Thursday 25 October 2012

Diversifying

Hello everyone,
First off a big thank you to all the nice words from people after my last, less than cheery post. Feeling a bit mournful sometimes comes out too much in my writing and it is nice to get such friendly kind responses.
So today is another day.
Lots of plans afoot.
I have been a bit stagnant of late. It comes from having finished a contract and finding myself with nothing to do except worry about the future. Do I take a 2013 contract? Do I want to be away from home so much as I was this year? What, in fact, do I want?
I think it is sometimes very easy to become bogged down with thoughts like these and if you are like me, become inactive rather than proactive because it is a bit overwhelming.
Anyway, occasionally something happens to give you new options.
My father is about to undertake a massive operation, which will leave him needing a lot of recovery time and my mum wants to free up her time in order to look after him as much as possible. My mum, though 70 years old, is still teaching piano and she has asked me to take on a day or two of her teaching, possibly as a temporary measure, or maybe with some of them on a permanent basis. This, as a solution to me present predicament is actually perfect. It gives me something to work at, certainly until Christmas, possibly beyond. It allows me to try something else (it is not exactly something new, as I have taught piano a lot over the years,  and have been qualified to do it since I was 17) and get a bit of perspective on my current situation, what I want to do.
In my particular line of work, diversification is a very good idea, a way of making sure that all your eggs are not in one basket. I was always a good piano teacher, comes from having a patient disposition and a love for the instrument and I think that I will enjoy getting back into it. Let's see where life takes me next.

21 comments:

  1. Recently Dan,I have noticed that a few "regular" bloggers have been a bit down in the dumps enough to let the whole blogging thing go.

    perhaps it a mix of approaching winter?

    wishing our dad a quick recovery!

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    1. Thanks John, Yes, where are my happy Autumn thoughts now eh!! It is quite depressing weather at the moment, I must say. Hope your warring animals are ok.

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    2. my grammar is getting worse......so are the sticking keys on my laptop

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    3. Wishing your Dad well and lucky you having another skill that enables flexibility.

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  2. Oooh how exciting, an opportunity presents itself at the right time. I go through phases of not knowing what to do next. I find I need some structure in my life but don't want to be overwhelmed with commitments.

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    1. I find structure quite important as I have a tendency to drift if I am not careful.

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  3. Glad to hear you are feeling a little better about things and that you have, for now, a new/other direction to move in. Hope all goes well for your dad. One of the things about life is that we never know what it will throw at us, good or bad. This time, it has chosen a new path for you, embrace it! The weather doesn't help either.

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    1. Thank you, I suppose the unpredictability is what makes life interesting!

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  4. I'm a strong believer in the one door closes theory and that things are meant to be. God provides in the best ways for all of us and perhaps this will allow you to recoup your energies. Autumn has always been the fore runner to the depressive winter but as animals and the earth sleep, perhaps we also need to "sleep". Best wishes for you dad and I hope all goes well for him. Take care x x

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    1. I too sign up for the what will be, will be theorem. It will be an interesting 12 months.

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  5. I second the above comment, I have often found that things come along when you are not expecting them to, grap the chance with both hands. It will give you time to think through what might be your contract opportunities for next year.

    I always start to feel 'down' when the nights start drawing in, sometimes restless as well. I know I have a slight case of sad, but its not that bad and I know it will pass once we pass the longest day and I know the nights will start to pull put again and spring is just around the corner.

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    1. It is certainly going to give me much needed thinking time.

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  6. I'm pleased that another opportunity has presented itself at just the right time for you.It's good to think that the opportunity also eases things for your Mum - killing two birds with one stone so to speak. I hope things go well for your Dad.
    I'm feeling more upbeat than I have for quite a while - nothing major is happening, but giving up blogging seems to have given me more of a spring in my step - or maybe it's the fact that it actually hasn't rained here for about a week!

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    1. Glad you are feeling up beat. It promises to be a nice day today, so that will help. Thanks for the comments, they are always SO appreciated.

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  7. Just take some breathing space .. and think about what you want from life. Maybe you will miss the travelling .. maybe you will find peace and contentment in the smaller world of your home and garden. Just take some time...
    ..and take care of your parents .. treasure them x

    Vicky x

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    1. I think it is sometimes as simple as just taking time away and re-evaluating, thinking what you actually want. Yes, I may miss all sorts of things, but it hard to get perspective on that until i take some time out.

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  8. Nice to have the oppertunity to re-think, to evaluate and make new decisions for your life. Things will fall into place soon enough, you`ll see. Best wishes for your dad`s op., and a speady recovery.

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  9. I have always said to any of my four daughters (they do tend to contact you when things are not going well, then theres nothing from them when things are going ok!) things never stay the same, something always comes up and sends you off on a new path, follow it. I am not a believer in God as such but I do think there is someone/thing which gives you a pointer, a nudge, go with the flow. Just go for it.

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  10. I too left a job on Monday this week. Lovely job, less than lovely colleagues. I'm putting what energy I have left into making my Christmas gifts, cake, pudding and mincemeat. Spending time with my grandchildren, I've seen and spent time with all 4 of them since I left work.

    I wish I had the time, energy and a piano to come along and have lessons with you!

    And I have the perfect birthday to look forward to next week, we (me, daughter in law and GDs 1 & 2) are going to a Flash, Bang, Science half term workshop!

    I'll pursue work in the New Year, I'm 'resting' until then. Hope your Dad's surgery is a success.

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  11. Sounds like a great opportunity has presented itself to you. Hope you are feeling a bit better.

    John Gray's comment was interesting. I am feeling a bit listless myself of late, but part of it is just being busy with uni I guess.

    Good luck with the teaching. (Reposted on my own account!!)

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  12. Hi Dan, hope you are ok and that its goes well with your dad. I have been away for a few days and have been catching up with blogs and just read your entry about family holidays. I feel a bit lacklustre about blogging at the moment as it seems other people are too but I have to say that your blog is one of my favourites and you come across as a very genuine and sincere person. The holiday entry made me smile as my holidays were like that too and even to this day my mom still tells me to shut up ( albeit occasionally now ).

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