ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE

Tum te-tum, tum te-tum tum.

I'm happier today. No idea why. I'm back in the office after having two days working from home, sniffling my way through a box of Celebrations.

I'm not the only one who's been ill. I overheard two of the product managers in the kitchen:

"Are you dying?" said one to the other.

"Not quite."

"If you are, then ****** off and stop infecting the rest of us."

I held in a cough that had suddenly tickled its way up my throat, and then wandered back to my desk, holding my mug.

Happier, I note, carefully. I'm abandoning Sneezy and Grumpy because they're miserable company. But I'm not quite ready to embrace Happy yet. Give me time.

It might be because the sun is shining. The leaves are translucent and the lake is sparkling with silver, Autumn light today.

It might be because I've started to think about giving up caring about things that are a waste of time.

I think that happens sometimes - we get focused on detail, passionate about the way we'd do things and utterly annoyed by anyone with a better idea who threatens our security. Sometimes there's a bigger picture. I forget that.

So what if I went back to that basic idea I figured a while ago - that People Are More Important Than Stuff? Would that help?

Gosh, I don't know. After all, I am a person and I struggle to rebalance myself so that my stuff is less important than me. And by stuff, I of course mean, all the things that I love, all the things that I have, and all the things that really stress me out.

So, this might be a new way of thinking. Take a step backwards from the stage, the props and the script. Don't forget that this play is about people: our fears and frailties, as well as our infinite capacity for kindness and love. And that thing that's stressing me out is really just a trinket.

I'm off for a walk around the lake and some crisp, fresh air.

Don't worry, I'll wrap up warm.