I just whipped it off
I knew it was a safe place.
I don't think there is a safer place in the world.
It is the London Underground.
Millions of people in a rush to get somewhere, anywhere but where they are right now.
The underground hosts an eclectic mix of people. Nationalities. Races. Religions. Interests. Careers. Rich. Poor. It all goes on. In one place. Together. In silence.
Also there is a kind of protocol where you don't stare. So many people look different, odd and strange. That staring is neither of interest or socially permitted.
So I whipped off my wig in a moment of madness and strode down the stairs, the escalators and stood on the platform. Bold, bald and beautiful. Alone and confident.
I made a decision to be proud. To hold my head up high and strode with purpose through the labyrinth.
I was scared. I was nervous. I was conscious. I was alive.
As I got a little more comfortable, I stopped focussing on me and how I was feeling and decided to look around. And here is the most interesting part.
No one was looking at me.
No one was interested.
No one was staring
No one was remotely curious .
Of course there was the odd prolonged glance but even that was short and polite.
No one looked bothered.
No one cared.
I felt like shouting "Hello everyone I am bald, why are you not staring at me????"
I could not fathom that I was a non event for all these city commuters.
I was underwhelmed by the response yet overwhelmed by it.
They were more interested in the local newspaper, their phones or the announcements about the doors closing.
I did it for over 30 minutes.
It was my first public outing and I was viewed by hundreds.
I am not sure what it all meant and what it now means.
But I know I had to do it.
And today was the day.
Rushing
In London, the tubes come every 2 minutes, in Switzerland the trams every 7, yet still I rush. I rush and catch the bus as if my life depended on it.
It's madness. Crazy. Yet I still do it. No amount of self talk stops me.
I see the vehicle approaching and I forget all sanity and make a bee line straight to it, putting mine and many others lives at risk.
Removed from the event I wonder what that 2 or 7 minute efficiency brings me/my life?
I think very little.
However most surely this rushing and hurling myself down a street, contributes to a bit of personal stress.
Yet still I believe that these efficiencies add up. And at some level they make the difference. But is it worth it?
Does rushing around like a mad woman, really offer me enrichment?
Wouldn't stopping to look around, smell the flowers, observe the grafitti add more value to my life?
I have no idea.
However what I do know is that the magnetic pull of an arriving train, has something over me that I don't know how to control. For me it is an impossibilty, to watch the tram pull in and pull out again, without an attempt at catching it!
Am I the only fool out there, doing this????
It's madness. Crazy. Yet I still do it. No amount of self talk stops me.
I see the vehicle approaching and I forget all sanity and make a bee line straight to it, putting mine and many others lives at risk.
Removed from the event I wonder what that 2 or 7 minute efficiency brings me/my life?
I think very little.
However most surely this rushing and hurling myself down a street, contributes to a bit of personal stress.
Yet still I believe that these efficiencies add up. And at some level they make the difference. But is it worth it?
Does rushing around like a mad woman, really offer me enrichment?
Wouldn't stopping to look around, smell the flowers, observe the grafitti add more value to my life?
I have no idea.
However what I do know is that the magnetic pull of an arriving train, has something over me that I don't know how to control. For me it is an impossibilty, to watch the tram pull in and pull out again, without an attempt at catching it!
Am I the only fool out there, doing this????
The out of doors
Nothing gives you quite the same feeling as having a break and actually feeling a weekend, as staying outside for most of the day.
Recently I, and I know many others. have been arriving to work on Monday morning and feeling like its mid to late week already. The refreshed feeling of a weekend and a relaxing time seems a life time away. We seem to drag ourselves to work, rather than feeling ready for a fresh new week.
However after having spent a whole day outside today, Sunday, in the mountains, I have to say, I feel magnificient.
The sun clearly helped, but simply taking the car out of the city, into a new place, is simply unbeatable. We were outside from 9 til 4. Enjoying the fresh air and the surroundings of nature.
All four of us, laughing and exercising, together.
I must plan this more.
Simply re energizing like nothing else.
When was the last time you did that?
Do you have any plans to take you out?
Go look at your diary and see if you can squeeze one in.
Even the kids bickering stopped for a few hours, now that is most defintely worth any trip out.
Recently I, and I know many others. have been arriving to work on Monday morning and feeling like its mid to late week already. The refreshed feeling of a weekend and a relaxing time seems a life time away. We seem to drag ourselves to work, rather than feeling ready for a fresh new week.
However after having spent a whole day outside today, Sunday, in the mountains, I have to say, I feel magnificient.
The sun clearly helped, but simply taking the car out of the city, into a new place, is simply unbeatable. We were outside from 9 til 4. Enjoying the fresh air and the surroundings of nature.
All four of us, laughing and exercising, together.
I must plan this more.
Simply re energizing like nothing else.
When was the last time you did that?
Do you have any plans to take you out?
Go look at your diary and see if you can squeeze one in.
Even the kids bickering stopped for a few hours, now that is most defintely worth any trip out.
Comical descriptions
Round the table we got describing ourselves in the worst possible light.
It got started by one person saying how their friend had actually introduced themself the very first time they had met. Apparently he had said "Hi I am a gay pianist from London". I guess it beats saying "Hi I am Paul or Fred or James!
So what would yours be?
Some of my friends volunteered the following:
I am a foreign Morris Dancer
I am a hairy Ozzie
Mine was, "I am a bald wannabe ice hockey player."
So what is yours?
Go on, be spontaneous and make yourself laugh!
I doubt you will let me know, but have a go, just for the hell of it!
It got started by one person saying how their friend had actually introduced themself the very first time they had met. Apparently he had said "Hi I am a gay pianist from London". I guess it beats saying "Hi I am Paul or Fred or James!
So what would yours be?
Some of my friends volunteered the following:
I am a foreign Morris Dancer
I am a hairy Ozzie
Mine was, "I am a bald wannabe ice hockey player."
So what is yours?
Go on, be spontaneous and make yourself laugh!
I doubt you will let me know, but have a go, just for the hell of it!
Just checking for hair loss
Earlier this week, my daughter was fidgeting in her room and was constanly looking in the mirror.
I suppose this is rather typical behaviour for a pre-teen.
After a bit of observation, I realised she was examining her hair parting more, than what I would consider normal.
After a little probing, she confessed that she thought she was losing her hair. You see her parting was very wide in her eyes, revealing more scalp, than what she thought was normal.
The poor thing.
I had a little look and to me it looked perfectly normal, however that was not the point. The point was clearly that she critically looks at her hair and is worried about hair loss.
We had a little chat about it and I reassured her that even if she did start to lose her hair, that we would manage and cope with this and even better, we would be able to share wigs.
I may have reassured her somewhat, or maybe not.
However the fact remains, my daughters are very aware of their hair and clearly worried about their future. This made me feel sad.
I wish I could help this.
Any ideas?
I suppose this is rather typical behaviour for a pre-teen.
After a bit of observation, I realised she was examining her hair parting more, than what I would consider normal.
After a little probing, she confessed that she thought she was losing her hair. You see her parting was very wide in her eyes, revealing more scalp, than what she thought was normal.
The poor thing.
I had a little look and to me it looked perfectly normal, however that was not the point. The point was clearly that she critically looks at her hair and is worried about hair loss.
We had a little chat about it and I reassured her that even if she did start to lose her hair, that we would manage and cope with this and even better, we would be able to share wigs.
I may have reassured her somewhat, or maybe not.
However the fact remains, my daughters are very aware of their hair and clearly worried about their future. This made me feel sad.
I wish I could help this.
Any ideas?
Am I a princess?
At night I read fairytales to my youngest. (Harry Potter to the oldest)
She adores this part of the day and I genuinely think she looks forward to it all day.
There is never an issue taking her to bed, she happily skips up the stairs and grabs a book then pulls up the covers. There are also two pillows at the top of her bed. One for her and one for Mummy who uses it when she is reading her a story.
One of her current favourite books, is the Princess and the Pea.
Remember that one? It is where the Prince is searching for a real Princess to marry and the only real test of being a Princess is that you can feel a pea underneath your mattress. In fact, under the many layers of mattresses, as the story explains.
So after yesterdays story telling, my little one looks at me very seriously and asks:
"Mummy, can you one day, put peas under my mattress and see if I notice?"
HOW CUTE IS THAT???
She really wants to see if she is a Princess?
Of course you are a Princess darling, you don't need peas under your mattress to prove that!
You are our little Princess and always will be!
She adores this part of the day and I genuinely think she looks forward to it all day.
There is never an issue taking her to bed, she happily skips up the stairs and grabs a book then pulls up the covers. There are also two pillows at the top of her bed. One for her and one for Mummy who uses it when she is reading her a story.
One of her current favourite books, is the Princess and the Pea.
Remember that one? It is where the Prince is searching for a real Princess to marry and the only real test of being a Princess is that you can feel a pea underneath your mattress. In fact, under the many layers of mattresses, as the story explains.
So after yesterdays story telling, my little one looks at me very seriously and asks:
"Mummy, can you one day, put peas under my mattress and see if I notice?"
HOW CUTE IS THAT???
She really wants to see if she is a Princess?
Of course you are a Princess darling, you don't need peas under your mattress to prove that!
You are our little Princess and always will be!
Chatting in the lift
Chatting with strangers in the lift scares people.
It really freaks them out.
When you start a conversation, they look at you, as if to say. "Are you talking to me?"
Its really funny to observe peoples reactions. Try it.
Today I randomly began chatting to a man in the lift about the building entry rules, and the fact that I did not have a badge and could actually be an activist. By the end of the conversation, he was in stiches and told me I had made his day.
The other day, I got chatting to a lady about the importance of lifts in the application of lipstick. By the time we got to the top floor, she was also in stitches.
Either I am a very entertaining person or people (once they got over the shock) actually enjoyed a bit of light fun to while away the time in the lift ascension.
So I have made it my new thing. Suprising and scaring people in the lift by striking up a conversation.
I am sure I will get myself a reputation, but maybe it might just brighten a few peoples days up too!
Going up anyone?
It really freaks them out.
When you start a conversation, they look at you, as if to say. "Are you talking to me?"
Its really funny to observe peoples reactions. Try it.
Today I randomly began chatting to a man in the lift about the building entry rules, and the fact that I did not have a badge and could actually be an activist. By the end of the conversation, he was in stiches and told me I had made his day.
The other day, I got chatting to a lady about the importance of lifts in the application of lipstick. By the time we got to the top floor, she was also in stitches.
Either I am a very entertaining person or people (once they got over the shock) actually enjoyed a bit of light fun to while away the time in the lift ascension.
So I have made it my new thing. Suprising and scaring people in the lift by striking up a conversation.
I am sure I will get myself a reputation, but maybe it might just brighten a few peoples days up too!
Going up anyone?
So where do you sit?
In large meetings or conferences, do you have a favourite place to sit?
Am I the only one who labours over the decision of on which table to sit at?
For me, where to place myself in a large room, is a strategic decision, especially if the conference spans over a few days. My observation is that people tend to sit in the same place everyday, despite there being no reason to do so. We are creatures of habit I guess.
My thinking around where to sit, is very much around the setting, and less around who to sit next to. I am always open to sitting next to new people.
Yet my choice of position is clear. As a wig wearer I always want to be at the back of the room, ideally with no one behind me. I cannot bear the thought of someone looking at my hair from the back.
You see wig hair tends to stick out. Especially the older it is.
Even if I brush it nicely in the morning, at some point, the ends tend to stick out. And not in a natural way, but a wiggy kind of way. It's actually quite horrible.
I don't want people to see, what I can not.
So you see because of this issue, I head right to the back of the room and find my spot.
I am comfortable there and no one really cares anyway. If I sit at the back, I have my issue solved.
So what about you? Do you chose a certain place for a certain reason?
Do let me know.
Am I the only one who labours over the decision of on which table to sit at?
For me, where to place myself in a large room, is a strategic decision, especially if the conference spans over a few days. My observation is that people tend to sit in the same place everyday, despite there being no reason to do so. We are creatures of habit I guess.
My thinking around where to sit, is very much around the setting, and less around who to sit next to. I am always open to sitting next to new people.
Yet my choice of position is clear. As a wig wearer I always want to be at the back of the room, ideally with no one behind me. I cannot bear the thought of someone looking at my hair from the back.
You see wig hair tends to stick out. Especially the older it is.
Even if I brush it nicely in the morning, at some point, the ends tend to stick out. And not in a natural way, but a wiggy kind of way. It's actually quite horrible.
I don't want people to see, what I can not.
So you see because of this issue, I head right to the back of the room and find my spot.
I am comfortable there and no one really cares anyway. If I sit at the back, I have my issue solved.
So what about you? Do you chose a certain place for a certain reason?
Do let me know.
Are you asking right question?
One of my lovely friends sent me a blog the other day which I enjoyed reading.
It suggested that rather than going home and asking your spouse "How are you?" and "How was your day", why not try something different.
This can be particulary useful if your spouses are operating in different worlds, eg they are staying at home verus working in a corporate environment all day, or if they have been looking after a sick parent etc.
You see the question "How are you?" is very vague. In a given day, it is possible to answer many things, for example, you could answer, I had a moment where I was angry, another moment where I laughed so much I cried, another where I felt hurt and the list goes on. It is possible to feel many emotions in an 8 hour span, especially if you are the one at home looking after a tiny baby with colic!!
So here was the proposal of what other questons you can ask to understand your spouses day.
When did you feel loved today?
When did you feel lonely?
What did I do today that made you feel appreciated?
What did I say that made you feel unnoticed?
What can I do to help you right now?
So give it a try and let us know how it goes.
It suggested that rather than going home and asking your spouse "How are you?" and "How was your day", why not try something different.
This can be particulary useful if your spouses are operating in different worlds, eg they are staying at home verus working in a corporate environment all day, or if they have been looking after a sick parent etc.
You see the question "How are you?" is very vague. In a given day, it is possible to answer many things, for example, you could answer, I had a moment where I was angry, another moment where I laughed so much I cried, another where I felt hurt and the list goes on. It is possible to feel many emotions in an 8 hour span, especially if you are the one at home looking after a tiny baby with colic!!
So here was the proposal of what other questons you can ask to understand your spouses day.
When did you feel loved today?
When did you feel lonely?
What did I do today that made you feel appreciated?
What did I say that made you feel unnoticed?
What can I do to help you right now?
So give it a try and let us know how it goes.
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