Moving the goal-posts

Well it’s been about six weeks since my last entry on this blog and my life has not gone in quite the direction I expected. The things I thought would be important to me have faded a bit and other things have come to the fore, which means I’ve had to reassess my priorities and, yes, move my goal-posts.

I wrote last time that my challenges to myself between then and Christmas were to brush up my Greek and to learn to juggle with three balls. I was very serious about Greek at the time and I did actually get out my old files, have a look through them and take it all forward. Then I went to Sicily with my family and was distracted by Italian… and then by other things, such as deciding to move to South Shields, a beautiful town on the north-east coast.

The juggling has progressed, because it fits with how I’m feeling right now. The Greek became hard work because it isn’t resonating with me in the place where I currently am, so I’ve put it back on hold. And that’s OK.

If you’re being paid to do a particular job, obviously you have to do it, whether you feel like it or not on any given day. If you find you rarely or never feel like doing it, then it’s time to see about changing your job. But if it’s a question of a hobby or peripheral activity, I say go with the flow and do what you feel like in the moment.

To maximise both achievement and happiness – and to minimise procrastination – focus your energy on what you find interesting, inspiring and involving. Goal-posts are there to help you. Once they become a hindrance, feel free to move them.

New academic year, new opportunities to learn

At this time of year, my thoughts always turn to learning and self-improvement. Many of the twenty-odd Septembers since I left university have seen me enrolling on an adult-education or training course, finding myself a private tutor and/or embarking on a self-study project. Beyond my career as a language teacher, I’ve trained as a magazine journalist, scriptwriter, psychotherapist and Indian head masseuse. I’ve taken courses in time management, bridge-playing, history of art, marketing, Thai cookery and public speaking skills (I took to the latter so well that I actually teach public speaking now). I’ve had lessons in musical keyboard, hang-gliding and a variety of foreign languages.

Some of these I’ve approached as social activities and, in fact, I’ve made some good friends through them. Others have been displacement activities, which I’ve done to distract myself from my problems. Some I’ve pushed myself to do, to take me out of my comfort zone; others I’ve done to remind myself there are things I’m good at. All, in their own way, have enriched my life.

I love learning, partly because it gives me a huge sense of achievement and partly because it expands my horizons and encourages me to look at the world in new ways.

If you’re interested in languages (one of my passions), let me draw your attention to my e-course in Italian for beginners. I wrote this, with the help of native Italian colleagues, because it was the course I longed for myself, both back when I was first learning Italian and also later when I was teaching it. I’m recommending this course not just because I want to sell it but because I spent months creating it and I believe it works (the feedback I’ve had backs me up on this, which is gratifying).

Anyway, the point is, learning is good for us. It feeds the soul and moves us forward. And you don’t have to attend a course, or even have formal lessons, to benefit from great teaching. I’ve learnt tons from just hanging out with my friends and listening to what they’ve got to say about their jobs and hobbies. Renowned magician (now a friend) Iain Moran, for example, has taught me an enormous amount about magic – and he has certainly encouraged me to look at the world in a new way!

My challenges to myself between now and Christmas are to brush up my Greek and to learn to juggle with three balls. Now that I’ve written this down, they’re officially goals - so I’d better get busy.