Live in the moment – how often have I written or spoken that phrase?  And how often have I taken my own advice?  It’s best to avoid a Pinocchio moment and say simply, “sometimes”.  Today sitting in the garden listening to the birds tweeting (original meaning) and watching the fish sunbathing, I was definitely, “in the moment”.  Still puzzled by the young black goldfish and their increasing number (now five rather than the three counted last October) I was as happy as they seemed.  Today was one of those rare occasions when I knew that my client work for the week was sorted, the house was gleaming, and the day’s food organised.  We were going out for afternoon tea with great friends last seen in early 2020.  A novelty to be savored; this was not a day for gardening clothes or digging.

Yes, the garden was my “in the moment” place.  For a few hours, I ignored the botanical debris of a chilly, wet and windy few months to focus on the tightly packed peony buds that would burst with pride later this week.  Thanks to my dad, I learned as a young horticulturist to concentrate on what’s to come, rather than what didn’t go to plan.  He didn’t make gardening difficult.  He taught me to nurture the seedlings which survived, rather than obsess about the ones which didn’t germinate.  Blood, fish and bone for growth, warm soapy water for aphids or bugs and a swift trim for diseases or fungus.  These were dad’s four horticultural principles.  They worked and we’ve still got his medals to prove it!

This morning and with only the briefest nod to Pinocchio, I glanced across at the box balls with all the positivity I could muster.  Fingers crossed, we’d stopped the box blight and the box caterpillars in their tracks.  There’s so much more to come as the hydrangeas begin to stretch their limbs, the echinacea buds turn their faces to the sun and the dark purple salvias get ready to welcome the bees.  I was back in the moment, although my tea had gone cold.  Time to put the kettle on and time to find my shoes?  Now there’s a novelty.

Trainers cast to one side and handbag found, I began to wonder how many businesses can live in the moment.  And realistically, how many organisations can really focus on what’s to come, rather than dwell on what didn’t go to plan.  I’m a big fan of lessons learned yet right now it seems we all need a few golden tickets or vibrant bouquets on the horizon to keep us positive.  Many businesses are beginning the quest to get their people back to work, yet tensions remain.  Collaboration is key.  Employees, customers and service users all have a voice.  They’ll tell us when we get it wrong, so let’s encourage them to help us get it right.

This previously one-sided conversation had a second airing over tea.  Hardly surprising as we all have a lot to say.  Maybe it was the sunshine or the excitement of “being out” which spurred us all on, but we covered just about every aspect of life (including work) from hand sanitizer brands, through diverse candidate slates, to family gossip and banking transformations.  The joys of friendship, collaboration and communication!  Let’s talk.