A weekly thought for leaders with the courage to introspect.
I have always been in love with it, so that it remains in perfect condition.
Sometimes I meet people who seem to have everything in order.
A successful career. A busy schedule. A tightly defined life.
But somewhere on the sidelines of the conversation, something slips out.
An old dream.
A forgotten fascination.
A version of herself that once gave light, but has now grown dim.
“I used to write,” someone says.
“Or painted.”
“Or danced.”
“Or I wanted to help people. Really help.”
And then I look quietly for a moment.
Because I know what that means.
Not that they are unhappy.
But that something is waiting.
Something that can no longer be ignored.
We don't lose who we are.
We lose sight of the fact that we ever made room for that.
And don't call it a midlife crisis.
Call it a memory.
An inner reminder of something that is still there.
Maybe you're still the writer.
The builder.
The creator.
The comforter.
Under that PowerPoint.
During that team meeting.
Under the costume of structure and results.
And maybe it's time to listen to that again.
Not to change everything.
But to add something.
An hour.
A half day.
A place.
So that not only does your work continue to grow,
but also you.
The space between the words is where insight arises.
Until next week when our thoughts touch again.
Hans Ruinemans, Boardroom Monk ☯️