Meaningful May: Building Bridges
I've been trying to make everything I do feel meaningful today - it's easy on some days to do lots of things and not really remember much about it, because it was so - meaningless, really.
I tried some mindful walking this morning, listening to sounds (I heard birds singing, and flapping their wings - I'll admit the only birdsong I recognised was a pigeon). I managed one 30 minute walk for today, and it allowed me to get out of the flat again, so I am doing well for National Walking Month.
I did get some pictures, too - I went out specially with the camera.
I've been ensuring everything else felt meaningful too - not easy at times when all I'm doing is work, but remembering the purpose of what I am doing is useful.
I had some good conversations with others today; first off with people from church this morning in the prayer meeting, and we raised a good point about "whether lunchbreaks get respected" during lockdown, or whether people ended up being put in meetings over lunch. I think this was triggered by the fact that I was in a training course this afternoon that started right in the middle of when I'd normally have a lunchbreak, forcing me to take an earlier break than usual.
It wouldn't surprise me if some people were being forced into unwanted lunchtime meetings now, but it feels like little change from before when some people would be forced to go out at about half past two to get lunch, after finally getting out of a meeting.
I had some other good conversations - with my manager, and with a neighbour when I went outside during a break (it was mostly about asbestos, but a chat nonetheless).
Today's course was enjoyable, and all about equal opportunities; it took the form of a board game, with questions relating to unconsious bias and groups who can face discrimination. Some of it was similar to last week's course, but fascinating (and at times shocking) nonetheless.
My success for today was that my "team" (yes, we had teams, and we had chats about the various discussion topics in breakout rooms, and I felt I made a good contribution) seemed to do well - the trainers gave out points based on what we fed back, and we won on points. I also somehow managed to come first in the mini-quiz that we did.
I also came up with our team name, "Building Bridges", which I thought was inspired.
I always like when I feel like I'm participating rather than just sitting and listening to others talk.
I'm just wondering now whether to make my evening meaningful, or just slump in front of the television.
I tried some mindful walking this morning, listening to sounds (I heard birds singing, and flapping their wings - I'll admit the only birdsong I recognised was a pigeon). I managed one 30 minute walk for today, and it allowed me to get out of the flat again, so I am doing well for National Walking Month.
I did get some pictures, too - I went out specially with the camera.
I've been ensuring everything else felt meaningful too - not easy at times when all I'm doing is work, but remembering the purpose of what I am doing is useful.
I had some good conversations with others today; first off with people from church this morning in the prayer meeting, and we raised a good point about "whether lunchbreaks get respected" during lockdown, or whether people ended up being put in meetings over lunch. I think this was triggered by the fact that I was in a training course this afternoon that started right in the middle of when I'd normally have a lunchbreak, forcing me to take an earlier break than usual.
It wouldn't surprise me if some people were being forced into unwanted lunchtime meetings now, but it feels like little change from before when some people would be forced to go out at about half past two to get lunch, after finally getting out of a meeting.
I had some other good conversations - with my manager, and with a neighbour when I went outside during a break (it was mostly about asbestos, but a chat nonetheless).
Today's course was enjoyable, and all about equal opportunities; it took the form of a board game, with questions relating to unconsious bias and groups who can face discrimination. Some of it was similar to last week's course, but fascinating (and at times shocking) nonetheless.
My success for today was that my "team" (yes, we had teams, and we had chats about the various discussion topics in breakout rooms, and I felt I made a good contribution) seemed to do well - the trainers gave out points based on what we fed back, and we won on points. I also somehow managed to come first in the mini-quiz that we did.
I also came up with our team name, "Building Bridges", which I thought was inspired.
I always like when I feel like I'm participating rather than just sitting and listening to others talk.
I'm just wondering now whether to make my evening meaningful, or just slump in front of the television.