By now, I have been off work for just over half of the three month sabbatical allotment. It’s probably more like two thirds, but I was never any good at maths, and expressing it in such a manner doesn’t provide quite as snappy a title – so we’ll just go with half. Call it artistic license.
I am currently writing this from Tokyo. I had grand plans to write and post this before embarking on what is a 6ish week long trip to Asia, but time ran away with me. Alas, I am now kind of reflecting back a bit, instead of err, looking forward. As it were, but I think that there is still some value in that.
Summer in Scotland always seems to pass by without me being able to fully grasp the thistle and make the most of it. All too often I am either away or working, and I was looking forward to getting the chance to actually spend time in Glasgow when it was sunny for once. I ended up having less time than I had expected for that, but in the end it didn’t really matter, as it was one of the worst summers in memory anyway.
What has been nice is having the time to spend with folks that are important to me. Seeing old and far-flung friends, rekindling pre-existing connections, and making new ones. I have something of a tendency to be a bit of a loner, and the past few months have underlined just how important it is to find your people and invest in those relationships. Easier said than done, of course, but having a solid foundation in that regard makes a big difference when instability enters your life in other ways.
I’ve been shooting a lot of film lately, which I am pleased about. For a long time I struggled with photography, and on reflection I think that this perhaps actually indicated a deeper insecurity about my own identity – as the two often feel inextricably linked. Rediscovering a natural and comfortable love for taking pictures again has felt like coming into my own again, and I hope that continues.
The recurring theme for me over this period of being away from work has been the importance of having a proper sense of self that isn’t tied to your job. It can be so easy to lose yourself in that, particularly if you have a career or occupation that you are passionate about – but when that becomes all consuming, it inevitably is to the detriment of your own well-being. You need to have folks around you that are there irrespective of your employment status. Folks that don’t really even care or need to know what you do for a living. Similarly, you need to ensure that you retain the multi-faceted nature of your own personality and identity. Whatever that might entail.
At this stage I suspect I am potentially havering on. As we speak, I am ankle-deep into the next stage of the adventure – and so I’m away to soak it up like a sponge whilst I can.
