I saw this exhibit on display recording some of the local history of a village I was near. I was caught by the written message below:

ЕРІТАРН. ОСТОВЕR 1965

I sadly report that the "General
Stores” side of our village Past Office
is closing down. The owner has
been beaten by chain-store, cut-price
competition.
Must we, too, join the Super Market
queues?

Sixty years later we are in a similar position with changes inevitably not settling following the pandemic. The look on our High Streets has changed – some subtle, some significant. It is inevitable that more change will happen.

When we look at so many streetscapes and landscapes on a regular basis the small changes may go unnoticed. It is not until someone, who has not seen these scenes for a while, makes comment on some of the more significant changes that we then notice.

This raises a few thoughts...

How much was this General Store used? All too often people lament the loss of something, yet have rarely used the services, or purchased their supplies from there.

Perhaps the owners were not selling things people wanted. Often a small shop has the advantage of convenience and the supply of what is needed, rather than what is assumed people want.

One can imaging too, that at the time of the closure of this Store, the rise in ownership of cars, with the ability to travel, much improved. Opening up new horizons, new choices. No need to carry heavy shopping bags so far either, as parking on a High Street would have been usual at no cost.

Since then, many High Streets have become pedestrian areas, with ‘batch parking’, at a cost, a distance away. The Super Market mentioned in the message in the picture would now be on the edge of town with a large car park with free parking.

Or, as the pandemic made usual, a van with our shopping will arrive at the front door, everything purchased online. The familiar sight of regular van deliveries, for all manner of things, has become usual. The cycle (motorised or pedal) that arrives with prepared hot or cold food and drink, almost unconceivable a few years ago, now too a regular sight – the order placed only a short time before.

Perhaps reflect on one’s own work and life:

• What are the big changes? The more subtle changes? Which were painful and which brought joy?
• What has not changed that needs to?
• What is still bringing joy that a quick look at will indicate if something needs to be done to keep it ‘alive’ in the longer term?
• What might you be doing that, like the old General Store, is in the last embers of a once thriving business, or enjoyable activity…what could you do to bring life back into something that once gave you pleasure?

As always these are but a few questions and something I would suggest worth taking some time to review. You will have thoughts and questions of your own. Life can seem settled yet are small, and possibly big changes building?

This can be a time of real opportunity a time to open a new chapter!

My best wishes,

Peter