This is photo of my fabulous swimming crew on an autumn trip to Sharrah Pool on the River Dart a couple of years back. Here we are, messing about after a freezing, fast-flowing swim, in freer, happier times.
Amongst our number is Fran, my friend and fellow adventurer for the past 30 years. Fran took her own life a few weeks ago — a massive shock and devastating loss for the many of us who knew and loved her.
In the bewildering aftermath of her death, an army of friends and neighbours have rallied for her partner and boys. A…
This is a time of deep, collective introspection. The pandemic is forcing many of us to pause, reflect, take stock like never before — are we on the right path? How can we make our lives better, happier from here? What do we do next? How do we rediscover the joy in what we do?
It has certainly been that way for me, in recent times. If you too are on a quest for new clarity, purpose and direction, then this 19th century Persian parable is for you.
“There was once a wealthy man named Ali Hafed who lived not…
When it comes to work direction, lightbulb moments of clarity can hit at the strangest times, but I never expected this…
I’ve been wrestling with uncertainty in the last few years, hunting for new direction, in work and in life. The end of my marriage, the end of Valuable Content, a new leadership role and then Covid. To say the least, there’s been a fair amount of change going on.
Mid lockdown, after just shy of a year as a senior manager in Nationwide Building Society’s experience design department, I re-entered the world of independent consulting. I’ve loved it, and have been lucky to find work with a range of great clients — a research charity, a membership organisation, a small…
It all started a couple of weeks back.
I was overtired, stressed, and totally Zoomed out so I made a snap decision to take a week’s break. I usually pack every minute of holiday time with manic activity — swimming, running, traveling to see friends, going out — but that’s not possible in these restricted times, so for once I actually had to stop.
The weather was then as it is today here in Bristol— overarching blue sky and glorious Spring sunshine. …
This feels confessional. After 20 years of writing most weeks, it’s been nearly a year since I published anything at all. I’ve picked up a pen, started, stopped, and restarted many times. I have a notebook full of scrawled, half-finished ideas. There’s been so much to reflect on, but in the last 9 months I’ve made little progress — until now.
It does feel like an odd time to get writing again, in the midst of these strange, unsettling times.
Do I have anything helpful to add? Will anyone care about anything other than anything virus related? …
Sonja Nisson
Continuing adventures in the land of content (and life)
