Water I Wind I Bruce Lee

Last week, we talked about my retreat in Portugal and in doing so, how we can find space for ourselves and also master the Art of War. This week’s letter discusses the strength of an underlying current, as opposed to the fickle hot air. 

At the end of August, I spent time with my parents whom I hadn’t seen for some time. My parents brought me to a place they discovered and loved in the Alps, a place called Barcelonnette. Nested in the Ubaye Valley, at the corner of several very high peaks (with the highest road of Europe), this very little charming town is a pure breath of fresh air with breathtaking sceneries. Very resourcing and rejuvenating. Just what I needed after so many months working home and in the constant stress of a big city like London. 

Have you been to the high mountains in the summer? It was a real discovery for me. I normally go to the seaside but gosh, I can only recommend! 

In The only way is down several letters ago, I elaborated on the beauty of the mountains in the winter, enjoying the thrill of a downhill ski. Well, in the summer it is the opposite, most people go uphill, cycling or walking.

One day, my dad and I decided to go for a proper mountain hike. A father and son day. With a guide obviously, an amazing young fellow, Baptiste! 

As we wanted to feel one with nature, here we were at the bottom of this magnificent (and rather physical) walk, that was about to last for 7 hours (…far from my London daily routine). 

As we started walking, I noticed a fresh wind whistling in the trees, perfect on this hot summer day. Further up the path, I noticed the river we were walking next to. It was a small, crisp and quiet river. We were at the end of August. Our guide showed us specific rocks that this tiny current moved in our path. This insignificant little river could clearly transport the largest rock and at times transform itself into the strongest current moving anything in its way. More than this, it could carve out its own route in the hardest stone. This gigantic valley was created by this little river…

And so it hits me…

…the wind gets all the attention. The wind howls and the wind gusts… But the wind is light.

The current, on the other hand, is strong, grounded, persistent and heavy.

In a river, it’s the current that will move the canoe far more than the wind will. But the wind distracts us.

Closer to us, the current is something deep that moves us without noticing such as the educational institutional complex, the network effect, the digitalisation of our society, the rolling of Moore’s Law or cultural trends that last for decades. The current is persistent like our systems of class and race and gender, and the powerful economic system in place. It can be overcome, worked out or changed but it takes a focused effort.

On the other hand, the wind is the breaking news of the moment, the latest social media sensation and the thin layer of hype that surrounds us. It might be a useful distraction but our real work lies in overcoming the current, or changing it, and not being set off course by light diversions.

It helps to recognise it first and to ignore the wind when we can.

My friend, be grounded, strong and directed like the current and avoid the lightness that doesn’t last and scattering that brings you nowhere!

QUESTION…

What “wind” tends to set you off course of your goal?

What “current” do you need to follow or become to reach your goals?