daughters who excel at sport. His eldest is a pole vaulter and his youngest competes in rhythmic gymnastics; he was also a top sportsman himself, competing in the national French judo team when he was younger... As he approaches fifty years old, he told me how keen he is to run and get fit again...
Speaking about sport and the passion it ignites, the commitment, the discipline required; the desire to support his children to do what they love, connected us instantly. It was the understanding that sport is about so much more than the physical movement we see; the unspoken acknowledgment that the hard work physically is the conduit for the soul to express through the body....
Later I was working with clients in our hotel room and Anadi was working in the Crystal bar. He heard a room service order for tea and two lattes... 'That's for room 31 isn't it' he laughed with Rob, the bar manager... 'Yes', Rob had replied laughing too, 'someone thinks they're in Costas or Starbucks'!
We are in a different bed for the fourth night in a row... But we are home wherever we are...
We both enjoy the journeying and we are both adaptable to changing landscapes.
We were having breakfast in the Cobham services today, and chatting about how we can 'make it up' as we go along; that it is early days yet for us to see how our nomadic life, with its 'untamed, unamed lands' will look like - and where it will take us...
Each moment reveals itself in the moment, and this lifestyle that Anadi and I have chosen, more than ever before reminds me that now is all there is, this moment, that turns into the days and weeks and months and years ahead...
And our own road less travelled will reveal itself as we journey...