2010
2010 was the year I started to get fit, taking on a personal trainer for 3 months and monitoring my fitness levels.
I want to work long, work hard, and do whatever I do to the best of my ability. I really think a large part of staying motivated and alert boils down to how kind you are to your body. Don’t feed it shit else you’ll feel lethargic, and with an office job it’s far too easy to fall into the trap of being lazy. The kind of people I respect are those that buy into the healthy living mentality. I want to respect myself. That’s why getting fit was a big part of 2010, regardless of how pretentious hiring a personal trainer may sound.
2010 was the year I overcame my fear of flying.
Photography has become a huge source of inspiration for me, and a big part of my almost daily life. Nothing excites me more than the possibility of exploring a new city with my camera in hand, freezing moments that I can then share with others and that will stay with me forever. With the possibility of being stuck in Scotland due to my fear of flying, going on to visit New York, Florida and Belfast (among other places this year) was the sweetest experience of my life. Facing my fear was the best decision I’ve ever made, and it wasn’t even all that bad. Of course, I say that after OD’ing on diazepam…
2010 was the year I went full frame.
I know there are no rules in terms of photography, but I probably hadn’t been shooting long enough to justify upgrading my 40D to the 5DMKII. At the beginning of the year, though, I ended up with some money and knew that’s where I’d rather spend it. I don’t think there’s a single inanimate object in my life that I love more than my 5D, and at one point my Xbox would have been a strict contender. It’s not even close now.
2010 was the year I joined a band.
Another creative outlet was reborn as I started gigging after a 5 year hiatus. It had come to the point where I hadn’t jammed with anyone in so long, my confidence was completely shot and I left joining a band on the back-burner until I felt ready. But you never do feel ready, do you? You could always be better. So I bit the bullet and started playing around Glasgow after a band had approached me to drum with them. It only lasted 5 months or so, and I’ll be looking for a new band when I move to the city (Oh yeah, I’m moving to the city this year).
2010 was the year I launched Robot Panties.
I actually have a post on the process in the pipeline. Honestly, Robot Panties is all about giving me more experience in life and work and creativity. That’s what I’m shooting for, that’s its purpose. Not to grow it into anything bigger, just to add to my bank of knowledge.
A few ‘goals’ I had wanted to meet, but fell short, included seeing more live bands play, growing my business a significantamount, learning either surfing or snowboarding, and building a fully functioning web app for work. I also thought it would be nice to, y’know, meet someone of the opposite sex who’s fun to be with and shares similar interests, but that never really happened. Well, it did. I mean, I met a lot of dudes over the past 12 months, but none that I really liked…
Looking back, 2010 was phenomenal in terms of personal growth, but lacked more so on the professional side of things. The industry I work in is stressing me out so much right now, it seems to be crawling along at a snail-like pace, but that’s another post entirely. There are many things I’m looking forward to in 2011, but I’ve decided not to set specific goals. I can achieve everything I want to if I follow this simple rule:
Always do more than is required of you.
