Firstly i’d like to say Happy New Year to everyone. Hoping your new years resolutions include a positive outlook for the next decade. Even if your outlook seems a little cloudy remember ‘Nothing ever stays the same’ and with some positive energy and enthusiasm you can have the power to change things.
I’ve always used the new year to take stock of how my life is changing, the people in it and how they have also changed and look to how best to protect the things I cherish. The two lists are drawn about the things i liked and the things i disliked about the previous year. Let’s face it 2019 did test our patience and resolve, mostly this came from outside our control but it’s now the past.
My resolution for the New Year is to avoid the News channels and use that time on the things that will enrich my life, even going for a walk has to be better than listening to all that negativity they find from across the globe. Truth be known that most people are quite sane and responsible and inherently good in nature, it’s always the few bad apples that get all the attention by the media. 2019 did nothing for the credibility of journalism and as such it will be excluded from my life going forward. Just looking at the time it wasted and all the conversations it filtered into, is enough for one lifetime, let alone reading every extract with views that were similar to our own. I’ve always tried to to remain neutral and keep my views to myself where possible but one conclusion drawn from 2019 is whatever your views are/were that division is not healthy and only brings negativity to our lives.
So i’m going to concentrate on what I enjoy and that is to continue developing new ideas, getting to know more people and continue to learn new things to add these to my skill set. I’ll keep challenging myself and continue to expand my knowledge especially in new areas that will enhance what I can already do.
This year’s positive message has to go to a chap who rejected the commercialism of Christmas and spent time last year making personal gifts for his family and friends. It’s not something he has to do every year, but it showed his passion for his craft and how important the people were who received these gifts. It also gave the chap a goal to achieve during his spare time and a variety of things to do to expand his skill set. He was proud of what he achieved and shared this online and I applaud him for his passion and effort.
As we all know, skills opens new doors, it enriches our lives and contributes to good mental health. Our sheds/workshops allow us the space to get lost in projects or indulge in my favourite pastime of simply tinkering about, usually solving something I never meant to start! I do find this a very therapeutic pass time especially when I’ve always got plenty of projects to tackle.
Tradesmen, Craftsmen and hobbyist’s should know every problem has a solution, replace the word can’t with the word won’t and you will be amazed how much you will overcome, as they say’ if there is a will, there is always a way’!
To all those new to any craft they should remain resolute, keep at it regardless of how frustrating it can be at times, I can assure you it will get easier with practice and dedication. Every skilled person has gone through the same process and trials to gain their experience and knowledge, some more than others and why there are only few who can be deemed as experts. There are many hobbyist’s out there who have become highly skilled but it just takes one step at a time to get there.
I hope you have new a positively good year ahead and will attack it with your tools in hand!
Creating The Perfect Workshop For Using Your Tools.