2008

2008 did not start with a bang.

I was sitting at a party in croydon, surrounded by people who I knew moderately well and had a few enjoyable conversations with some of the other party guests. And, as many of us do, some time after the year started - I think within a couple of days - I made some resolutions. It's a testament to how well I've done in accomplishing them that I don't remember what any of them are. I have found just one clue. My phone's calendar tells me that, on the 5th of January 2008, I had a piano lesson in the morning with the lady who taught me everything I know about music, Shaula Salathé. And one of my resolutions was indeed about my music; about writing more songs and gaining more skill on the piano and guitar. Others were academic, spiritual and I think i even made one about going to the gym more often. They were mostly light, fluffy resolutions and I think I can safely say that I didn't achieve any of them.

Still, this year was not bereft of achievement. I continued to volunteer in the youth NGO sector, a passtime which I loved beyond anything else I did. I juggled a full time job around that, working from 8 until 5 full time at Citigroup. Since July I have been able to change my hours at work to be from 7 until 3 but as of a few months ago I haven't been doing any volunteering. Whether this will last into 2009 is anybody's guess at present.

I have written 4 or 5 songs that I am actually quite happy with. I have gone from being able to speak maybe 3 words of French to being able to have a whole (if still limited conversation) in the language and I have studied Neurolinguistic Programming in great detail, which has helped me to set some solid goals for myself over the next few years. I got to help organise and lead at a camp over easter, which was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my year and have been to the grampians twice, wilson's prom once and have spent time with all of the people who mean the most to me.

As I think about the last year it has become clear to me that I acheived things; the question is: Did I Achieve anything? An integral part of always wanting to push yourself to greater heights is that when you look back your previous accomplishments never look quite the same - quite as good - to you as they might to someone looking more objectively. So I can honestly sit here and say that I have no idea if I Achieved anything this year (as opposed to achieved). 

I know what I want my 2009 to be about though. I want it to be about relationships. Two of my best friends have left Australia to go and live in their home countries. My better friends in life will know that I am notoriously bad at engaging in regular communication. The upshot of this is that you tend to have low-maintenance friends. The downside, however, is that so many amazing people slip right through your fingertips. And I have genuine regrets because of this.

So, for 2009 I am going to set a single resolution:

People.

I still have my goals, I still have a dream for the future that I will steadily work towards, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. But my resolution is going to be People. Putting my time where it belongs.

Happy New Year!

2008

So. I've done it. It's done. I have a blog. "Why do I have a blog", you ask? "Because I do." is the response I give to you. Questioning it will change nothing, and frankly I'd prefer it if you mind your own business.

My blog isn't very pretty yet. I have a girlfriend who is fluent in Ikea and HTML. She single-handedly built a bookshelf that I bought from Ikea with only minimal damage to its' structure and, if I ask really nicely, she might help me redesign my blog into a more attractive form. (The word 'help'in that sentence may have been better expressed by the phrase 'do it for me'. 

I remember hearing about blogging back when I was in high school. I am exceptionally bad at picking up trends and this noun, 'blog', which was quickly becoming a verb, 'to blog', was completely foreign to me. I also managed to miss bubble dresses, fallout boy (and any band that became popular in the last 13 years), keeping the bottom button of your suit jacket undone, what's cool to drink, where it's cool to hang out. I missed the lot. The same girlfriend I mentioned above loves saying to me, "It must be nice under that rock" after I ask her a perfectly innocent question, like who Aerosmith are (or were? I still don't know). Ironically, I know the words to two different miley cyrus songs by heart but I wouldn't recognise stairway to heaven if it came on the radio).

Fortunately, though, I am not so far down the evolutionary chain that I am unable to adapt to new circumstances. I have a blog now. And there's one trend I can catch up with nice and quick; the trend of writing about the 'year that has gone by'. I have a man who mentors me, though we haven't met up yet much. His name is Mr. Kwan (it's possible that this is an alibi). He is very wise, seemingly all-knowing in terms of the human experience, and through lending me two books and a few short discussions has already succeeded in challenging me more than many others have  in my short yet enjoyable life. It is from his book that I will take a leaf as I recap the year behind me and try to assess the year ahead.

I'll do it in another entry I think.

Welcome to Christopia.