Fell Foodie Harrison Ward reaches his six-year anniversary of being sober – and how his experiences have taken him the length and breadth of the country
There are times in life when you just wish things would slow down a little so you can actually have a moment to take them in.
Over the last few weeks it seems like I have travelled to almost every corner of England and Wales, giving corporate talks and attending events everywhere from Pembrokeshire to Cornwall, taking in Sheffield, the Brecon Beacons and last – but not least – deepest Suffolk.
This busy period of being on the road has also coincided with my six-year anniversary of being sober and this has been at the back of my mind when I have been sharing my experiences with others.
Six years ago, I looked at myself and said ‘Enough is enough, you need to change’.
However, this was just the beginning of a lot of hard work to turn my life around and I still have to work at it every day.
Some people use the word cured when they talk about recovery from addiction or mental health challenges. I’ve never felt that way.
It can feel easier as time passes but there are also moments of temptation, ups and downs in the battle against depression and the need to avoid complacency. I know I am only one drink away from dropping back into my old ways.
I am now lucky enough to be able to make a living from talking to businesses about what I have learned and how they can apply it to transforming their own organisations.
One key thing I try to get across is that change is not an event but an ongoing process. Change can take a long time, it won’t necessarily end up like you planned and you need to work at it.
This is why resilience is another key quality any person – or business – needs to have when they want to change. Real change is often difficult. It can feel scary and risky and at points you may doubt whether it’s possible. Is it really worth all this upheaval and hard work? Can you even do it?
With resilience you can stick the course but also adapt and react to make sure things change for the better.
However, resilience is harder in isolation. I doubt I would have been able to stay off the drink and plot a new course into a healthier new life in the outdoors had I not been given support and encouragement by innumerable people.
In a business this is the same; everyone needs to know that change is worthwhile and be invested enough in it to help each other through the process.
Finally, because change is hard, we sometimes need to give each other a break: Take time out to enjoy yourself, do something you love and reconnect with what is important.
When I travel across Britain it never ceases to amaze me how varied and beautiful this island is. There are so many wonderful places, no matter where you live, to get outdoors, take a breath and give yourself some time to think.
Employees, bosses, you and me – we all need to remember this, because change is certainly a lot easier when you’re feeling relaxed and recharged.
But, as much as I love to get out and explore the country, one of the great glories of living in the Lake District is that I always enjoy coming home.
I’m now looking forward to a few days, hopefully, soaking up the sun on the fells in Cumbria. In the future it would be fantastic to work with some companies closer to home as well – if only to save on the fuel bill!
