Focusing on strength and in the hope of wild serendipity, I often encourage my beloved therapy clients (and sometimes family members) to break long-established habits and reach for the unusual, the unpredictable.

“What can you plan to take yourself and your family and friends by pleasant and even shocking surprise?” I may ask. 

One client, living in Eastern Europe, took a few weeks to unveil his plan. 

He took me by delightful surprise and declared he’d planned a solo train journey. 

“Prague to London?” I questioned, thinking this would an adventure. 

“Jakarta,” he said, “Prague to Indonesia, it will take a few months in trains and a short ferry ride right at the end.”

I suggested my  Australian brother break his own rules, be a little edgy, take us by surprise. 

Within 24 hours he announced he’d already fulfilled the challenge.

“What?” I enquired, “what unexpected and wild thing have you done in response to my challenge.

He confided: “I woke early this morning and, and walked to the bakery in UN-IRONED shorts.”

May you and I, somewhere between those extremes, break our established patterns, engage in something edgy, exciting. May our actions refresh us and inspire those around us to find their own version of taking themselves and others by surprise.

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Table with a view….