What The British Museum Taught Me

Moonrise Over Margaret River

Life brings precious moments of clarity. Such a moment came to me on a visit to the British Museum with my family. I was looking in a glass case at a jewel and diamond encrusted snuff box. I had my young son with me.

I looked up and saw our reflection in the glass. At that second I realised the irony. Here I am focused on this trinket, an expression of enormous excess, instead of my own son.

I was never going to get a snuff box. I had no interest in it. What was I doing gazing at at this silly thing when my adorable boy was right there beside me? I had a moment of clarity about what is worth focusing on in life.

I’ve told my friends this story and they groan. Don’t get me wrong I do understand raising children is hard work. I know women do the lion’s share of this work for no pay. I don’t wish to romanticise what is involved in being present in the life of a child. That said, I’ve often reflected on the teaching of that moment.

Our family travelled on to Paris. We stayed in the city. After the London experience, I didn’t bother sightseeing. I walked into a shop and bought a soccer ball. My son and I played soccer in a park strewn with dog poo. There was so much of it that I had to pick the ball up with a plastic bag. We just kicked the ball around and had fun, really good fun. At one point in the day, a man on a motorcycle pooper scooper came to service the area, but his efforts were pretty futile.

That day in the park dodging the dog poo and laughing with my son is one of my most precious memories. We all make errors of judgement in life, but it is lovely to recall those fabulous times when we do get things right. Close relationships are what matters most. Shiny bling may look like treasure, but what is really precious is right across the dinner table from you.

I try to adjust focus when I find myself too distracted. It is my people who are most valuable to me. That’s what became clear to me that day in the British Museum.

 

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