After nearly six years at Numiko, I’ve decided to leave. It’s been a really tough decision as I’ve loved every minute of working for and amongst the very best creative and technical talent in the UK – as well as some amazing clients. And of course, I won’t get to see my friends every day! But a wind of change has breezed into my life – or should I say a hurricane?! I’ve decided to take a short career break to take on a rather epic challenge…
I’ve never sailed before, but after five weeks of training, on Christmas Eve I join Leg 5 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, acting as a fully fledged crew member on the Welcome to Yorkshire yacht.
Hitting my own fear of the open ocean head on, I’m using this challenge to raise awareness of the Time to Change campaign, which is England’s biggest ever attempt to end the stigma and discrimination that faces people with mental health problems, run by mental health charities Mind and Rethink. Alongside raising awareness, I’ve set an ambitious charity fundraising target of £1 for every one of the 7,400 miles I sail to donate to Mind – you can find out more and sponsor me at www.ihatesinking.com.
Why?
I’ve suffered from depression and anxiety since my mid twenties and most recently, I’ve been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. This diagnosis has helped me understand why I can get more stressed than other people in certain situations – an explanation which at 36 is a great relief. In fact, it has come as such a relief that I’ve decided I deserve a break – but a break with a very different, therapeutic angle…
Despite doing very well at coping with stress, anxiety and depression all my life, I’ve decided to take a break from the fake, thought invoked stresses that increasingly fill our busy lives and flush my system with a good dose of real fear. The kind of fear you have to react to – or get hurt, or put other’s lives at risk – or put your own life at risk. There will be no room for thought-induced fear amongst the roaring oceans, far out at sea where intuition rules. The ability to analyse and ponder is all but banished by the challenges thrown up by the unpredictable sea, plus the exhaustion inflicted by the sleeping/working patterns of the yacht’s watch system. Goodbye stressful thoughts and worry – hello scary sea!
Helping people understand
I’ve always been very open about my mental health problems. I can’t remember ever feeling ashamed, but I know there are people who do feel this and who find it difficult to be open about such matters. In my opinion, keeping things in only makes things worse, so I hope that my openness can help others feel that it’s OK to be more open and by raising awareness as part of this challenge, I can play a small part in creating a society that is more supportive and understanding of mental illness.
Numiko’s warmth, comfort & support
Throughout my time as Head of User Experience at Numiko, they’ve always been supportive of me. Working with someone who suffers from depression can at times need patience and understanding – and this is something I’ve always had at Numiko, whether it be coping with my mad creative tangents or accepting my darker moods. Numiko, like myself understand that often what appear our weaknesses, are often our strengths. I know that my Aspeger Syndrome defines the creative, focussed and determined individual I am – and Numiko have benefited greatly from these qualities.
And even in my departing, they have demonstrated their commitment to putting an end to mental health discrimination, as well as supporting me as an individual by not only contributing £1000 to Mind, but also matching this figure as my own personal corporate sponsor.
Not only have Numiko offered me a place of warmth, love and support while there, their sponsorship has enabled me to buy all the extra warm clothing I’ll need as we hit minus temperatures approaching China – Numiko warming my cockles as I embark on this epic voyage of discovery. Thanks so much Numikons.
Good bye for now. It’s time to change, because www.ihatesinking.com.
Rich.
If you’d like to find out more or even better, think you or any of your contacts could help me with corporate sponsorship or a charity donation, please visit my website http://www.ihatesinking.com.
Find out more:
http://www.time-to-change.org.uk
http://www.clipperroundtheworld.com
