A look back

It’s been a long and rough year and it ended in a fever blister. Don’t get me wrong, I am a glass half full type of guy and last year was definitely one of the more interesting years of my life with triumphant highs and dismal lows and boredom was no ware to be seen.

My Ninjutsu black-belt campaign entered its midterm this year. My body adjusted well to the vigorous training and my fitness reached a pinnacle by March. I needed the strength and focus to hunt for a new job as my contract at the time reached maturity, ushering in what would prove to be the mother of all job hunts that stretched over three months, over twenty interviews and more than a hundred emails and phone calls. I even bought a book on the whole interview.

An opportunity found me that placed me on one of the major Banks in South Africa. The project I was hired to work on in the bank was marred by miss management, poor communication and lack of planning. Even though I did the best I could to bring about a change I feared another job change was lurking around the next bend. I focused on my writing and it went from strength to strength as I had some free time in which I could express my feelings and emotions about my training at the Dojo and about what I have learned.

My son kept getting sick at school and the germs insisted on coming back home with him. I got sick a couple of times and it cost me a perfect attendance at the Dojo, but I remained unyielding towards the constant change in my daily life and kept an unwavering focus on my training and reached the rank of 4^th kyu in December at the national grading. I felt better prepared and equipped than in any other grading, but the viral onslaught coupled with the added stress of another job hunt took its toll.

I found myself totally exhausted and near physical collapse for days after the grading and had to suspend any further training in a bid to regain my health. My worst fears came true shortly after the grading when I was informed that I was indeed without work from the 16^th of December, but shortly afterwards another client of mine confirmed a long awaited contract. I had also sent my CV to a prospective employer through a friend and was fortunate to land yet another contract for the coming year.

I regained my health and spirit and kept up my studies into philosophy and meditation, but my sanctuary was suddenly rented out from underneath me... My wife’s baking business demanded more space and we decided to rent a bigger house and rent our house out to finance the rent expense. The supply is much lower than the demand and we almost ended up on the street, but fortune smiled on us yet again as we signed a year lease for a much bigger house and garden with a pool.

There are still a couple of boxes in my study and I need a lawn mower to mow the lawn, but the space is great and my wife baked her fist cake in our new kitchen. The kids love the space and the pool and we are looking for a dog.

Happy New Year!!