Living and working afloat is rich in small moments.
Small things that make days special. Small moments of pause. Small moments of reflection. Small moments of calm or small moments of excitement and drama.
I believe we have more of these revitalising moments every day than we did when we lived in bricks and mortar. Perhaps it is that we have stepped back consciously from the hamster wheel of life and work, making ourselves more open to these moments. Perhaps it is that we live closer to nature, to the outdoors that makes us more aware, that brings us more of these special small meaningful events.
They are moments which we all should seek whatever we do for work or however we live. They are moments of well being, of recharging, of reflective wonder or sheer pleasure.
As the beginnings of Storm Amy are making themselves felt with rain and winds, my small moments of satisfaction are in sound ropes and a safe mooring. Every time the rain clatters on the metal roof, I feel a small frisson of glee that I am safe inside, in the dry and warm.
I feel joy in my own efforts too. The clean sheets on the bed are sheer pleasure. (Making a narrowboat bed is no mean feat but it really repays the effort).
In the past 48 hours alone, I’ve delighted in:
- Rainfall – we all need it so much
- Watching fluid patterns created on the water by raindrops
- Finding a favourite mooring available just for us
- Watching reflections of sunlight on the water dance across the wooden ceiling of the boat
- Been mesmerised by ducks doing pilates in the rain outside the window as I washed up, entertaining me
- Finding a mooring away from tall trees when a storm is forecast
- Knowing the water tank is full and the toilet tanks empty
- Going to a shop and finding mince pies
- Carrying them back down the towpath eagerly anticipating that mince pie with a cuppa
- Enjoying that cuppa and the mince pie
- Passing someone on the towpath when out with the dog. Smiling and speaking to each other. Little enjoyable moments of human contact demanding nothing, expecting nothing but sharing a moment
- Gaps in the rain that allow for collecting herbs and coal from the roof without getting drenched
All these little things add up. They bring joy and contentment.
Focusing on the small, positive details of life, can build up to days or months or years of such moments of surprise, pleasure, enjoyment or delight.
Sometimes they can be the tiny incremental things that rebalance us after bigger events have thrown us off course. Recognising that small matters and small adds up is vital.
We can all find those small moments. Sometimes it is harder to stop and look for them, but it will repay us if we do.
Pickingupducks 