Auld Lang Syne

My name is Trevor
I’ve had a less than satisfactory year

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will have some understanding that when I say that this year has been unsatisfactory, it could be construed as an understatement. It has, in truth, been pretty shit.

Don’t get me wrong. I am fully aware of a number of the blessings that I have received and I am truly thankful for them. The truth of the matter is that if this year was a set of justice like scales with good blessings on one side and bad shit on the other, I know which side would be heavier.

And heavier it has been. This year has weighed on my mind and body more than many in recent memory, and that is definitely saying something.

I got through this year with the help of the little things. Small events, blessings and realisations. These little handholds gave me a tenuous grasp in my life that helped to keep me… me.

I won’t list them all and there are a number that I have already written about in blog form; but there are a few that I will mention.

I performed in Merry Fecking Christmas earlier in the year.
I became a (semi) regular contributor to the YouTube channel Cheeky Moon which included me becoming a vampire, batman, a time traveller and concussed (that last one was in real life)
I was a regular performer at Underdog Impro and The Speakeasy
I perfected my mad scientist costume
I wrote a play
I played in a show of my own devising Henchman’s Anonymous

These are some of the few positives that happened to me this year. They have kept me going.

You may have noticed, these are all things. There have been a lot of people who helped me through, one way or another. These I won’t mention. You know who you are.

Sadly, there were a larger number of unpleasantnesses, either in quantity or scope. However, focusing on these doesn’t help anyone; so rather than dwell on it too much, I have made a small list for next year.

This list is not full of important goals or monumental aspirations. It is, instead, full of potential moments.

Enter Man in the Mirror into Short and Sweet.

I will follow through with this from this year. I was inspired by others and I owe it to both them and myself to finish what I began with it. 

Start and finish a Warhammer 40,000 army.
I have plenty of Warhammer gubbins. Rather than letting it sit around and gather dust, I will make it my hobby again, not my job.

Take part in a Warhammer 40,000 tournament.
Next year, I will be able to enter a simple tournament or two as a player without being held accountable as a staff member of Games Workshop. This means less pressure and I’ll be able to lose with dignity.

Continue with my fortnightly blog post.
It’s for me. Why shouldn’t I?

Celebrate my birthday.
The last two years, I was interstate. The year before, I was in Cairns. This year, I’d been in and out of hospital and wasn’t ‘in the mood’ to celebrate. Next year, I will. Even if it’s just a night out a restaurant or bar or something.

Audition for some theatre type productions.
I did this recently this year, and if I want to perform more, I need to get better at this challenging aspect.

Write a story
I have a few characters that have been developing with me. They deserve to be released.

Write another play
duh

Dress in an interesting costume
It could be for a show, or a party, or just because. I had immense fun in my mad scientist costume.

Take a swing dance class.

I did this about a decade ago. I really enjoyed it then. I know I will enjoy it now. It will also help me to get to a better fitness level in an enjoyable way.

Visit Carnarvon Gorge.
This location has a small place that is the most beautiful place in my memory. One of the waterfalls there held my heart in a way that has yet to be evoked by any other place that I’ve been. I want to see it again. If it’s the same or better, fantastic. If it’s not as good, that’s okay too. It’ll give me a brave new search quest. Besides, the place is plenty beautiful and that’s something I could definitely use.

Give my umbrella to someone without one in the rain.
It doesn’t hurt to look for opportunities to help others. This is one that I really want to try.

Visit the science centre
I’m still a child and I love to play with toys. That place has some fun toys.  

As I said, these are all things. This is not a new year’s resolutions list. They’re a bunch of activities that I would like to do. If I complete half of them, that would be amazing.

I recently rambled to a friend: Things, they’re just things, and events and activities, they’re just things too; But people, people is people.

 

What got me through this year the most was the people.

With the exception of writing a play, what made each of the events that I mentioned earlier as positives was the people. I got to play with some amazing people in both scripted and improvised productions. If I had to perform with people I couldn’t stand, I wouldn’t have enjoyed myself nearly as much. Even during some of the shit times, there would be positive people in it.

The list of activities that I have shared is just a list. What will make each of those events better, will be the people that I share them with.

My name is Trevor
I have a list of activities I want to do next year.
I look forward to sharing these experiences.