2009 - Bring It On
Jan. 1st, 2009 02:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
f4f3It's always tempting to do a count your blessings thing at this time of the New Year - so I will, and I'm thankful for them all.
But I want to go beyond that a little bit, and make 2009 a year where I challenge myself again. Much of last year was about having a breather, after what was one of the most tumultuous years of my life. I certainly needed it, but there was a sense of taking the path of least resistance - when I was offered my current job, managing a complicated IT implementation at a big company, I jumped at it: mostly, I think, because it's something I've done before. I persuaded myself that it was also because I needed the money, but I'd already put a plan B into preparation: I could have downsized and moved up here to the cottage, the place I'm happiest in. But it was easier to continue with the same lifestyle, between Glasgow and here, and I did (make no mistake - it's a brllliant way to live, but I'm putting myself under stress to do it, and I now know that I'm doing that by choice).
I haven't mentioned it much, but I've still done nothing about finalising my divorce - that's two years we've been separated, and I haven't grasped the nettle yet and sorted things out. Because that will be hard.
I've also let myself go in terms of physical health - in the last year I've probably put on about 10 kilos, and while I'm not at the heaviest I've every been, it's not a sustainable path. Type 2 diabetes isn't as invasive in every day life as Type 1, but I need to be more vigilant than someone who doesn't have a chronic disease about my weight, blood pressure and fitness levels. Plus, I'm really pissed off at not being able to fit into my nicest suit.
So what to do, what to do. The fitness thing will come first. I have the advantage of knowing that I can drop ten kilos, because I did it before. The prescription isn't particularly difficult, I just need to exercise more and eat less. So look forward to lots of boring posts about my visits to the gym, porridge and soup.
The work thing is less straightforward. Given the current climate, I'll take as many renewals to my contract as I can get. The project I'm working on is due to deliver its first phase in 2010, so if I get another year out of this I'll take it. There may be a chance to fit in some other work, though, either voluntary or paid. For one thing, the project is due to shut down for a month in August - that might be the ideal opportunity to do some other work I might enjoy more.
I won't lose sight of the fact that I am very blessed this year, but I will start taking what steps I can to deserve those blessings. Who knows, I might look back in twelve months and think that this is as good as it gets - but if that's the case, then I'll still be celebrating, because this is pretty damn good.
But I want to go beyond that a little bit, and make 2009 a year where I challenge myself again. Much of last year was about having a breather, after what was one of the most tumultuous years of my life. I certainly needed it, but there was a sense of taking the path of least resistance - when I was offered my current job, managing a complicated IT implementation at a big company, I jumped at it: mostly, I think, because it's something I've done before. I persuaded myself that it was also because I needed the money, but I'd already put a plan B into preparation: I could have downsized and moved up here to the cottage, the place I'm happiest in. But it was easier to continue with the same lifestyle, between Glasgow and here, and I did (make no mistake - it's a brllliant way to live, but I'm putting myself under stress to do it, and I now know that I'm doing that by choice).
I haven't mentioned it much, but I've still done nothing about finalising my divorce - that's two years we've been separated, and I haven't grasped the nettle yet and sorted things out. Because that will be hard.
I've also let myself go in terms of physical health - in the last year I've probably put on about 10 kilos, and while I'm not at the heaviest I've every been, it's not a sustainable path. Type 2 diabetes isn't as invasive in every day life as Type 1, but I need to be more vigilant than someone who doesn't have a chronic disease about my weight, blood pressure and fitness levels. Plus, I'm really pissed off at not being able to fit into my nicest suit.
So what to do, what to do. The fitness thing will come first. I have the advantage of knowing that I can drop ten kilos, because I did it before. The prescription isn't particularly difficult, I just need to exercise more and eat less. So look forward to lots of boring posts about my visits to the gym, porridge and soup.
The work thing is less straightforward. Given the current climate, I'll take as many renewals to my contract as I can get. The project I'm working on is due to deliver its first phase in 2010, so if I get another year out of this I'll take it. There may be a chance to fit in some other work, though, either voluntary or paid. For one thing, the project is due to shut down for a month in August - that might be the ideal opportunity to do some other work I might enjoy more.
I won't lose sight of the fact that I am very blessed this year, but I will start taking what steps I can to deserve those blessings. Who knows, I might look back in twelve months and think that this is as good as it gets - but if that's the case, then I'll still be celebrating, because this is pretty damn good.
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