I have not posted for three months, and for good reason: it’s perhaps been the most stressful and busy three months of my adult life. Well, there were at least four more challenging occasions now that I think about it, but it has been pretty extreme nonetheless. I would not normally dream of posting on Christmas Day morning but it’s forced “time off” – hence, it’s the first time I’ve denied myself permission to do something more important at 8 a.m. on a weekday morning for some time.
Before New Year 2025 I’ll try to catch up on here, telling the story of the last few months. In short, I moved into a share(hell)house, started a new (genuine) dream job in the City, bought a big house, and escaped the share(hell)house like it was the last train out of Leningrad. Each of these events is its own big story, which I’ll seek to post about soon.
Said drama culminated in moving house three times in less than six months, moving into and out of a new town and then into another, all while starting a new City job elsewhere in the country. In a way, this is the “Christmas that hasn’t happened” because it’s the Christmas I just didn’t have the bandwidth to pay much mind to. I was wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve; it’s normally wrapped up (forgive the pun) by the first weekend of December.
And yet, ironically, it has been an incredible gift. I’ve been pushed to the limits—wildly and stressfully out of my comfort zone—but the results and progress have been spectacular. Only a crazy person would have chosen the circumstances but without borderline deranged circumstances (more on this soon), I would not have thrown everything at moving life forward.
We tend to only go to extreme effort when we feel we have no choice, where all other roads lead to far worse alternatives. Staying at the hell house or staying in my old job were not options. One would lead to stagnation, the other would lead to health problems. It was stick or twist, there was no third option.
Did I have the energy for all this? I did not think so, but it turns out I did. Right now, I feel a little exhausted (and I have a mild cold) but I feel super satisfied that, at 43, I still have plenty of fight in me to push for progress and a better life.
So today is a very satisfying Christmas Day. It’s lacked for the usual build-up and anticipation, but a great new job and new house are bigger and better gifts than I could have realistically hoped for. I am (and will be) moving into my new house throughout Christmas and New Year.
The bastards will try to get you down—that’s life, it’s not personal; it happens to all of us. Sometimes the price we pay for their bastard ways is colossal, and none of us would choose menu of “choices” they present us with. I can only say that in such moments the easy way is rarely the best way. On this occasion I’ve picked the hard(er) road and my Christmas present in 2024 is that it’s paid off. Rather than slide down a snake (or two) I’ve risen up a few ladders instead.
There will be plenty of snakes down the road but you have to take the wins and enjoy them when they come along, irrespective of circumstances.
Happy Christmas to one and all!
Dr Martin James 