Bad water, bad fish. Good water, happy healthy fish. It’s a simple concept shared with me by a friend, a retired HR consultant. 

The idea being that taking a fish out of bad water – a disagreeable work environment, for example – and putting the fish into good water, results in a healthier, happier fish. 

This photo was taken the day I became a fish out of (bad) water.

Moments after the final step in a professional breakup, a ‘conscious uncoupling’ to quote GOOP founder Gwyneth Paltrow, I look haggard from the stress of it all. But mostly I see relief, joy (and clearly hunger).

A weight was lifted, and I was celebrating the opportunity to do more, differently. I realised that day that everything was possible

At 50+, a mother, wife, mortgagee, menopausal and absolutely part of the sandwich generation – the toxic waters had me thinking I was done, at the end of a career, confidence dented.

But the inevitable parting changed everything. Not to absolve the perpetrators of bad behaviour but I thank them for making is easy for me to choose happiness. I wouldn’t swim murky waters anymore – I wanted a free-range future.

My darling father use to say, ‘as one door closes, others open’. All I could see was the prospect of opening doors and good waters ahead. 

Of all the photos taken since late May – including dozens of holiday snaps at exotic locations around Italy – this is my favourite. It marks the moment when I crossed from blah to optimism.

I was out of the bad water, breathing freely, thinking clearly and ready for fresh, clear waters.