We have moved to Folkestone for a few months as part of a long anticipated experiment to see what it’s like to live by the sea, and whether we might stay longer term.
3 weeks in, what the move has done already is to make me question the impact of change in our lives, having been settled in a pleasant small market town for 20 years, close to our kids, good friends, professional networks and the hub of London. Before we moved after finally selling our house, I can’t say we were totally bullish about going, but we were at least optimistic and positive about trying a coast move out and taking a chance at least for a while; remembering the words of Sadi, “were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl”. We still are positive, on the whole, and have been helped greatly by family who live close by.
Since moving, there have been a rainbow of emotions, running from the gamut of that incredible feeling you get from being close to a large body of water looking towards Europe (we are in Sandgate, Folkestone) through to missing our kids and friends really badly- even if they are a couple of hours away on the motorway, and have seen them all recently.
A close friend who is a coach said to me last week “have the courage to stay in the mystery of the not knowing place, and let the decision unfold over time”- wise counsel indeed. The move has deepened or at least refreshed my empathy with clients going through all sorts of life changes, whether a change in location or in their professional role, or more profound like divorce or the loss of someone close. Its made me reflect again on how hard it can be to create a new “safe place” when our lives change, whether it’s something we volunteered for or was foisted on us, but also the electric buzz of discovery stepping out of our normal existence to try something new, if only for a while.
I am going to try to lean into trusting my heart, trusting our hearts and making an intuitive decision, remembering the words of the Little Prince:” here is my secret. It is only with the heart one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”. It may not be ultimately the right change, but its important to give it a go. BTW, no plans to stop the coaching work I love doing!