Something fishy this way comes
There is a new fish and chip shop that's opened up on the road by my house. On the large sign on the front of the shop, the A-board and the door, it boasts “traditinel” and “freshely cooked food”.
I would like to point out now that this won't be a newsletter focussed on the snobbery of correct grammar and spelling. No, rather than admonish this new shop for the audacity with which they have so brazenly bought signage with such glaring mistakes, I am actually here to praise that audacity with a kind of awe-filled reverence.
There are many women (if not all women…) in this world who have had the experience of being approached by much less attractive men. We've had 80 year-old toothless men flirtatiously grinning at our female receptionists and I'm sure we've all got our equivalent tales. I distinctly remember standing in a passport queue on the way back from Amsterdam many years ago and being chatted up by the man/boy behind me. We literally weren't able to sustain a conversation for more than a few minutes and I remember simply turning back to finish the apple I was eating. Once through the passport gates, he asked me for my number. I was shocked: in what world would a feasible relationship be able to take place if we weren't able to really connect or understand each other enough to have a conversation beyond a few awkward pleasantries?! I'm sure every woman will have a story about the seemingly unfounded confidence of a man, and the bewildered bemusement in which his advancements left her.
I strongly suspect that fish and chip sign was ordered by a man. I'm in awe, really I am, of the confidence in which one might place an order like that without spell-checking. But I wonder, what is beneath my awe? Is there perhaps a hint of jealousy?
Time and time again, the grammar pedants among us will quietly wonder how much spelling really matters. In the words of old-school Vampire Weekend “who gives a f*** about an Oxford comma?” Ultimately, we all know what the sign means.
Open-mouthed, I imagine a world in which I have the confidence to print a metre-long sign with such obvious mistakes. (It reminds me of the time my cello teacher recommended I busk in the streets in my pyjamas as a way to overcome performance anxiety, because let's be honest, once you've done that, you're pretty much invincible.
Similarly, there's a nail store in Brighton which can only be described as incomplete and confused. It seems to have some strange moss-covered display in the window, one chair in the centre, and a disproportionately large coffee machine. It opened with what I would call a soft opening, with a kind of one foot in, one foot out sort of hesitancy.
If these businesses can open like this, then really what reason is there for us all not to do exactly what we want to do in this world? I can't vouch for the success of either shop, but I'm pretty certain it won't be spelling that will hold them back from profit.
Mindful moment: They say done is better than perfect. Generally, it can be assumed that procrastination often boils down to a fear of failure that we don't need to worry about confronting if we never try. I urge you all, then, if there is an idea you've had for a project or passion to pursue, then just to go for it! If traditinel shops can open selling freshely cooked fish, then there's nothing you can't do.
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Welcome to the Community.
I'm Laura, a yoga teacher and NHS doctor. With this weekly newsletter I aim to help you incorporate mindful moments into your week. I want you to feel inspired, empowered and creative. I promise to always be authentic; to only include content that speaks to me and which, therefore, I hope will do the same for you.
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