A Letter from Regine: How Will You Measure Your Life?

There is a book in the Open House Library called 'How Will You Measure Your Life?' by Clayton Christensen.

I first read that book many years ago, when it was recommended to me by Andre, and it's a question that has stuck with both of us ever since. How will we measure our lives? What is the metric that we would choose to determine a 'successful' life lived? What truly fulfills us, and gives us purpose?

I've been reminded of that book, and that question, recently as we've entered the month of September and the late days of summer.

For the past 6 months, it's felt like we've been waiting in anticipation of a busy summer. We had all been told that summer was the peak period in Hathersage, and the Peak District. We prepared ourselves for that peak to arrive - would it start in June? July? Surely in August?

I've heard many people comment that it's felt like summer never really arrived this year, and it's felt the same at Open House - that peak busy period we'd been so sure would happen, never seemed to fully materialise.

The summer holidays have officially ended now, with school/college term starting again this week.

And yesterday, on Friday, we noticed something interesting - the community cafe was much busier than we expected, and full of many familiar faces. "It's so lovely, it feels like all our regulars have shown up today," said Naomi.

Have we been looking at the wrong metric this entire time?

We anticipated a busy summer, but this was based upon a typical business model and the assumption of increased tourist traffic to the Peak District over the holiday period.

When actually, our primary metric has always been focused on community and connection. Now that everyone in our community is back from their summer travels and outdoor adventures, and settling back into their regular, comfortable routines - and as the days become colder and the nights become longer - is now the time for us to start to huddle indoors, to seek familiar company, and gather as community?

I think if there's one thing we've learned over the past 6 months, it's that it is impossible to predict anything in this journey. So I won't even attempt to predict what the next 6 months could look like at Open House, as we go into Autumn and Winter.

I am feeling hopeful for the next 6 months though.

I suppose it all depends on what metric we choose to look at.

“I think that’s the way it will work for us all. Don’t worry about the level of individual prominence you have achieved; worry about the individuals you have helped become better people.

This is my final recommendation: Think about the metric by which your life will be judged, and make a resolution to live every day so that in the end, your life will be judged a success.”

Clayton Christensen