EKAITZ SAIES

Now that I live in Oxford, I often find myself walking to the Iffley Road running track. This historic site, where Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile in 1954, serves as a powerful reminder of the bold goals that drive human achievement. Bannister’s feat wasn’t just about physical endurance—it was about embracing the possibility of…

A couple of days ago, I was having dinner with two colleagues, and our conversation drifted to the topic of films and actors. As we shared our favourites, Anthony Hopkins’ name came up. I mentioned an interview I had read some time ago and the notes I had taken from it. His insights had left…

“As you set out for Ithaka,hope your road is a long one,full of adventure, full of discovery.” The opening lines of Kavafis’ poem Ithaka resonate deeply with how I view not only my career but life itself. They remind me that the journey—rich with challenges, triumphs, and lessons—is more meaningful than any single destination. When I announced…

After an intense stretch of writing through November and December, I found myself needing to step back from my book. I didn’t write a single page during the Christmas holidays. It felt necessary—time to clear my mind and regain perspective. Today, though, I finally returned to it. The freezing conditions outside gave me the perfect…

Santiago Ramón y Cajal, recipient of the 1906 Nobel Prize in Medicine, once said that the worst thing isn’t making a mistake—it’s trying to justify it. When we justify a mistake, we avoid taking responsibility for it, which prevents us from learning and growing. Mistakes, however uncomfortable, are an inevitable part of progress. Refusing to…