The Gaps of Life

I realised when I was moving house in December 2020 (and also when I’ve moved house at various other points in my life) that if you take objects out of a room and box them all up, then one by one, I missed the things that were taken away. The second thing I noticed in my most recent move is my wife - what remains. In the last few years my attention has turned from things to the most significant people in my life. These days you are much more likely to find me reading the books on the shelves, and I appreciate the chairs more.

One Christmas I received a chess board with no chess pieces which at the time I thought was odd. With the benefit of hindsight, when stuff is taken from us (I.e. My mother) the stuff that remains (I.e. my father) has more value. It rises not only in visibility but also intensity.

I once left a well paid job in business performance management which covered the breadth of most industries. I now work as a special educational needs teacher and part time in adult social care. I’ve learnt that what I’ve lost in breadth I’ve gained in depth.