Sliding Doors
Do you have movies that stay with you long after the credits have run? They are not necessarily your favorite film or one that you enjoyed particularly, but something in it sticks with you, almost haunts you.
There is one which I think of regularly, Sliding Doors, a movie from 1998 (the year I moved to the UK – this is relevant), where the main character, after a seemly ordinary occurrence, her life plays out in two parallel lives. In one life, after racing down to the subway she steps on to the waiting train and in the another, the sliding doors of the train close just before she can get on.
Why has this movie stuck with me? I think that it is the idea that every single thing we do, or don’t do can impact the rest of our lives. Not necessarily better or worse, but that we have much more opportunity to change our path than we even know.
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As I mentioned, I moved to the UK in 1998, 8 weeks after I had graduated from University. In this case, I made the decision and carved a path, but there were so many small ‘sliding door moments’ that happened all along the way which could have changed everything.
Sliding door moments are happening every day, every minute. We just don’t get Hollywood playing out what the parallel life is.? The point is that every day we have the ability to influence and change the course we are on. We are doing it all the time without knowing it, so just think about what we can do if we set our mind on it.?
I have had several important ones too, but I don't think of them nor regret of them, as to me there are not coincidences but they happen so each of us can be the best professional we can be.
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6 个月Amazing short read Philippa. Absolutely agree! These are kind of reminders to seize opportunities as they come and stay open to unexpected. I have had few like a spam looking call that I was hesitating to take but that ended in a job offer, meeting my to-be spouse at a party that I didn't want to attend at first and so more ??
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6 个月I also think of this movie reasonably regularly, it stuck with me. Sometimes I find myself wandering off to what ‘might have happened if I had’ only to find that more and more I come back very pleased with the decisions I have made in certain moments in life. But one the other hand it helps me learn my patterns in life that I need to be aware of. Perhaps times I should have spoken up etc. This awareness also helps me pause in certain moments and be more thoughtful than perhaps I was before I watched this movie so I’m grateful for it. Would have been an awesome role to play. Haven’t seen GP in years wonder what’s she is doing now. Thanks for sharing ????
Helping leaders to cut through the noise. Founder, CEO, author, speaker, leadership communications specialist.
6 个月I had one of those job application moments where I was down to the last 2 people for an entry level CSR job at ABN AMRO in the Netherlands (remember them?) I was upset when I didn't get it, but pressed go on my very-much-a-backup-plan to go and work with an L&D team at an Indian tech company in Chennai. Although as I got on the plane my heart wasn't 100% in it, India and all the people I met there stole my heart. I CANNOT imagine my life today without my Indian adventure and all the richness living there brought me. So... I'm not sure whether it was a choice - it may have just been a lucky happening, but I'm ever so grateful that that's the way it landed for me.
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6 个月So true Philippa Clifford-Davies. It never ceases to amaze me though how people can often take it to the positive or negative extreme depending on whether they feel things are good or bad for them at that moment. I head a phrase a little while ago that has stuck with me:- Instead of worrying whether you made the right decision, make the decision right"