What a strange year 2016 has been! I'm not quite sure where all the time went and am left feeling a little perturbed. Does time really pass by more quickly the older you get? Sure seems like it. This pic, taken earlier in the year at Sydney Technology Park, represents the unknown future. It is also a reminder to self to stop banging on closed doors and walking past the open ones. 2017 brings the need for great change to certain aspects of my life and I feel positive about what can be achieved over the next 12 months. I'm actually going to attempt this thing called work-life balance. It will be a juggling act (and a completely new experience for me). It will require discipline and focus and consciousness. I just realised the other day that I have been attending the markets as a stallholder in Leura for 7 years. I told someone that it had been 5 years but when I reflected back, I realised that I started in 2010. Due to various reasons, it really is time for me to move on from this venture. I've gone from 100% attendance (5-6 times a month) to sporadic attendance due to working and living in Sydney. It is only right to let it go, thereby opening up my spot for someone else. I'm not going again until March 2017 so have a bit of time to explore other avenues. Change is in the air!
When we were young, most of us had dreams (most if us still do). I always had simple, fairly realistic dreams. Most of my dreams were based on feeling freedom, happiness and escaping the anguish of my home life. Since many of these dreams were met when I left home, I possibly stopped dreaming...it doesn't really take much for me to feel happy. I think too many of us agonise about holding onto this precious life on earth, wanting to experience every kind of perfection that the world has to offer. There is nothing wrong with this but it can be a trap. I think a person's reality is very much defined by what they think about and do on a daily basis. Too many of us are obsessed with a self-pleasing reality. I believe in living in the moment and being conscious of my contribution/interactions. I am not overly into seeking some kind of ultimate goal as I find that small personal challenges just pop up every day. It's not healthy to put all of one's eggs in the same basket--there is just too much that is out of our control. I think that people in Australia sometimes don't realise just how fortunate their lives already are. The things that they nitpick about frequently boggle my mind. Life is too short to bemoan its shortcomings; instead, I try to turn it into something that edifies others.
Although it's been circulating around Facebook for some time, I love this poster. It encompasses everything I believe (with gorgeous imagery to match):
- Be kind - I try to give people the benefit of the doubt and show compassion to people less fortunate than myself.
- Work hard - I always work hard, perhaps too hard. I have had the odd colleague take advantage of me but I do it for the sake of doing my job to the best of my ability.
- Stay humble - It's important to be aware of where you stand in the the scheme of things. However, I have found the need to exude more self-confidence in order to be taken seriously. The younger generation have a heightened sense of self-importance and I am constantly being 'pipped at the post' by them these days.
- Smile often - I do this as often as possible despite my serious and studious personality type!
- Keep honest - Honesty underpins all aspects of life. I have come to realise, however, than many people have alternative views on the definition of the word. I have learned to be on my guard around those people.
- Stay loyal - I'm a consistent person who isn't easily swayed.
- Travel when possible - I'd love to travel more as it's always such an amazing and mind-altering experience.
- Never stop learning - Well, this is me to a T; I don't believe in stagnating and am always trying to better my knowledge and skills.
- Be thankful always - Every day, I try to be thankful for what I have rather than bemoaning what I don't have.
- And, "Above all, love each other deeply..." (Peter 4:8).
Although
I classify myself as an amateur (obviously), I have sold a number of my
photographs over the years. I just love the top image of a dew drop on the leaf of an Ornamental Kale plant. I would like to try to widen my audience in
2016 as it is really rewarding when someone appreciates a well-framed
shot (albeit lacking the level of clarity that a top lens can achieve).
My photographic cards currently sell for $2.50 each, plus postage. Packs
of 8 are available for $27.50 (including registered post). Please drop
me a line and I'll email you the current link for purchasing them.
I'll be exploring the possibility of selling my handmade items at other markets this year. The markets in the Blue Mountains have become very slow as a result of a drop in tourism to the area. People are also preferring to buy mass-produced items at chain stores at unprecedented rates. Economically, confidence also seems to be down at present. It is quite expensive to attend markets out-of-area due to the expense of the travel and stall costs. I do need to give it a try though because I'm just wasting my time and money as a stallholder in the Blue Mountains these days. I'm often making a loss each day I attend now.
Hopefully, some better avenues for selling will become available in 2016!
