Kickin’ it this November

Kicking Around…Again

The image here is looking into a football/soccer kitbag which was in early July. At that time I was completing my fifth season of youth football coaching. Being a part of the community but especially giving back to my personal mission of encouraging and teaching girls football, was a huge part of my Saturday mornings for nine months a year. However, due to not having daughters and a son who plays at the same time, I decided to give it up.

Upon doing so, I realized that football has been a huge part of my life since the first grade and coaching had rekindled that. And that I didn't want to stop again. I hadn't played regularly in about 8 years when I began coaching and now in finishing, it had been 13 years since regular play. It is something I can't describe to someone who hasn't played, but it's a thrill unlike any other. It's also exercise! And fresh air. And camaraderie. And coordination. And communication.

So, at a Business Shed meeting in early September, I told Jodie that one of my business goals was to make time to play football weekly and because I said it out loud to my business group, I now had accountability to make it happen. I had a realization that there are many reasons I run my own business and one of those should be to create time for things I wouldn't normally do if I had a "normal" job working for an employer in an office (as I did for many, many years).

With this new mentality, you'll see I don't answer emails right away on Friday mornings and that's because I've pulled on my long, blue socks, tucked my black shinguards underneath, and laced up my grey cleats with the same focus I used to have for nearly 25 years of playing (youth in-town league, youth travel league, high school, university club team, and many after-work leagues back in NYC). I head to one of our local commons to play with women of all ages and to be coached by a former English professional player. I am constantly humbled by the game and reminded that I can always learn new things, that my conditioning definitely isn't what it was when I was at my peak of playing, but at the same time wouldn't want to be doing anything else on a Friday morning (unless it's freezing and a full-on rainstorm).

So let this be a push for you to do "that" thing that you love and to make time for it if you can. Especially if you're a small business owner, you've created this life for yourself – use it wisely. I'm 100% if I told any former employer that I wouldn't be coming into the office until 11am on Fridays because I was off playing soccer that I'd have to cease that activity or be terminated immediately. Now, I'm not letting myself look at my computer screen until that activity has been done. And my Friday focus has never been better.

WHERE: The Half Moon Pub, Herne Hill

WHAT and WHY: A couple of weekends ago, my husband and I were out for dinner in Herne Hill and asked the server at the end of dinner where she'd recommend for a pint nearby. She directed us to this beautiful pub with the most stunning details on the outside. I loved the small bit of typography in the middle of some of the windows and of course had to photograph it before stepping inside (and ordering one of the worst pints of cider I've had in this country).

Client

Vivi & Grace

THEIR MISSION

Create skincare for pre- and post-natal Mums – women whose skin is going through a lot of changes before and after giving birth. Post-natal products to have clean ingredients especially, as baby will be physically on this skin.

MY PROJECTS

Branding, logo design, packaging design, social templates, print materials.