Something a wee bit different from my last posting. I’m hearing more and more hoopla about the Sex in the City movie, and it just passes me by. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good show, that anyone with a more attractive (ie the softer gender) has been forced to watch a time or two.

But with a dose of admitted bias I just prefer Coupling, similar subject matter but sharper writing, more believable characters (you can usually name each character as being familiar to people in your circle), and not prudish in ways that I find SITC to be. This latter point, some people feel Coupling goes too far, but there’s nothing explicit, the language is fruity but English, and much of what they are talking about is left to your imagination through innuendo rather than bashing you over the head. See below :-

On the subject of things I don’t care for, and sensitive souls may care to cover their eyes for this as I’m about to commit heresy, I don’t like Jimmy Buffett, or the Grateful Dead for that matter, or rather I just don’t rave about them and their music produces virtually no reaction in me. The Beatles always left me cold and wondering why everyone raved about them, and I just don’t think Led Zeppelin were seminal and the Gods people make them out to be. There, I said it, this should see my Friends list on Myspace reduced to zero as everyone deletes me for being a heathen ;-)

On a more serious note, I’ve noticed a few people around me, and one in particular sink into depression, some quite serious. The holidays can create a reflection and dis-satisfaction with life that deepens, with the resultant feelings of isolation. Remember to reach out to those people, and if you are one, realize that people reaching out to you, do so because they care about you, not that they are trying to intrude on your cocoon. Embrace that first touch, and then reach out to more people. Tis the season for goodwill after all.

Starting, or restarting this blog seems appropriate at this time of year. This point was brought home by discovering that the word Nativity means birth, origin and bringing into the world a new life.

Those coming from either of my old blogs know that despite many years, not so much denying my faith, equally I did not observe it. The last few years have seen many changes in my life, and a striving towards growing in all aspects, from my spirituality, faith, as a person and professionally. Over the next few weeks to kick this off I'm revisiting some of those blogs with how I felt then, compared to how I have grown since.

The last year in particular seems to have been a major shift, a letting go of the past in many aspects of life that I have come to understand were holding back my development. Professionally it has seen the birth of my own company, both an exciting experience, but also one of trepidation now that I have employees dependent on my decisions and performance.

The greatest shift has seen an increase in quality time with my son, though the situation is not the best it could be, it is was it is and makes me truly value the time I do spend with him, and we've had more fun than a barrel load of monkeys this year.

Healthwise, from recurring issues earlier in the year I made a commitment to my own health through exercise and eating well, maintaining a high level of fitness throughout the year, making mistakes along the way by shelling myself into a hole overtraining several times, or just not eating enough to sustain those levels of workouts. The later part of the year brought a greater balance, that my training levels were equivalent to Ironman training, and there was no need to go that extreme with no intention of racing. An online personal trainer and meal plan took care of that and saw me shedding pounds to a level that I look in the mirror and am satisfied with how I look.

But even that is a birth, I have entered a half Ironman triathlon next year, so the next 9 weeks will be a drastic upswing on weight lifting intensity, with the start of a greater build in running, swimming and cycling mileage.

Professionally, the first month was beyond our expectations, requiring us to invest to fuel the growth, a couple of lean months with those greater overheads but my re-emergence as a developer together with my partners ability to ferret out potential clients for that service have seen us find a profitable niche to fuel the further growth of the company. Now from my kludged together pieces of code I am immersing in learning SQL to build it properly.

Personally the start of the year saw renewed activity from a situation I had thought long past, but except for a brief piece of surreal online activity and associated bemusement on my part in late spring that seems one dog that has decided to lie down permanently.

Echoing my good friend Mike's recent blog about special people this year has seen for me an emergence of a new group of friends, both virtually and in person through my various activities that leaves me feeling purely blessed in life, completely content with where and who I am.

Its also seen my recent house move, and the delight of my own place, and one that I enjoy, from the freedom and easy access still to running trails and roads for cycling, through the view from my loft window this morning looking out over the frozen lake, the goose island full of its residents, and the snow covered houses the other side. The benefits to mental health having a comfortable and inspiring environment are difficult to estimate until experienced.

Through everything over the last few years, my one constant has been a determination to never give up, as Winston Churchill said "When you are going through hell, keep on going". People eaither around me or who I know of constantly inspire me to be better, to achieve more and that the word "can't" should never leave my lips. Seeing this video on someones page recently brought back the same emotions as when I first saw it, after watching it I think of the tasks or things to do that I am back burnering and tackle them head on..

This video exposes our excuses for just what they are, excuses.

Life, yeah it truly is great ..get out and be great ! :-)