A decade ago, a friend asked me: what did I want my life to look like? It completely floored me that I had no idea. I’d only had one aim, to be an art curator. I pursued it beyond what most people would consider sensible and eventually succeeded. Work was not only professionally fulfilling, it became my world – the source of financial independence, friendships, where I lived and loved.
I sat down and drew a circle. The circle represented my life. Within it was everything in my life at that time – what was at the centre? What was further out and what, frankly, was so far outside the circle there wasn’t paper large enough to contain it.
Then I drew a second circle - how would I rearrange these? What was missing and what did I want to be rid of? Over time, I repeated this and slowly what mattered to me became clearer and more central.
Not long ago, I came across a list from that time of what I hoped to achieve in the next 5 years. Reader, I became that homeowner, went self-employed and met my partner. If this is sounding too Disney, let me assure you that it was bloody hard. Identifying what you want your life to look like then pursuing it, brings discomfort and a life that is continually evolving. At times, it felt like jumping off a cliff with no idea what was beyond the edge. Truly a leap of faith.
Since then, we have relocated to Galloway in South West Scotland. I thought that moving would be the big change then life would be more settled. Yet living in a rural area of exceptional beauty, my focus has altered again and here I am, a designer with a new business. Within a year, our way of life is unrecognisable once more as we shed the skins of our previous lives. It is a life where we continue to strive towards our goals, but it is a life that feels utterly ours.
Circles, it seems, are a continuous loop rather than a closed circuit.