Osteopathy

Today I had my first experience with Osteopathy. At first it seemed like so much quackery but as I listened to Nigel explain the process and felt the effect of the very gentle pressure that he placed on different points around the base of my skull and spine I changed my mind.

I have long believed in the irrevocable linkages between ones physiology and ones psychology. Everything that happens to the body influences the way we think and act - and every choice we make influences our bodies, health, and looks. We earn the face that we have at 50.

The new wrinkle for me was to consider our biology in an historical sense. If we say that our genes are the tangible building blocks (that we have so far discovered) then we need to consider that as well as coming from our parents they have been developed through thousands of years of internal and external influences on our ancestors and their associates. A kind of extreme view of nature and nurture. We are not just the product of our choices and genetics, but also of the choices and genetics of our history.

By extension then, our progeny and beyond are influenced by our actions and they we we choose to look after ourselves. In many ways care of our - what is the right word here - genus? - is equally important to care of the planet.

I have booked Edmund in for a session tomorrow as there may be benefits for the restoration of his brain.

Concussion

This morning we played Hockey against Logan's team. It was lots of fun, parents v kids. Edmund and James played for the kids and we all got into and enjoyed the run around. I was surprised how much fun it was and wished that I was much fitter. Just being able to run and accelerate would have made a huge difference instead of which I pulled a muscle in my calf.

Afterwards there was a morning tea and prizegiving for the kids. It was sunny and really nice to be part of a group. I'd like to invite them all around pre-Christmas for a pool barbecue.

Unfortunately I did manage to get knocked to the ground and clunk my head on the astroturf. For the rest of today I've been headachey, dizzy, nauseous, and I can't seem to knit properly (motor skills impacted). Luckily I haven't had to drive anywhere. This is concussion. Mild but no question that's what it is. Silly Mummy.

On the plus side, Nigel, the guy who knocked into me is an Osteopath and has offered me a free session to help me line up again. I mentioned to him that I had quit a stressful job on Friday as well so it was good time. He used an apt analogy of having lived next door to really awful neighbors for a long time and then one day coming home and finding out they are moving away. It's not that you conciously thought about how bad it was but now that they're going you have the wonderful sense of relief. Like getting over a cold, cleaning the windows - any of those things. So I plan to take him up on the offer - especially since I have a lot of flexibility during the day right now.

I've also found a good place to go for Yoga - it's just up the road in Remuera - elementa, it's down by Nature Baby and they do small groups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Perfect for me, and I think a better fit to come home and do the dinner and then go out, rather than on the way home, or out at the airport.

Gardening Leave

Well, I've been and gone and done it. Monday will be my last appearance at Telecom and I will start at Auckland Airport on 13th October. The same day the boys go back to school. This does of course mean that for three of my four weeks off I will have boys.... but that's all good.

The idea, of course, is to use the time to be in the best possible state for this exciting new adventure - both in terms of my career, my new shape, and my personal development. It will also be a time to help Edmund with his thinking about the future. So - what are the things I want to achieve over the next month.

1. Front Garden dug out and replanted - probably with a reddish/goldish flax and some river stones to help keep the moisture in.
   
2. Knitting - Logan's blanket, socks for Mum and start something for me.
   
3. Sewing - bags, a couple of summer skirts, maybe a kimono style jacket?
   
4. Plant the pots in the back yard with some annuals - see I told you it was gardening leave.
   
5. Family overnight trip to Waitomo Caves and the Kiwihouse in Otorohonga
   
6. Tidy and organise the garage - well at least my part of it.
   
7. Keep the house tidy and the laundry up to date
   
8. Lots of walking
   
9. Plan and start some morning exercises to get ready for weight loss.
   
10. Healthy (and small portion) eating
    
11. Daily weigh chart
    
12. Take the car in for a service and book the panel beating for early November.
    
13. 1,2, and 5 yr plans, maybe Edmund will do this with me
    
14. Reading. HBR's, Negotiation book.
    
15. Find out more about airport and LVMH.
    
16. Lunch at Soul with my buddies.
    

Found Insights

Clearing our my books I've found a revealing page that I've titled reflection on Day One. I suspect is was after the first day of Team Leadership Mastery with Trevor Laurence.

Italics are added,

Surprising
The a ha moment around the fundamental immportance of character and how important it is to me that it's inherent in my leader and peers. My reaction to the 'yet again' profile which continues to highlight the same areas for improvement that have been there for 20 years. (i.e. it was surprising I was suprised)

Challenging
Chris's (New) comments regards my abilities and assertion that I would be one of the first 5-6 people he would have in his team. Am I up to that?

Finding the Perfect Job Not sure what I meant by this - maybe that it's a hard road to find one/

Relevant
The importance of surrounding myself with people with complementary skills. My realisation that I can find people with the skills that I can work with and learn from and who weill help me. Just because we are are different there doesn't need to be a butting of heads or lack of communication.

WIP's

Logan's Blanket - Patchwork of bright colours, some with textures, some striped, a little bit of intarsia and LOGAN spelled out across the diagonal. Blue Sky Alpaca's Dyed Cotton, Worsted Weight, 4.5m Knit Picks Harmony Circs

Socks - that will be for Mum's birthday. Koigu, greens, pinks and magenta. Falling leaves pattern from Interweave Socks. 2.5m Addi Lace Needles. Lovely to knit. Top Down, STar Toe

The Case for Quality

This morning as I was driving in to work - and thinking about my crammed wardrobe and the many unwanted knitted things I've been generating - I made the case for quality in my head. I've recently moved to investing knitting time only in learning and seeing or committing to a quality project that I know will work out well and be used and abused - such as blankets for the boys and socks.

I drove past Scotties and thought about how much better I always feel about the two or three 'go to' outfits that I reach for as I know they will make me feel more me. Investment dressing does make sense.

Then at work this morning Jo V is wearing a stunning coat (Chloe) that she got from New to U for $400. It had been bought for $1600 and not worn even once. Lucky Jo. But also not luck - the sense to see and buy quality at a reasonable price.

How we invest both our money and our time should be in a considered way. These are the decisions that we do not regret. And it's not about taking time - some very good decisions are made in an instant - but they are always in line with our values and aspirations. Impulse buying, eating, loafing, where we fell in to it through boredom or loneliness or a drop in self esteem - these are the actions that we look back and feel faintly nauseous about.

Then I re-read Merlin's post on the case for lifting our game in all our art. As I consider my art to be my life, in all it's facets, it's a validation for the case for quality. A life well lived, parking those dirty choices until it becomes a habit not to even consider the easy options.



Which is much the same as the thoughts that have been coming to mind as I've been reading The Speed of Trust by Stephen M R Covey

Ego's

There are so many subtle and not so subtle ways that people seek to deposition other people.

• Making people wait for appointments (is happening to me right now).


• Standing and walking around while others are seated.


• Multi-tasking such as texting or e-mailing - these people are more important than you are.


• Playing chicken - pushing the other person to the line until they break and, say, get up and do the dishes or volunteer for a project that they really can't accommodate.

The bigger question is why? Like most bullying I guess it comes back to a self esteem issue but it's also important to remember that what may seem as a slight (such as being kept waiting) from one angle may be unconcious on the other - they may genuinely be running over time, or need time to collect their thoughts.



So as usual, issues on all sides.



I do want to think a bit more about the concept of ego though. And by that I really mean egotism; self-importance and conceit. The antithesis of humility which has often been defined as one of the core attributes of successful leaderhip. Interestingly conceit has the same root as deceit.



A level of egotism obviously helps support the drive, self assuredness and competitiveness than can assist in leading. I am certainly not without vanities of my own. These are generally around taking the high ground in terms of managing others, the customer experience or strategy. I need to keep working on these and being concious is the first step. At the same time though, I do have skills in all of these areas and need to be contributing my strengths. How do I do this with humility. Lots of questions, praise when people are on the right track, redirecting when they may not have explored all the options. Valuing diversity of opinion and being open to views through other lenses is also important. Things in business are increasingly ambiguous and is is unconscionable to think one has all the answers.


And building trust through small closed loops so that when I do need to put my foot down there is a feeling that it is a considered and thought through decision.

So I made a mistake. And I'm OK about admitting it. I get the Paul Wilson thing - he is good with people - probably a massive RI. His offbeat comments are a factor of the way his mind works. He randomly asked me "do you wake up every morning with your head spinning with ideas?" and got it when I said "yes, of course, what's your point?". While there is unquestionably buckets of egotism it's likely that what I have taken as arrogance has more likely been simply distraction.

Paul also picked up that I have another offer on the table and asked that I make sure I let them know if this becomes an issue. I'm holding on to the thought that timing wise everything will work out.