Week 36, 2021 - Heading home soon

A passport kerfuffle turned this into an unplanned, extra week in Tokyo. It meant a couple of missed lunches and drinks in Paris and one 3am call but once I got over the feeling of being stranded, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I enjoyed a few more in-person coffees, museum visits, a bike ride and more time with my family. As a special bonus, the oranthaamus flowers (flagrant olive tree) started to bloom. This is my favorite scent in the world. Because I always visit in the summer and winter seasons, it’s been six? years since I was in the same city when they bloom for a few weeks in the autumn. What a gorgeous surprise!

The coaching training is chugging along and I’m learning so much. My mentor says to forget about “arriving” anywhere, that I’m already there, wherever that is, doing the work and that’s what it’ll continue to be. Yes, and I’m still expecting to feel some sort of “I’ve got this” at some point. Until I’m hit over the head with the next dimension of learning, of course… All in all, I find myself really enjoying the work of coaching. For a moment in time, the only responsibility I have in the world is to be present for the person in front of me. There is liberation in that. And while my skills for 1-1 coaching is in its infancy, what I’ve already learned so far is already paying dividends in all kinds of work conversations.