So many conversations recently with people whose lives are at a tipping point, a moment of change or even just asking the big questions, who am I, where am I going, what on earth am I doing? As we move to the end of an interesting year, there is a hope of some weeks of peace and kindness. It is not about belief but about behaviour. As Milton Berle said, “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.” Why not a window?
It is said that ‘a ship in port is safe but that is not what ships were built for’. As we celebrated a friend’s birthday, other guests talked about their nomadic lives. One had been a bridge between France and China and married a man who was a bridge for Madagascar. Another spoke about a crazy year spent in New York in the late 70s and his clothes and hair represented that time as he sang The Boxer. Others were like us, following work opportunities and seeking a community at each port. We sang pop songs, crooned Bossa Nova,
Having spent the last two weeks visiting friends and family, it feels as if segments of life have been revisited including ghosts of the past, present and future. It has been wonderful and exhausting at the same time. Aside from family, it is a relief that friends are as accepting as always and we swapped the good, the bad and the ugly moments of the past years. All of us have changed and grown older, hopefully, some of us are wiser.
This week I am presenting on a panel about 'Finding Joy', how we manage holiday expectations if alone due to work, location, interesting family dynamics or for any other reason; how we reach out to each other or take action to be part of the community. What is around in your town or city that is fun and gives a sense of contentment? Different colleagues will present on London, New York, Michigan and Boise, Idaho, about the wonderful events that can lift our spirits. So, if you know anyone who is alone, don't leave them hanging, invite them for
A visit back to Berlin focused on a 5-year chapter of our lives. Feng Shui is about cycles and this truly was. Not a city we fully connected with but should have and with too many epoches of zeitgeist, it was interesting to reframe. Dinners where had with wonderful friends, known streets were revisited and a group of colleagues met to put a gentle end to a collective in a formal way. It was a thoughtful visit and a door was closed.
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious..” Stephen Hawking. The first time I really picked up a camera, I read somewhere to look up, find inspiration in architecture, objects, light reflection and small pieces. I use my eye to look around a corner to seek the unexpected, this is what inspires my decor. When decorating or renewing a space, there are many blogs, Pinterest, Instagram and other social media to find instant snapshots. There are additional