Sunday, January 16, 2011

Happy Birthday to Me

Usually, when you have a birthday, you don't feel any different. Nothing really has changed. It's the anniversary of the day you were born and we celebrate and eat cake, but really it's just an excuse to get presents and have a party.

It's weird, though. Today (or maybe yesterday, it's hard to tell with the timezones) I turned twenty five. I don't really feel different physically, but I do feel like things are different. I am no longer in my early twenties, for instance. I have to find and pay for my own private health insurance (well, technically anyway). Even though legally I've been an adult for seven years, I feel like now I might be supposed to act like one.

Which is largely rubbish, of course. My favourite people over twenty five don't act any differently than I do. But still, I think things are going to change. It might just be because I'm in a transitional place in life and things would be changing regardless of my age or it being my birthday. Still, I think exciting times are ahead...watch this space.

Or don't. Because honestly I'll probably forget to blog about it anyway.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

The Obligatory Post About the New Year

Yes, that's right. It's the first of January in 2011. We made it. Hurrah. Sure, our iPhones didn't wake us up this morning but for many people I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

There's always a buzz at this time of year about 'resolutions'. I don't like making New Years Resolutions because I know I will fail. You can shut up right now about my defeatist attitude, or planning to fail, or whatever rubbish you're thinking. We all know how spectacularly badly my 'book a week' challenge went, and that wasn't even a new years resolution.

I did, however, read something this morning that was an interesting take on the whole new years resolution thing. It was on the blog of Felicia Day, who is very cool. If you don't know who she is, go look on imdb, and if that doesn't ring any bells, it's highly likely you're on the wrong blog right now because if you're reading this you should know I'm a massive nerd. OK I haven't actually seen any of The Guild but I'm trying to rectify that, only the Australian iTunes store isn't helping matters.

Anyway, here is a link, and my point. I think looking back at your year and working out what you've learned is a great idea. Looking at what you've learned and applying it is far more realistic than any grand resolution, in my opinion. Because it's based on good hard evidence and not just a drunken statement at midnight.

I think I've written quite a bit already on what 2010 taught me. It taught me that sometimes things don't go according to plan, and that's great. I learned the hard way that challenges really are an opportunity in disguise. They force you to stop and reasses everything which is something I rarely do. I learned that mental illness really can happen to me. Seriously, people, this is a big one. It's not just something that happens to everyone else, and just because you're educated and intelligent and think you'll know when something is wrong doesn't mean you will. It might take years and then you'll crash and burn and it'll hit you with a big 'a ha'.

Of course I learned some fun things too. Like that it is possible to watch all seven seasons of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' in a period of about three months or less, if you really try. Like the fact that in Edmonton, it's only really cold if your snot freezes. Anything before that is just chilly. That fruchocs can be breakfast. OK, that last one is just to convince me that I'm being healthy, sitting here eating fruchocs. The packet is open on the table, what else am I supposed to do?

OK. I'll stop rambling now. Go read Felicia Day's post. It's far more eloquent than mine and you get a picture of her looking super awesome to boot.