Resolution, Observation & Appreciation

Over the holidays and into the New Year we took a short hiatus from “www.itisadirtyjob.com.” Since launching this blog I have gained a new-found respect for columnists: particularly those that have other jobs and interests and still manage to produce regular columns. I have even more respect for those that manage to produce interesting and thoughtful columns on a regular basis.

Alex James, best known as the bassist from English rock band Blur and who is now a cheese-maker, comes to mind. He writes an absolutely engaging weekly column in the British newspaper The Telegraph about his life as a farmer, husband and father living in a quirky rural setting that often bumps up against his former rock star life. I am amazed at how natural and interesting his “Mucking In” columns are week after week. His topics are varied – adopting a litter of piglets, the guinea pigs his in-laws raise, an orchard near the end of its life, a food and culture festival he organizes with friends including Jamie Oliver, and bon fire night (a.k.a. Guy Fawkes Day) are just a few examples. Most of the time, the stories he tells are far outside of my experience but still, I am drawn into the short snapshots of rural (with a glam twist) life presented by Mr. James, week after week. Often I find parts of his narrative that I can relate to, which explains why I love his columns so much. In his 2015 entry about Christmas dinner "Who Wants Turkey for Christmas Dinner When You Can Eat Cheese?" he writes:

It’s the most talked about meal of the year, but there isn’t a lot of room for manoeuvre: you don’t really get to decide who comes and you don’t really get to decide what to have.

The Telegraph, December 20, 2015

Obvious insight, but one that I don’t know if I would have come to my own. This short sentence beautifully manages to capture the complexities of Christmas – the tension between duty/obligation and the enduring power of tradition.

Making resolutions isn’t really my thing but I do love the energy of the New Year. Most everyone I meet seems energized. If I did make resolutions I would resolve to be more like Alex James who shows a passion for the little details we often overlook, and makes the time (not takes the time, a distinction with a difference in my opinion) to appreciate them. This is a theme that was explored in a film I watched recently called “About Time” (written and directed by Richard Curtis, 2013) which I recommend, as long as you have a box of tissues nearby. It is about a rather ordinary man who can travel in time to events in his own life and what he learns from this gift. Although over-the-top-sentimental, this film does have something to say about how to live and what matters, in my opinion. The film suggests that we should pay attention to the details every day so we can appreciate each day as it comes.

I have been thinking about the importance of observation and working to appreciate life over the past few weeks. At first I was thinking more about the personal implications of taking this approach to living: eating slowly to appreciate the meal someone has prepared for me, or talking to my daughter whenever she thinks she has something very important to communicate. Then I realized that noticing details is a really important part of my work. In fact, I expect most people would agree that being aware of the nuances that influence or indicate their customers’ behaviour and preferences is extremely important to your success. Shop clerks, waitresses and black jack dealers all must be aware of the signals their customers are sending them in order to meet their needs. It is also true of managers and executives in all businesses who have to pay attention to their teams as well their customers.

Overall, I am feeling very optimistic about 2016 – as a state of personal being – even though the Canadian dollar is dropping like Alice down the rabbit hole and the international situation is creating market volatility. I am fortunate to have some amazing clients and colleagues that improve my quality of life and my enjoyment of the busy days. New challenges are on the horizon and that’s great too. Of course, having the headspace to do my work would not be possible without the people I am closest with, and I am grateful for their support and encouragement.

So let’s see what 2016 has to bring. Or more importantly, let’s see what we can make of it.