Some people think you have a problem, but that problem lies only with them
Wow, 2011, huh? I guess this means it's time for my Annual Review of Life.
Well. I think it's safe to say that 2010 was a doozy, as years go.
Here's what I said this time last year:
Things I want to achieve this year.
1 - I am going to join that damn choir. I even talked someone else into going with me, so I just need to make that call and get it happening. At last, I have done it. Interestingly, it wasn't the choir I had intended to join, but I am loving it as much as I thought I would, which is so great!
2 - I need to find a better way to blog about travel. This is where I write things to remember them, apart from scribbled notes in a book from time to time which don't make it here. Oh hey, I totally forgot about this. It's a really good point, though.
3 - I will take a class in something. It may or may not be Italian, but I'll do something. Aw hell, yeah. Show me that archaeology!
4 - I need to reset my morning and evening routines. This one's going to be a toughy, because it involves breaking old habits. I need to get up sufficiently early in the morning to do stretches before my shower (which needs to be early in itself, because Flatmate gets the shower at 7). And I need to step away from the computer or book early enough to devote 15-30 minutes to some meditation before bed. I am so bad at keeping myself to a self-imposed schedule. Um, right. About that. >_> This so totally did not happen. Again, it's still a good idea.
5 - Keep up with the exercise, whether it be climbing or swimming or yoga, or some combination thereof. Or something new. Hmmm. I have not done enough of any of the above, but I have done some through the year, and I have this very night been to a new yoga class, so I'm going to give myself a pass.
So, not too shabby. Especially considering the massive upheaval that was the middle of the year. In mid-May my employers found the line beyond which I would not be pushed. I'm kind of annoyed with myself for letting them push me as far as they did, but such is life. Perhaps next time I'll make fewer excuses and just admit to myself that I'm getting screwed and get out. May and June were basically a whirlwind. I handed my notice in, went to Greece with the lovely
sassafrassle, left my job and went to NZ, where I kind of ran out of steam. I spent a lot of my 2 weeks in Wellington sitting in my friends' lounge with my laptop and their dog, and didn't do as much catching up with people as I would have liked. I'm really sad about that, but I think it was probably pretty inevitable at that point that, finding myself in a safe place with people I trusted and no responsibility at all, I would crash.
The plan had been to send my CV to some agencies while I was still in NZ, so that I could get some temp work straight away. I was explaining the plan, including the fact that I had some financial flexibility, to a friend who looked at me and said, "If it was me, I would totally just take some time off." It was like an epiphany. Seriously, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to her. Unfortunately, having been deeply traumatised by my previous job, I am really struggling to motivate myself to get another, despite the rapidly deflating state of my savings account. So that's pretty much my first 'Will Do' for the year. Cowboy up and send my CV out. At least I have all sorts of volunteer stuff to flesh out the last few months with!
Oh hey! On that note, a local free magazine printed an article I wrote and two pictures that I took for the orchard. I must scan it and put it up, because I am proud!
Other stuff I have done this year:
- Archaeology! I did the week long practical, and a fair amount of additional digging, and signed up for several one day courses at Bristol Uni, two of which are still to come. I have also been attending the monthly lectures held by BACAS.
- Volunteer work liek whoa! I am a trustee for BACAS, and the Communications Officer (which has not thus far been at all arduous, but it still counts). I am Secretary, Volunteer Supervisor, and Publicity Co-ordinator for the orchard, as well as a regular on the workdays.
- I have done a lot more writing in fandom, and am a mod for an exchange fest, all of which is pretty challenging, but in a good way.
- My volume of photos is down quite a bit, but I still took some great shots this year. I might do a post of my calendar picks for this year. I am seriously pleased with them.
Which brings me to next year. (Yes, at last!)
1 - Get a job. One which allows me to have time in the summer to do more digs. I am tentatively planning to temp for at least a year, perhaps longer.
2 - Moar archaeology. I would actually like to get more deeply involved. The Comms thing is administrative to the Society, rather than really involving archaeology, and I would love to more than grunt work on digs.
3 - Either a better way to blog travel and such like, or just being more dedicated in writing stuff down so I can remember it in the future.
4 - Sorting out my routines stays on the list. It feels like I don't need to because I don't really have routines, but actually that is just a stronger reason to establish some.
5 - Travel, finances permitting. This is the first year in a long time I haven't been 'pre-booked' to travel with other people. Portugal has been on the list for a long time now. Hmmm.
The soundtrack for this post is Beautiful Freak by Eels. (Partly because it's not that long since I posted the vid for Raise Your Glass.) I couldn't find a decent vid, so I've gone for the minimalist option.
Well. I think it's safe to say that 2010 was a doozy, as years go.
Here's what I said this time last year:
Things I want to achieve this year.
1 - I am going to join that damn choir. I even talked someone else into going with me, so I just need to make that call and get it happening. At last, I have done it. Interestingly, it wasn't the choir I had intended to join, but I am loving it as much as I thought I would, which is so great!
2 - I need to find a better way to blog about travel. This is where I write things to remember them, apart from scribbled notes in a book from time to time which don't make it here. Oh hey, I totally forgot about this. It's a really good point, though.
3 - I will take a class in something. It may or may not be Italian, but I'll do something. Aw hell, yeah. Show me that archaeology!
4 - I need to reset my morning and evening routines. This one's going to be a toughy, because it involves breaking old habits. I need to get up sufficiently early in the morning to do stretches before my shower (which needs to be early in itself, because Flatmate gets the shower at 7). And I need to step away from the computer or book early enough to devote 15-30 minutes to some meditation before bed. I am so bad at keeping myself to a self-imposed schedule. Um, right. About that. >_> This so totally did not happen. Again, it's still a good idea.
5 - Keep up with the exercise, whether it be climbing or swimming or yoga, or some combination thereof. Or something new. Hmmm. I have not done enough of any of the above, but I have done some through the year, and I have this very night been to a new yoga class, so I'm going to give myself a pass.
So, not too shabby. Especially considering the massive upheaval that was the middle of the year. In mid-May my employers found the line beyond which I would not be pushed. I'm kind of annoyed with myself for letting them push me as far as they did, but such is life. Perhaps next time I'll make fewer excuses and just admit to myself that I'm getting screwed and get out. May and June were basically a whirlwind. I handed my notice in, went to Greece with the lovely
sassafrassle, left my job and went to NZ, where I kind of ran out of steam. I spent a lot of my 2 weeks in Wellington sitting in my friends' lounge with my laptop and their dog, and didn't do as much catching up with people as I would have liked. I'm really sad about that, but I think it was probably pretty inevitable at that point that, finding myself in a safe place with people I trusted and no responsibility at all, I would crash.
The plan had been to send my CV to some agencies while I was still in NZ, so that I could get some temp work straight away. I was explaining the plan, including the fact that I had some financial flexibility, to a friend who looked at me and said, "If it was me, I would totally just take some time off." It was like an epiphany. Seriously, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to her. Unfortunately, having been deeply traumatised by my previous job, I am really struggling to motivate myself to get another, despite the rapidly deflating state of my savings account. So that's pretty much my first 'Will Do' for the year. Cowboy up and send my CV out. At least I have all sorts of volunteer stuff to flesh out the last few months with!
Oh hey! On that note, a local free magazine printed an article I wrote and two pictures that I took for the orchard. I must scan it and put it up, because I am proud!
Other stuff I have done this year:
- Archaeology! I did the week long practical, and a fair amount of additional digging, and signed up for several one day courses at Bristol Uni, two of which are still to come. I have also been attending the monthly lectures held by BACAS.
- Volunteer work liek whoa! I am a trustee for BACAS, and the Communications Officer (which has not thus far been at all arduous, but it still counts). I am Secretary, Volunteer Supervisor, and Publicity Co-ordinator for the orchard, as well as a regular on the workdays.
- I have done a lot more writing in fandom, and am a mod for an exchange fest, all of which is pretty challenging, but in a good way.
- My volume of photos is down quite a bit, but I still took some great shots this year. I might do a post of my calendar picks for this year. I am seriously pleased with them.
Which brings me to next year. (Yes, at last!)
1 - Get a job. One which allows me to have time in the summer to do more digs. I am tentatively planning to temp for at least a year, perhaps longer.
2 - Moar archaeology. I would actually like to get more deeply involved. The Comms thing is administrative to the Society, rather than really involving archaeology, and I would love to more than grunt work on digs.
3 - Either a better way to blog travel and such like, or just being more dedicated in writing stuff down so I can remember it in the future.
4 - Sorting out my routines stays on the list. It feels like I don't need to because I don't really have routines, but actually that is just a stronger reason to establish some.
5 - Travel, finances permitting. This is the first year in a long time I haven't been 'pre-booked' to travel with other people. Portugal has been on the list for a long time now. Hmmm.
The soundtrack for this post is Beautiful Freak by Eels. (Partly because it's not that long since I posted the vid for Raise Your Glass.) I couldn't find a decent vid, so I've gone for the minimalist option.
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