The last week of July puts Switzerland and most of Europe solidly in summer holiday season. The French and Italians largely disappear from business for the entire month of August.
If you don't plan ahead, your work slows down whether you want it to or not. We did our best to prepare - especially now that at least one person on our team will be out on vacation every week through September. Fortunately, a few new projects for both my business and my clients' team should keep us steady.
I also tried to anticipate the season by jumping eagerly online July 1st at 7 a.m. to grab a few nights of open air cinema tickets in Zurich. For a month, the telecomms company Orange sponsors films by the lake. When the weather is nice, an evening cannot be better. I saw The Band's Visit a couple of weeks ago. Fun and quirky. My friend and I arrived early to share a bottle of wine and an enthusiastic mutual update. Then last night, I had extra tickets and arrived myself only barely in time for a quick dinner and to watch that big screen rise over the lake again.
The movie fit my week - which was sure no light and airy summer escape. Le Scaphandre et le Papillon (The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) in its intensity made me even forget I was listening in French (which I don't understand) and reading German subtitles, usually still an effort for me.
It was as if the "world" decided to remind me this week why I made changes in my life: I have seen reason to ponder which direction is best for my business, for continuing to grow as a person, for following the path I thought I set forward (the constant dilemma of an entrepreneur). And as if to say "listen, girl!" I gained a new client project for which I will do what I love best professionally (designing and facilitating a corporate discussion) right when I was thinking about what kind of work I really wanted. And for the first time we spoke primarily German as we outlined the goals, just a few days after I decided to finally return to my German lessons.
Last night I felt frustrated that one of my client projects was making it difficult for me to leave the office. That, in fact, it seemed to be accomplishing the opposite of my overall life goals as I finally arrived home at 8:00 p.m. then raced out to the lake. There is always so much to do and the challenge of deciding what can be delegated and when you can afford more help. And there were silly squabbles this week among some women who are supposed to represent "professionalism" to others. I was begining to feel a weird mix of exasperation and numbness.
Then the movie abruptly reminded me that life is short, unpredictable and valuable for the small moments and opportunities not squandered.
The close of the The Band's Visit drew enthusiastic, smiling applause a few weeks ago. Le Scaphandre et le Papillon drew absolute silence. The entire audience sat quietly in the dark while the screen credits slowly rolled. I felt we collectively shared the humanity of knowing it was a true story and a few moments of realizing we could still feel the breeze off of the lake. How unfair it seemed in some way. I found myself deeply moved to move forward.
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