This summer I decided to do things differently. Rather than running headlong into August with a huge to-do list, my challenge was to slow down. It was to be an eventful month. I had chance to observe, reflect and to think more deeply. This blog shares the things that had the most impact.

The Olympics

While the opening ceremony as a whole did not particularly impress me (probably a story for another time!), the sight of Celine Dion belting out her stunning rendition of Edith Piaf’s  Hymne a L’amour certainly did. It was an exceptional performance from a supremely talented artist. But it represented much more than that.

Celine’s struggles have been well documented. She was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in 2022. It is an incurable condition which affects the control she has over her muscles, and therefore her ability to sing. This was to be her first performance since the diagnosis. To say she smashed it would be an understatement. It would set the scene for some equally epic sporting performances each of which was an individual triumph over adversity.

There would be few athletes at the Games who had not had to overcome enormous struggles and make huge personal sacrifices. They each had their back story but what we saw, was the result of not letting it hold them back. There are many examples I could quote but Noah Lyles, the 100m gold medallist, captured it when he said:

I have asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADD, anxiety and depression. But I will tell you that what you have does not define what you can become. Why Not You!

My takeaway message: everyone has their story despite how perfect their life may look. Success lies in stepping beyond that and writing a better ending.

Impressive women

I have been heartened to see women of colour taking an increasingly important role on the world stage as Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee for US president. Were she not to win, the alternative scenario is unimagineable to me, and so I have taken much more of an interest in what is going on.

Always a fan of Michele Obama (and still completely besotted with Barak), I watched with interest as she spoke at the Democratic National Conference. Part of her role was to introduce her husband but in my opinion, she outshone him on this occasion. She was eloquent, emotive and convincing, drawing on the powerful and enduring influence of her mother who recently passed away. Kamala Harris was equally as impressive. Principled and passionate, bold and determined, she has brought an energy and joy to a campaign that, in truth, was sadly lacking under Joe Biden.

Both women shared their stories as children of immigrants who lived at a time when segregation still existed. They recounted the struggles and sacrifices their parents made to give them a better life. They told of the values that had been instilled into them, and which shaped who they are today. It is a shocking indictment of our times that anyone, let alone two incredibly talented women operating at the very top of their game, still endures vile abuse simply because of the colour of their skin. True to their mothers though, and in the words of Maya Angelou, ‘still they rise’,  continuing their fight for a better future for all.

My takeaway message: it is the 21st century and yet prejudice and inequality on the basis of colour, religion, gender or sexuality still persists. It exists in many forms, some more veiled than others, but all equally unacceptable. We must continue to call it out, reject those who play a part in disseminating it, and support those affected by it.

The UK riots

It would be remiss to look back at August without touching on events closer to home. The scenes of rioting and destruction were a devastating reflection of the hate and division that currently exists in our country. It is even sadder that they were triggered by factually incorrect posts on social media, although this was simply the spark that lit the flames of frustrations much longer in the making. Disaffected and often misinformed people, stoked by others (politicians, the media, and so-called influencers) who are usually just looking for an opportunity to further their own causes, is a recipe for the kind of disaster we witnessed.

However, when there is hardship there is also hope. It wasn’t long before it shone bright. A group of Muslims who, holed up in mosque in Liverpool as they were pelted with bricks and targeted with racist abuse, chose to do something extraordinary. They made food and took it out to those very same people who were assaulting them and their faith; a brave and selfless act of reconciliation. And how wonderful to see the thousands of people who took to the streets in support of inclusion, respect for others, and to protect their communities.

My takeaway message: good ultimately prevails over evil and, as Michele Obama would say: ‘When they go low, we go higher’.

A book

I don’t usually get much chance to read. So what a treat it was to escape to my lockdown loft for half an hour each day. I had been recommended Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. It tells the story of the part he played in orchestrating the rise of Eleven Maddison Park, a restaurant in NYC, to number one in the world. As I read on, I realised that what started off as a book on business, had a relevance that went way beyond.

The author worked for Danny Meyer, a well known restaurant owner who was a big influence on him. Danny built his reputation on excellent service tailored to individual needs. He prioritised both the customer experience, as well as that of the team who were so instrumental in providing it. He communicated his ethos and vision via simple, easy to understand phrases that formed the basis of a unique culture. ‘Make the charitable assumption‘ was one that stood out for me.

For Danny Meyer that meant seeing beyond the exterior and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. If a customer was difficult it meant understanding that it could be symptomatic of the challenges they were facing. Without excusing the behaviour, he was clear that standards of service should be maintained  and that ‘maybe this person needs more love and more hospitality than anyone else in the room’. It is an approach that we could all do well to emulate.

My takeaway message: Don’t judge and be kind – always. You never know what someone might be going through.

Slow living: the conclusion

As August drew to a close, we set off for our summer break. We started with a few days in Somerset close to Frome, a very bijou town which was, in some ways, home from home. Then it was on to the depths of Cornwall and a cottage 1.5km up a country track. Here, you couldn’t really get much slower!

It seems that in choosing to slow down, I have unwittingly been following a new trend. Apparently #slowliving has been used over 6 million times on Instagram. Disillusioned by the baby boomers’ approach, millennials are doing things differently. For them, quality of life and peace of mind is top priority. Just like the chef in fact who has been living his life like that for years!

I will be happy to be back to a normal routine next week, but I have so enjoyed my month in the slow lane.

My takeaway message: turning down the volume is essential to our wellbeing and, despite what we might think, it’s completely within our control to make it happen.