Reflection challenges of a perfectionist
I understand that taking time to reflect during complex change is valuable but do I do enough, I ask? This week I decided it is about quality, not quantity.
When I stopped to watch a sunrise over a London skyline, on an early morning run, I got more than I bargained for. It was a particularly beautiful pink light increasing in strength, complete with 3 separate aircraft contrails arching high overhead from flights coming and going.
It occurred to me that life is going on, and whether the reflection is remember to pick up the milk or a higher level hope for humanity, it was good to stop for a moment. Would I have noticed if I hadn’t stopped then – I’m not sure.
It was what happened next that made a difference to my day.
When I stopped during my run I took a couple of pictures, but the sky was so beautiful I lowered the phone and continued to be mesmerised. During the next few minutes another runner across the street passed in the opposite direction, stopped, then returned to see what I was looking at. As I watched he turned towards the view and became still. No phone was raised. A couple of seconds later a lady walking her dog also passed on the opposite side of the road to me and continued on. She also returned, passed the man and took a position at the other end of the bridge we were all standing on. She also fell still. There we were – three people, early on a London work day morning, stopping briefly at the same time to reflect/watch/think, who knows.