Sometimes you don’t know how bad it is until you realise just how far you’ve sunk. There is a really impressive capacity for self-deception. Keep the self busy, maintain certain routines, keep up appearances and most importantly tell yourself, you have it under control. It might be tight, but you have it under control. It […]
Read More Year Thirteen – From Sinking SandThere are some in football who feel that the best way to attack is to get the ball up the pitch as quickly as possible. It does not take the opposition long to work this out and to counter it, they will ensure that there are men in the right position to thwart efforts at […]
Read More Year Twelve – Going Back, Going ForwardThere is something about the growing up experience that leads you back to where you started. Not necessarily with your parents. Not exactly at the place of your birth. Just the sense that however big and independent you get, whatever material possessions you gain and lose, there is something of far greater worth. Every so […]
Read More Year Eleven – Found A HomeHe took me out for a walk. We had gone out for walks before and each one seemed to be longer than the previous one. It didn’t matter at the time, because the walks themselves were great opportunities to connect. He would share what was going on in my life and he gave me a […]
Read More Year Ten – Celebrating Progress: Keep On WalkingI admit it. I am one of those people who was brought up in a culture and an age when laundry did not need to be washed by hand. By the time I knew what was what, I was made aware of this contraption called the washing machine. Sort out the dirty clothes, put the […]
Read More Year Nine – CleansingIt is difficult to think of a clean slate in life. After all, whenever you start anything, there’s the tendency to refer to what had happened in the past. Much as experience can be a friend, it can also be a hindrance to embracing the new of the new. There are glimpses available, though, of […]
Read More Year Eight – New BeginningsThere is something that comes along from time to time to help guard against complacency. It’s the rumblings. Allow me to give you an example of it in operation. You’ve got a new job. There’s those initial stages of adapting to the new routines and the new environment. Then there’s understanding how things operate beyond […]
Read More Year Five – When The Rumblings BeginTrue growth never takes place in your comfort zone. I am a big fan of the comfort zone. I like the concept, I like it a lot. The familiarity, the sense of rest and being at ease with matters that are designed for you to keep going with the minimum of effort. I am, however, […]
Read More Year Four – Growth and ComfortThe rise was great, which meant that the fall would be at least as great. They never saw it coming. They thought he was rock solid. He showed up to all the meetings, he diligently made all the notes, he didn’t cause any controversy and although he had his foibles, there was so much more […]
Read More Year Two – Necessary FailingsIt’s been an intense few weeks for me. It feels like it’s been a heavy few weeks as well. Like there’s been quite a lot more to carry than usual. It’s been gruelling and in the last week in particular, it’s felt very challenging. Obviously in it all, what’s really been important has been watching […]
Read More Year One – Those First Impressions
Life With CD 