So, another year in the bag. Usually I’d rush to write up yet another introspective but this time I didn’t quite feel the need to. For one thing, there’s a lot of the past year that I’d rather keep private. Secondly I almost feel like all of it didn’t really count after the events of the past 4 months or so. But here we are again, so I suppose I should start with the basics. And the fact is, 2011 has been a pretty interesting year for me.
I’d say the year had kicked off with a decent start. I spent New Years in Circular Quay to watch the fireworks, having evicted some Germans who were there before me by cleverly ‘aiding’ the police in spotting people who were drinking in public. Once they were gone, I claimed the spot for myself and settled in for the 5 hour wait till the fireworks and festivities kicked in. I remember being smug, satisfied and pretty pleased with myself at the time.
Over the next few months my career and life progressed as well as I could hope. In the office, I managed (with the backing of my superiors) to get the ball rolling on a few projects that I had helped come up with. My reasons were pretty simple. I needed something to put me on the radar and score a bit more recognition, as well as something that would save me a lot of time in the office. Though it took longer to get started than I would have preferred, I’m pleased to report that everything is going according to schedule. With a bit of luck and my trademark brand of passive-aggressive cajoling (I kid. I’m not passive about being aggressive at all), here’s hoping that 2012 will see that my earlier efforts come to fruition.
On the personal relationship front, things weren’t so rosy to start. I had tried and failed to cultivate several relationships with a few interesting (at the time) individuals and for a while I grappled with the whole ‘what’s wrong with me’ line of thinking. That lasted all of 2 weeks before I concluded that things weren’t really worth fussing over. And that all I needed was a good scotch :P. Don’t judge me. The moral of the story was that I bounced back pretty quickly after each minor disaster and just carried on. At the time I felt like there wasn’t much else to do except keep pushing forward. And you know what? I’m glad I did.
Because that’s when I re-crossed paths with her. And now we arrive at my recent past. Suffice it to say that things have picked up significantly and here is where we run into a large chunk of what I would like to keep private. I’ll spare the details but I can safely say that I’ve finally met my intellectual match. I’ve finally met someone I deeply admire and respect. Someone I don’t have to have all the answers for and that would be okay. And the bizarre part of it is that she feels the same way. As I sit here and think back, I begin to see how the threads of an old life have begun to unravel, and for some reason I feel relieved. I can start to see how new things are being weaved in place. While I’m no longer so naïve to think that I can see the new picture before it has even properly begun, I can tell this is different. It feels different.
For a time early on, it also felt a bit scary. But after a while I began to notice the little things. The by-products of 2 people settling in for the long haul. I noticed that ‘yours’ and ‘mines’ became ‘ours’. My long term planning just got longer. I take care of myself better. I even take naps now! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!?
Truthfully, absolutely nothing. For once. Granted there's still quite a few things I can do better but I think I have all the basics down pat. My significant other has been incredibly patient with me, and for that I'm grateful. I know what she has to put up with, and I sympathize. After all, at the end of the day I have to put up with myself too. You deserve a medal my dear.
But enough about that. On to other matters. Ken's wedding was a pleasant occasion I enjoyed recently, and I've also started my Masters programme. I'm sitting comfortably on a Distinction so far, which is acceptable. I can foresee my grades dipping thanks to a pretty difficult assigment but I don't think its something I can't salvage. We'll see. I have an exam this weekend and speaking of which, I really should get organized.
Until next time.
