There is always an unexpected gift that we receive when we are in the area that we call home and we notice something new. Seeing things for the first time offers a joy, a new experience, new knowledge, something different... and when this happens in a familiar place it provides the opportunity for a new learning. 

The other day I took a London Underground train into central London - I was on my way to a quarterly in person faculty meeting for coach trainers. The train carriage was empty. I looked up and noticed the regular ads that one sees and then noticed a poem (above is the photo I took). I love the poems on the underground - there is always something to reflect on. 

Always For The First Time

We tell our stories of war like stories

of love, innocent as eggs.

But we will meet memory again

at the wall around our city,

always for the first time.

by Gabeba Baderoon

I was left wondering what is it like to meet a memory again? 

The first sleep in a new home, the first day at work, the last day at work, meeting a child for the first time, traveling to a new location? 

They all evoke tantalising memories.

Then I imagine, what is it like to meet a new part of me for the first time?

And I am left wondering what is it like to meet yourself for the first time?

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For a precious, loved memory the meeting again might be sacred, it might feel like you are have captured a paper thin fragment of gold.

It could be evasive and obvious, rare and often,

and full of energy and peace. 

How might you describe it?

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And the memories that we may not wish to meet might be the ones that give us most to learn from, to reflect on, and to gain… and lose.

Memories of difficulties, hardship, and challenge.

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They are all evocative… as is everything in between. 

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And I read the poem again and wonder have we created a wall around our own cities?

Or has someone else, or something else done that?

Do we have a wall around the place that we are?

Who are we keeping in, and who are we shutting out by the presence of a wall around our own city?

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What does the the poem bring up for you? 

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As you know I am a real advocate for reflective practice. I've been doing it since I trained as an architect many years ago. It is a very powerful way of engaging with yourself, what you do, and how you show up. I encourage you to spend a few minutes engaging with 'always for the first time' again and paying attention to what emerges for you. 

PS - This is the kind of reflection you will be invited to do in The Courage to Belong retreat in February 2025. You can find out more about it here, it would be lovely to see you there.