Choosing the right side

This morning I took my usual walk along the seafront. 7.30am and the tide was high. The huge expanse of Thames estuary and sky looked inviting. Swimmers’ piles of clothes and towels dotted the beach as early risers took to the water. A couple of paddle boarders glided by. Dog walkers strolled with coffees in hand. Joggers and parents with pushchairs made the most of the quiet sunshine.

There’s a section of path that runs parallel to the railway platform. Approaching it from the west, the scene was split. The brick wall of the back of the platform sliced my view down the middle. The water lovers to the right. On the left was the busy platform where commuters waited for their train. Everyone was facing away from the sea, their backs towards the shore. Heads were bent as most looked down at their phones.

The juxtaposition was striking. A collision of two worlds - busy vs calm; screen-absorption vs sea-gazing; office-bound vs outdoor-playground.

We all have office days. Head down days. Train waiting days. Chores and projects. Clients and bosses.

Today though was a literal demarcation, a clear signal of the choices we can make. Seeking freedom hasn’t always been easy, and it’s come with its own set of challenges. I’ve been intentional about designing a work life that has such pockets of joy. They bring me alive. It’s been worth it, for my mental health - and it fuels my best work: that of serving my clients, but also my work of parenting and everything else I need to show up for.

I’ve been on the left hand side many times, on the platform absorbed by my work. But today, I am glad I was on the right side.