Last weekend was Easter, so it provided the ideal opportunity to take some time away from a busy working life, and the call from emails, for a few days. With this wonderful gift of time before me I was pleasantly surprised to wake early, on what was a wonderful clear spring day. I knew I had a long journey to make, fortunately I was not going to be plying the routes of so many, ending up in a long holiday traffic jam. Listening to the road reports I was blessed as I headed off across country, over the hills, on rural roads heading for the coast.
As I had risen early, and there was almost no traffic on my journey, I arrived well ahead of schedule. I was on an errand, choosing to pick up something I had ordered. This provided the perfect opportunity to stop and seek out an early morning coffee, knowing I had plenty of time to simply stop and enjoy the moment. The picture is the the view I enjoyed with a wonderful clear blue sky – it was rather cool, with a keen nip in the air. I was not too concerned as the rays of the sun were warm, my clothing also warm, so the contrast of the keen air, the hot coffee and my warm body made me feel so alive. So keen to enjoy the day ahead.
As I sat, more people came and sat outside. It was lovely seeing families arrive with their children, in most cases conversation taking place about the weather, the day ahead, what everyone wanted to order and more. Just good normal conversation. It is usual for me to have a notebook at hand to catch any thoughts that cross my mind – often, when relaxing, is just when these thoughts emerge, so I have become used to capturing them in writing as I never seem to remember them when I don’t write them down. And so it seems is the fate of most ideas, they get lost to the winds, if not captured there and then.
As I stared out to sea to the distant horizon, sometimes my mind was a blank just enjoying the moment, and then like a boat bobbing about on the waves, a thought came. Some I let go, some were written down. Soon enough I was on my way to my destination, with some interesting thoughts captured that I shall be reviewing and working on.
So one simple question: When did you last let your mind’s eye stretch to the distant horizon, letting thoughts come and go – enjoying the moment, yet alert enough to know when to write down that idea that came from nowhere, that may just have the seed of a new opportunity?
In truth, I think the wonderful drive across the hills help clear my mind. So when I reached the coast I was already relaxed and open to let new thoughts surface. Thoughts that had been suppressed as life is so busy; often with routines we allow to stifle our creativity.
Perhaps I need to turn off the email more often, and enjoy the wonderful countryside that is on our doorsteps. And even look at the distant horizon the sea paints for us; we seldom get great new ideas when we are in the rush of the busy day, do we?
My best wishes,
Peter
