Location Location Location

I found myself thinking about one of my old business lecturers recently with this title. If there was one thing I took from those classes it was his wise words “The first thing to consider in any business is location, location, location” These words were uttered by my lecturer on marketing with his Bolton accent and the look of a scared rabbit that always seemed to be on his face but still the statement stuck.

It’s a phrase that I think can be applied to a lot of things, writing and life in general. Location matters a great deal. In story writing, locations and how we describe them can make all the difference. For example a creaky floorboard in a darkened corridor whilst you are home alone makes the reader feel a sense of apprehension or even fear for what is going to befall your character. Move that location to broad daylight in a house full of people and well you catch my drift, the same feelings are lost.

In life the same rules apply. Where we are matters almost as much as who we are with. A dark dull room can effect your emotions and how you feel in general. A sunny day and a clear blue sky hold the power to transport us physically and mentally to somewhere better. I hold firm to the belief that there is truth in the saying “A change is as good as a rest.” Especially if you do not have the funds (like me at the moment) to whisk yourself off to sunnier climes, but you can still change your location. Maybe just going to your favourite cafe for a cup of tea will rejuvenate you even if it is for a little while, those fleeting moments are worth it.

One of my favourite places is the Mumbles Cafe in Swansea, where the piano is played by invisible fingers and you can stare out at the ocean and lose yourself in it. But the magic only works when it’s quiet, quiet enough so you can hear the music softly caressing your ears like a lover’s kiss. It loses something when you can barely hear your own thoughts over others conversations and children’s agitations.

But when those moments happen they stay with you all the more because of the rareness of them. Those times where everything just seems to stand still and inner peace descends like a curtain over all the worries and stresses of everyday life.  I hope you can all find your own moments and memories to calm your own storms and I would love for you to share those memories with me.