Monday evening, 3rd January 2011.  Today is a Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom since New Year’s Day fell on a Saturday.  As I write the bulk of the UK’s working population is preparing for the year’s first day back at work.

I have been preparing, too.  I have a session with a coaching client on the afternoon of my first day back which includes looking at feedback from her colleagues and I have taken time to review the feedback.  I have also been clearing out some of the e-mails which have landed during the holiday.

My preparations have been gentle and slow as I just about make it into first gear.  I am slowly recovering from a cold which I put down to my outbound flight to Copenhagen on Boxing Day (all those shared germs).  Even as I write I also recognise that I was susceptible at this time – the germs came and I said “yes, please come in”, as if my body knew to invite me to rest for a few days and to let everything wait.

As I have done many times before I think of the vocal coach I worked with, alongside my colleagues in the London Symphony Chorus.  Although I struggle to remember her name right now I do remember a key learning I took from our work together and whose application goes way beyond the art and craft of singing:  sometimes you have to breathe out before you breathe in.