Looking back on the Year of Reinvention

The Year of Reinvention has gone out like a lion for sure, what with the three day a week personal training sessions intended to help me reinvent my health and wellness.

Overall, this was a year about finding out what is most important to me. I found out that while I loved my job, I loved my like better -- and needed to change my job to change my life. I found a job I like (with the same company) -- and was able to do more than in many of the years previous because of the change.

I flew to England, toured around and saw places straight out of the book I want to write this coming year. I sailed aboard the Stad Amsterdam to learn about how to sail a tall ship. I met wonderful friends, I shared adventures with many.

I helped my parents move out of my childhood home. It was sad to say good-bye, but I love their new house and it suits them. Together, we reinvented the holidays in a new home -- but with family, which is the most important. When I say I am going home -- I mean to them -- not to a place. I learned that.

I like to think I did good things for others this year as well -- to pay it forward. Not as much as I could probably do, but more than I've done in a while. This year was about more than me. The best part was finding the owner of a Metropass I found on the ground. I learned I can be industrious and imaginative when I try.

I could have written more -- but I actually wrote the most since my time in Hawaii -- so I think I did well. I needed to breathe first, before I could worry about telling stories. Now, I can do them both. It's a good feeling.

I don't know what the coming year will bring -- but I do know that I leave 2011 a better, more rounded person. I hope that's enough to carry me forward to another great year.

Here is hoping all of you have one too.

Busy Reinventing

Amazing how much can happen in a few weeks -- all because I decided that changing my job wasn't enough for the Year of Reinvention.

So, I hired a personal trainer. For the past 4 weeks, I've been meeting with him 3 times a week for 45 minute sessions. I've also been working on my own 3 other days of the week.

The progress I've made is noticeable. I feel more energized, I am stronger, and I am starting to gain a little bit of muscle. I wouldn't say I am "in shape" yet, but I am on the right path. My trainer has dared me to run in a 10 KM race in May (not really racing, just finishing) -- and at this rate, maybe I really can do it. I had my doubts 4 weeks ago.

I'm also eating better (I've brought my lunch almost every day for the past few weeks, I've been eating breakfast at home, and I've even used my stove). I'm not dieting, just eating more of the right food and less of the rest.

In terms of my writing world, my writing partner yelled at me for starting the new book without finishing and sending out the first -- so I've spent the time to rewrite my first few chapters, and done a final read through. Today it goes off to my final batch of test readers.

On that note, I've also redone my agent research since what I did a few years ago is wildly out of date. So, I now have a list of 20 or so agents to query.

I've also renamed the book (for now)....since Summer of Flight doesn't work for what the book is. The new title is "Whirlwind" -- but we'll see what the test readers think before the name gets locked in.

There's even been a hint of movement on the screenwriting side of my life. Someone actually asked about one of my scripts -- so there's going to be a bit of a meeting in January. Nothing formal, but there is potential there.

So, the Year of Reinvention is going to go out with a solid swell of reinvention and a lot of hope for the new year. I think I've chosen what next year will be, but there will be no telling until January 1st, just in case I change my mind!

New Job

I did say that the Year of Reinvention has started with a bang. The bang being a completely new job.

I love consulting, but when the opportunity for a role in our communications group came up -- I couldn't say no. This position will give me the chance to take all the stuff I like about consulting and apply them in an area where I can do good for the entire firm, working to ensure communications and marketing are responsive to client needs. At the same time I hope to have a more balanced life.

My role will be Manager - Client Communications and Marketing.

It should be a lot of fun -- a new challenge, and one that leverages my existing experience and my interest in writing. I think this could be a very good opportunity for me.

Wish me luck!

Monday

Finally. I have a meeting at 11:00am to confirm it. Then I can spill.

I really can't wait.

Still Waiting!

I hate waiting.

I also hate keeping secrets -- although this is a loosely kept one.

Still, I can't say it here until it's official.

Starting on the Right Foot

Yes, stuff is happening.

It isn't quite official yet, so I can't say what the news is -- but sufficed to say, my Year of Reinvention is starting off with a bang.

A good bang, that is.

More in a few days.

The Year of Reinvention

So, with the dawning of a new year, comes a new motivation for all my life's choices.

2010 was the Year of Discovery...and I did. If you count raising $2500 in 10 days for Right to Play, rappelling down Toronto City Hall, snorkeling with Stingrays, submitting my first novel, and zip-lining for the first time. Sure, there was more -- but those were my favourite highlights.

If you've been noticing my dreadful absence here, you might understand my name for 2011.

2011: The Year of Reinvention.

For me, reinvention is about rethinking the way I think about life. It's about trying to maximize all the parts of my life I love, while reinventing the parts I am not so fond of. I want to find a balance that allows me to have time to do all I want to do, without having to be a ping-pong ball that goes from one extreme to another.

Reinvention. It's a good word. A great word. A timely word.

Reinvention. It starts now.