Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Falling down ...

Time seems to be speeding up just now and there are not enough hours in the day to get all done that is clamouring for attention. But goodthings are happening and I must keep reminding myself that it is what I asked for some time ago. Work is keeping me fully occupied and home life is busy too. And one of the reasons this has happened is that I fell down - twice, literally, and the metaphorical impact is with me now. As are the bruises!

Just over a week ago I was running downstairs, late for an appointment when I tripped and fell down six stairs. I lay in a heap not wanting to get up, and feeling overwhelmed. I had to give myself a good talking to about not rushing so much and why was I rushing anyway? And an image came into my head of when I worked in Hong Kong, in the busy corporate maelstrom that substitutes for life over there. And I realised that I had to slow down, that I was losing touch with what was important to me.

I had to take a long, hard look at reality and face a few home truths that I didn't want to see. I decided I needed to step back a bit and get that overview that I had lost being caught up in the detail. So I put in place some strategies and emergency measures and other such sensible things to enable us to continue and thought all was OK

Then a few days ago I fell over again (and no wine involved in either case!) and I realised I had simply replaced one set of 'shoulds' for another.... and now I really am taking time out and stepping back - so that I don't fall over.

... and so the question today is - what do you need to step back from, to stop you from falling over?