It’s the end of May, and I wanted a blog post dated May, so it looks like I am “on top of” this blog stuff!

Checking back through my “proposed titles” and half written articles, nothing jumped out at me. So, this is totally off the cuff.

I just got back from a cycle ride.

Having taken the train to Wareham to collect my bike from the repair shop, the plan was to ride back.

Thankfully, the clouds had cleared to a breezy sunny afternoon. Its Purbeck art weeks, so local artists open up for visitors. I love it. Talking to people, finding out how they started, what their passion is, getting under the skin of it all.

Its calming, thinking not only how it presents now, but what the artist was thinking during creation, their focus and intent. I wonder how much they think about the final owner…my mind drifts to many perspectives!

Being late in the day so we only made it to one studio, but it was a collection of various artists, so a good selection of different media. Mooching through the studio taking in the variety was like time paused for a bubble moment.

On exiting the studio, to the bright late afternoon sunshine, we cycle on, up some punishing climbs. They felt that way mainly because I’m not as fit as I’d like to be right now! Rewards come however, from a stunning view over the harbour over to Bournemouth, and the Isle of Wight stands proud in the sunlight.

Weaving round, the next treat is Corfe Castle, again stretching into the sky bathed in the evening rays. A stop at the Bankes Arms on Studland is a requirement of course. You’ll struggle for a better beer garden, although The Pig on the Beach does provide further enjoyment!

On the Sandbanks ferry back, I realise I “lost” myself, I was totally in my “flow” this afternoon.

To have found something that challenges me, and provides me with escapism at the same time feels really fortunate. Normally this would be followed by a full on analysis; looking for some meaning, link it to theory or research. This time however, I am going to leave it as it, let you soak it in, and let you do the review!

Some questions to think on:

• where did I last lose myself?
• when was I last truly in “flow”?
• if it’s too long ago, what are you going to do about it?

OK, I can’t help myself, I’ll just give you one pointer to have a look at, as to why flow is important – go check out the work of Csikszentmihalyi.