Scaffolding

Dear friend,

What happens when you let go of preconceived ideas about how your day will flow? Not as an experiment, but out of necessity.

Sunday evening was a treat. We were invited to a party at our friend’s place in Bloomsbury, and we stayed behind for a chat after all the other guests had said their farewells—which was lovely and flattering.

It was the first Christmas party for us this year.

I’ve acquired continental drinking habits, so I woke up with only a mild hangover—more like a fuzzy head than anything else.

Over breakfast, I received a message from Pablo asking if I was home and if I could help him dismantle some scaffolding.

It’s not like Pablo to ask for help. He’s the guy who usually offers it, so I drank my coffee, put on my blue boiler suit, scruffier work shoes, and woolly hat, and walked the ten minutes to his place.

I’m not brilliant with heights, but the scaffolding was only a couple of stories high, and we took our time working out how to bring the structure safely down into the back garden.

I now have a fresh respect for scaffolders, and it was a lot of fun balancing the planks and the huge metal poles. Pablo showed me how to use gravity rather than get used by it.

We finished just in time for me to make it to the Raven group meeting. All six members were together for the first time in years.

We met on one of Seth Godin’s Akimbo courses during the first lockdown, and we’ve stayed friends ever since.

After the Raven meeting, I jumped in the car and met Patrick at his karate club for a “bring a buddy” event, where I had an introduction to the basics by Paul, a black belt.

Then I introduced Patrick to Pax after we drove over to see his new home and say hello to his partner, Silvia.

And now it’s nearly midnight, and I’m sitting in my car writing this to you.

What happens?

Life.

At the party yesterday, another friend, Barry, asked me what I was up to. We hadn’t seen each other for a while.

“I’m enjoying my life,” I heard myself say.

“Can’t critique that, can you!” was his reply.

Now, in the car, thinking about getting home and wondering if Chiara will still be awake, one thing is obvious:

It’s not about the number of friends you have. Just having one good person in your life—just that—is enough.

And if there is more than one, then you can truly consider yourself blessed.

Till tomorrow,

Love,

Mikey