Saturday, December 7, 2019

What's my excuse...

What's my excuse?

Truth is, I don't really have one.

There is no doubt that shifting from plain old posts to video posts, and changing this from a simple blog to a blog-cum-vlog really upped the ante in terms of the work required to post.

Perhaps rather than posting these thoughts here... I'll continue with a post. Maybe that will prompt me to get back to sharing my life..

[THE FOREGOING COMMENT ON THE PREVIOUS POST NOW CONTINUES AS AN ACTUAL POST...]

It's not like my life got too boring to share. Quite the reverse. A whole bunch of interesting things have happened, most of which are certainly begging to be shared here.

The fact is, that lately (by lately I mean for several months now), I frequently tell people how lucky and blessed I am.

Blogging began for me as a way of returning the favours I received when I found the inspiration and support I needed to begin a fresh chapter of my life commuting to work on a scooter. I thought someone like me might be similarly inspired to take a chance and start a new adventure if I shared my experience, so I started this blog.

Where am I now?

For one thing, as many of you know, I retired. Then I moved to Toronto from Montreal where I had lived my entire life. Then I slowly got back into the practice of law, part-time, as a means to make a little money that Susan and I could spend as we wished in retirement without a financial care in the world.

So how's that going David? [I seem to be interviewing myself now...]

It's going too well I'm afraid.

Care to explain?

My home office is amazing. Three computers, a new bookcase... it's frankly the best office I have ever had.

And how's your practice?

That's also amazing.

And there's the rub.

Since July I find that I am working full time. It's a blessing in some ways. It's challenging, rewarding, occasionally exciting (for the first time in a very long time I have actually been to court!!), and I am really enjoying it.

I admit it can be stressful, but ultimately in a good way. My efforts on behalf of my clients have been successful, and in one case I truly think that what I accomplished for my client ranks among the top five achievements of my career.

So it's all just wonderful great news, right?

Not quite.

This year, actually the last six months, while my professional work soared, my creative work hit an all-time low. As in zero, nada, zip, nothing. Well that's definitely an exaggeration. Did I mention I tweaked my home office? Added a new Billy, a Gnedby, some Ommlops, a new bridge, a remote, showcased my white porcelain flying pig in the way it deserves, bought myself a kickass new 27" iMac... there was some creativity involved there, don't you know?

But...?

Right. The creativity I promised myself I would pursue, like writing (I actually have a novel in the works that I was going to finish in retirement), sharing my thoughts here, making regular YouTube videos, well none of that is happening.

Let me digress, slightly.

Back in February, a day before Susan and I were to leave for a break in Florida, I took a tumble on my morning walk. Hit some hidden ice, crashed on my side, cracked some ribs. I still made it to Florida, but my exercise regimen came to a grinding halt. When that happens, when you break a healthy habit, it can be quite difficult getting back on track. I wasn't until mid-August, or early September, that I finally gave myself a kick in the butt and started exercising again. So far, so good.

In July I took a creative tumble. I let my busy professional life push all my creative work to the wayside. That sucks just as much as abandoning exercises. If life on the couch is bad for the body, foresaking creativity is bad for the soul. Or at least, I think it's bad for my soul. I need to claw my way back.

Hello. My name is David, and I'm a workaholic.

Hi David, welcome back. Take a seat at the keyboard and share some thoughts with us.

I'll try my best to take it one day at a time.


7 comments:

Steve Williams said...

I suppose the reason I never attempted doing video blogs is fear I would find it, like you have, too difficult to sustain. I have a life outside of blogging.

And retirement, for me, seemed to turn my world upside down in terms of what I expected to accomplish. More time. Less done. But it is an adventure as I continually reinvent myself albeit mostly in my head. More than once I've invoked the Conchscooter event in a vain attempt to shame myself into action. Hell, I haven't even finished the post on his visit here BEFORE his accident.

As I've struggled with blogging, some have suggested it has run its course. I've pondered that a lot and arrived at the conclusion that I've strayed from the reason I started blogging. My motivation was more self-centered than yours with the blog a tool for me to slow down and acknowledge some aspects of my life. Somewhere that "why" was contaminated and I stuttered and stalled. I've finally gotten back to a place where I'm blogging for me again. If someone gets something out of the things I post, great.

I hope you find your way to a comfortable place in terms of riding and blogging. It does pay dividends!

And good luck with your work addiction. One day at a time you can find a little time for something other than work. A balanced life and all...

Steve said...

Thats an interesting thought. The older I get it seems the busier I get as well, when I thought it was going to be the other way around. I was hoping to do less as I get older and spend more time doing what I like doing. My blog has suffered this year too, and I've pretty much dropped anything video related. Way too time consuming.

Peter Sanderson said...

Retirement? David, for people like is I am not certain that it will ever apply. I'm glad you are challenged again and challenged by doing the work you love, the work that says to you each morning " time to get up!" Personally retirement to me sounds like a time where we either wait between adventures such as a cruise or trip and that these adventures slowly get further apart making the waiting part even longer and more boring. So back to work, back to writing short but very amusing and interesting blog entries; that's ALL GOOD.

Welcome home...

bocutter ed said...

I'm looking forward to videos from the DGR ...

–> –> ;)

SonjaM said...

Hi David, glad to see you're back online. As long as you're having fun it's all good. I am a recovering workaholic myself and found that a change of schedule helped.

Two years ago I changed to a four day work week, I am still on 40 hours, however I never work on Mondays. This day is dedicated to reading, writing, walking, thinking (not about work obviously) and do whatever comes to mind. I can highly recommend such an approach.

I hope to stay fit in mind and body in order to keep working as a fill-in or interim manager way over my retirement age.

Don't forget the main reason about retiring: spending more time with your loved ones and discover the world. How's your Vespa doing, by the way (it's also a part of the family...).

Wishing you and youre family a festive season. Greetings from the Black Foerest. SonjaM

Coop a.k.a. Coopdway said...

Balance David, that's what I'm wishing for you. Finding Proper Busy and keeping it is my goal and what I'd wish for everyone based on what I think I know.

Blogging is relief, fun and relaxing for me personally, at least the way I've been approaching it. If it ever becomes anything resembling work, even close to that I'll become very quiet and my output will dramatically change. I don't see that on my horizon at this time.

I've been wondering how things were going for you, nice to see your public return.

All the best, however you go after it!

David Masse said...

I really appreciate all the support, I truly do, I am sincerely touched.

Rather than explore my thoughts here, I'll put up a fresh post.

The copyright in all text and photographs, except as noted, belongs to David Masse.