Ripple Report: January & The Art of Extending
Capturing thoughts and reflections before they disappear!
At the start of this year, I set myself a quiet commitment: to write a Ripple Report each month—a reflection on my word of the year and how it's showing up in my life and work.
My word for 2025 is EXTEND, which soon morphed into an acronym:
Explore - what’s already inside me … memories, experiences, stories your body holds … reframe what feels heavy, use what makes me feel lighter, more grounded
eXperiment - with new ways of moving, feeling, experiencing and being
Tune in - to what sets me off, triggers me - learn to spot them early and find ways to calm and soothe myself
Expand - my comfort zone, stretch into new situations, meet new people, try new experiences
Nurture - the flow between my inner and outer worlds, they are always “talking” to one another!
Deepen - my connection to self, embrace lessons and experiences … enjoy the unfolding
So how is that working out for me? Here’s January in a nutshell!
January at Mach 10
January has been a whirlwind—a full-throttle start that had me extending in ways I didn’t quite expect. So, where have I stretched? What’s resonating most?
The year began at full speed with big projects needing my attention, and suddenly, those well-intentioned plans—better eating, more exercise—shimmied right out the door. But instead of berating myself, I just rolled with it.
What was actually required of me wasn’t more pushing, but pausing. Doing the work, yes, but in between? Sitting in the sun, reading, resting, tuning in. Because, lucky me, I wasn’t in the freezing UK. So I took the gift of warmth and used it wisely. And this is where last year’s word TEMPO met this year’s!
And that tuning in? It sparked something deeper.
The Many Hats I Wear
As an independent, every day is a blend of different projects, different people, different cultures, different versions of me that are called into play. It’s not just about switching skillsets, but tuning into what’s needed in terms of my being.
I realised for the first time that my old ways of planning felt too rigid, too repetitive—like Groundhog Day. Something needed to shift. So, I’ve been pausing more intentionally, checking in not just on what’s needed for others, but what’s needed for me.
The result? More focus. More presence. And (as you’ve probably seen from other posts on social media) getting sh*t done!
Where Have I Extended?
New work, new people – Every project brings fresh connections, and I love that. I’ve extended into new professional spaces, collaborating with new minds and perspectives.
Exploring and experimenting – Being in Spain, I pushed myself to immerse more in the local culture—trying new foods, visiting new places, re-starting my Spanish lessons (hello, rusty vocabulary!).
Creative curiosity – There are new podcast episodes in the works, and I’ve been exploring fresh topics—one of which is women in history and their diverse leadership styles. I’m sitting with this, letting the ideas marinate, but I expect to have more to say in next month’s Ripple Report.
Looking Ahead: February’s Extensions
The trick for February? More of the same.
EXTEND doesn’t have to mean extremes. It can be gentle stretching, mindful expansion, deeper tuning in. Of course, that pesky desire for movement and healthier habits is still whispering at me. Maybe February will be the month for that shift—maybe not.
Let’s see.
In the meantime—how are you extending? Where are you stretching, nudging your boundaries, or simply tuning in to what’s needed?
Bring…Breathe…Be
WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR LIFE? DROP ME A LINE AND LET’S TALK!
Bobby Davis is a qualified executive and team coach with extensive experience in organisational development, business change (the people angle), human resources and personal leadership.
Her coaching experience is against a backdrop of 30+ years working in managerial and human resources/OD roles in the British Army, Not for Profits, Professional Services and most recently with a private equity owned Hotel Group.
She has led the People “strand” within large business transformation programmes, creating people strategies, internal coaching schemes and embedding strong performance cultures, as well as supporting at all levels of an organisation to implement effective change.
She is absolutely passionate in her pursuit to support, challenge and deliver sustainable change for individuals, teams and organisations, one person at a time if necessary!
You can catch her for a chat about coaching, using your body better as a leader and/or supporting you in HR/OD here Bobby Davis FCIPD PCC | LinkedIn
And check out her dulcet tones in “More Than A Lumpy Jumper” - Conversations about Leadership, Life and Learning here More Than a Lumpy Jumper | Podcast on Spotify
