Shanghai musings (part 2)
thoughts while relaxing in the hotel about China, life, and other stuff
Went for a walk to the nearby park this morning, it was so peaceful and clean and full of nature. Where I ended up sitting had some exercise machines behind me. A group of young people came and started using them while chatting and laughing. I thought it was lovely that they did this.
There is so much good in the way Chinese people live their lives - what can we learn? What can we adapt? I guess it may have to start with a change of attitude, so often in the UK we feel neglected, unheard, by those in charge - whether it be politicians or corporate entities of simply our bosses, colleagues, and the people we interact with daily.
We don't seem to care ... Here I see so much beauty, murals on walls, sculptures, parks. And I know that in the UK there is a good chance that these would be destroyed, covered in graffiti, misused. Yes, there is surveillance everywhere here, but to be honest, it's all over the UK too. Is it a sense of belonging that we need our population to believe? To feel?
How do we achieve this?
How can I make a difference?
How can we move towards a more holistic way of life, one that respects everyone and also the natural environment in which we live?
What is the potential?
What does a holistic way of life look like to me? One where I do useful work, one where the work I am employed to do gets done in the way which fulfils my obligations to my workplace but also allows me to thrive in the best way for me. It's not about being 'lazy' or demanding, it's about working effectively. It's about giving my best to all areas of my life. It's about thriving.
It's about being able to take breaks when my body needs them. It's about designing a life where I can feel fulfilled without feeling obliged to do certain things in certain ways. Where I can flourish. Where I can spend two hours exercising in the middle of the day and fulfil my work obligations around it.
And why are my first thoughts around work? Why is my first reaction to design my life around work? Because we need to work to live, to provide, to be worthy ...
Work is something we do in order to live the life we desire.
I think this is one of the things I find a constraint, frustrating, about my current role - there is an inflexibility around work hours, even having to request an 8am start, even to being told I 'should' take a full hour for lunch. An hour which I am not getting paid for. An hour which has consequence for my journey home, for my own time.
Is it demanding and privileged to ask this? Perhaps, probably, there are many roles in society where this would be impossible. However, if the ability and opportunity is there, if it is not going to unduly impact on the work I produce or my interaction with others, then where is the problem? In fact, if allowed to work in my own way then there would quite likely be a rise in my productivity, in the quality of my work.
Why is it so hard to be able to take a nap in the middle of the afternoon without guilt, even though I make it up later I still feel the guilt. And the privilege. However, that privilege is not harming others. If it was then I would not want to exercise it.