I have lived on a floating island for long enough now that certain things have become non-negotiable. You do not fight the river. You do not ignore the tide. You do not assume the weather will cooperate.
The metaphors write themselves. But they also happen to be literally true.
Living on water teaches you, daily, that control is an illusion held together by good plumbing and a decent anchor. Everything moves. The light moves. The seasons move. The ducks have opinions.
And somehow, in all that movement, something in you settles. Because when the external world is never still, you have to find stillness inside yourself. It's not philosophical. It's practical.
Whatever your version of the river is, find it. Get near it as often as you can.
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The houseboat interiors that cost almost nothing.
Building a daily practice that you'll actually do, including the times you won't.
The Agadir surf trip, why travel matters in this family.
If you want to talk about what settles you, write to me at anna@annalouoflondon.com or message me on WhatsApp.
If cold water is not available to you and you want the same thing another way, Breath and frequency is the session for it. 60 minutes, one to one and private, online or in person at The Hare and the Moon in Twickenham on a Tuesday between 10am and 1.30pm. Book a Tuesday.