Over the past weeks I’ve discovered that it’s possible to go beyond the bubble while in your bubble…. we don’t need to travel far away from home to learn new things, we just need to have an open mind.
I resigned from the corporate world at the end of 2019. No more 60-hour weeks with 3-hour daily roundtrips to London for me. Time to take back control of my time and to spend it doing more enjoyable and meaningful activities. This is not ‘retirement’ but a change in direction and pace.
On 1st January I had great plans for the year ahead. I was already on the board of a charity and had managed to secure a tour leading job in Central Asia during summer. I was in full training mode for our Panama coast to coast challenge in March and was looking forward to spending more time with family in the north. I was going to start a mountain leader course and learn stand up paddle boarding…. the list goes on. Then Covid-19 hit. No Panama, no tour leading, no trips to Yorkshire and no new outdoor activities.
At that point I could have hit a wall of regret and misery. All my well laid plans had been ripped up. I could have felt that I had nothing to look forward to and I didn’t have a good monthly salary to compensate. But as Bruce Lee once said: “to hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” As a planning aficionado, I’m now barely planning one day to the next. I’ve baked my first two cakes – ever! I’ve discovered stunning beauty spots within an easy run/ bike ride from home. I’ve rekindled my love of geography by joining National Geographic and watching their diverse selection of talks. I’ve attempted to do my first cryptic crossword and have finally started to learn how to use Adobe Lightroom effectively. I’ve secured some part time project work for an international sports body and in the process, I’ve swotted up on how to set up a business. And that’s alongside reconnecting with friends as far away as The Philippines and Namibia.
Travel remains at the forefront of my mind though. Trevor and I have created a short bucket list to help us prioritise our next trips and I’ve optimistically signed up to a five-day run/cycle across the Namib desert the end of November. Who knows what will happen next but let’s not be pulled down by the permanently negative media and instead try to live each day to its full potential…
Covid-19 lockdown in the UK started on March 23rd, but the signs of a shutdown coming were being signalled well ahead of this.
I’m no stranger to working from home, I’ve been doing it for years, but this was very different and coming off the back of all the training Vicky and I were doing for Panama, more than a little bit sad.
For me, the working environment went into overdrive. I had a new role and responsibilities and the lockdown in my line of work has meant dealing with people and situations all around the world where goods and services must keep on coming. As for my mornings, well, I had already become accustomed to getting up between 5-6am, going for long runs and then getting to work. Working at home permanently at least means a bit more sleep before getting up and doing the same. Evenings are always late though, typically trying to sign off by 9.30pm.
For sure, I’m grateful. Talking to many people around me who are in very different circumstances makes me realise very quickly that being busy is a blessing. It’s something else to focus on rather than the news reports about Covid and businesses that are struggling to stay afloat.
Early morning runs have been a real joy. For the first time, probably ever, I’ve heard woodpeckers and cuckoos. The views of the sunrise and lack of both traffic and aeroplane noise has been a real blessing. Likewise, getting on a road bike again during lockdown has been a pleasure, I’ve never seen so little traffic on the roads, but I do confess to missing a regular stop off for coffee and cake at the local cafes along the way. I’ve been missing some time in and on water, so the gradual lifting of restrictions hopefully means more kayaking action. We’ve already had a couple of days on the water recently and I’m looking forward to many more.
