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to read these files again?

Point is is that these are important family records. Detailed accounts about the days leading up to and following the birth a person into the world. Nothing about me exists like that and I'm sure my daughter would love to be able to read it herself but I may have to face the fact she'll have to rely on my verbal memories which, over time, will not be as specific or vivid as when written down on the day it happened.

So where is this discussion taking us? Well, it was inspired by a friend of mine who is visiting the US in a few weeks and has been forced to change is plans because he now can no longer meet with the people he was going to see. Effectively this trip will be done alone. My first thought was Fabulous!' because it's such an opportunity. However much I love my family, and I do dearly, my best holiday was the one I took alone back in 1996. This lasted three weeks and had absolutely no itinerary apart from a couple of flying visit, meet-ups along the way.

Each morning when I woke I had no idea in which direction I would be headed. In those three weeks I visited the Peak District, Snowdonia, Isle of Anglessey, Dublin, Liverpool, the Lake District, Loch Lomond, Isle of Aran, the Edinburgh Festival, Stratford-upon-Avon and the the Norfolk coast in East Anglia. A whistle-stop tour of four countries in 19 days covering 2000 miles. I kept a record of most of my experiences and it's a fascinating read as far as I'm concerned and all the more clear because of the notes I took.

However, my friend was anxious. What would he do, where would he go? He was so preoccupied with filling his time he was missing a very important point. Life gives you these blank schedules with alarming rarity. He felt he had use every second to get the most of the trip but I don't think the best holidays work like that. Why not go with the flow? Why not go where the mood takes you or just sit and enjoy the spot you are in.

I suggested buying a completely blank notebook without even the faint lines to write on but with only clear white pages. To me this was an analogy for the future: it's not written and there are no rules. Even lined notepaper as an element of conformity about it.

I told him to go where he was drawn to and if for whatever reason he was not happy, go somewhere else. If he felt like reading for a day or two or writing just do it. He decides what goes in his book. He can write accounts of the day events or just sketch what he sees before him. He can write songs or poetry or get his thoughts on paper of an issue in his life that has been troubling.

The blank notebook is everyone's future. WE decide what goes in it. I suggest we all buy a journal and write the future for ourselves and let it unfold before us.

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Orbell.
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