A Life in Beta

Its been a funny few months for reasons not appropriate just yet for this blog. But much reflection on the nature of existence and my personal/professional aspirations has been ongoing.

In the course of a recent conversation with the wonderful Aimie Chapple at Accenture, we got to discussing finding meaning in the things that we do. Aimie made an interesting observation that when she’s out and about in London – even at the oddest times, she is always interested in those people around her and what they are doing. And making the point that although we can never be sure on the specifics, each of those people we meet as we go on our merry way are doing something, serving some purpose, or ambition or need or aspiration. They (insert here).

It made me think about a section of the late, great Saul Bellow’s wonderful book ‘Seize the Day’, which in the course of its observations on the struggle of a once promising, now stunted life, offers this:

“On Broadway it was still bright afternoon and the gassy air was almost motionless under the laden spokes of sunlight, and sawdust footprints lay about the doorways of butcher shops and fruit stores. And the great great crowd, the inexhaustible current of millions of every race and kind pouring out, pressing round, of every age, of every genius, possessors of every human secret, antique and future, in every face the refinement of one particular motive or essence – I labor, I spend, I strive, I design, I love, I cling, I uphold I give way, I envy, I long, I scorn, I die, I hide, I want.  Faster, much faster than any man could make the tally”

It’s such a simple and yet powerful reflection. Try it next time you walk the mean streets of London or beyond. It has made me see my fellow travellers in a different and exciting light.

Now if I could only figure my own (insert here). For now I’ll settle for I blog.