A Reflective End of Year Synopsis
End of year perspectives …
The festive season can take its toll in all sorts of ways. If you’re feeling a little low (or even thoroughly rotten) then you’re definitely not alone
Since we’re in the personal section of my website I’ll add a rare personal viewpoint (I’ll understand if you think I’m a grinch or a killjoy). If you’re after a photography post, this isn’t it, but I’ve added some new year business resolutions here: tidying your photography business for the year ahead
If you feel December and early January take a toll, then rest assured you’re not alone. I often feel out of sorts at this time of year and I’m happy to say why. Christmas means different things to different people, and it’s not all happy families and warm get-togethers. I sometimes fantasise that if I were dictator prima-donna I would encourage the populace to consider reining in something which I firmly believe is a source of consternation for most (and a source of outright misery for many). We’ve all seen articles about how to cope with the festive season but rarely does anyone dare to suggest that we opt out entirely.
Don’t get me wrong - I think people should be free to celebrate Christmas in the way they want to. But for others it can be hard to live up to the expectations of those around us. The politics of Christmas and gift-giving can be galling. Stepping back has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, albeit with the inevitable guilt trip. I fully appreciate that for those with younger children stepping away isn’t really an option. But as we grow older I think our choices become broader.
It’s fair to say that 2021 has been another very tough year for anyone trying to operate a small business throughout a global pandemic. The holiday period can be difficult at the best of times. If it’s also compounded by the loss of a business and perhaps even lost loved ones then it can be a thoroughly miserable time. I’ll be quite honest in saying it’s my least favourite time of the year and I find myself dreading it. I know an awful lot of people who feel the same way yet the Christmas tide and the pressures which come with it (often starting in October) are seen as part of life.
The past two years have been periods of considerable reflection here at LDP and in many respects an opportunity to rationalise and refine how I run my business. That should of course be an ongoing process. There’s no denying that a good clean out can create mental breathing space, and it’s something I recommend we all do each year. If you don’t have time for a full overhaul there are always business processes which can be examined and improved.
I don’t think I’ve ever fully grasped why this time of the year has to be so intense - almost to the point of madness. Do people even know what it is they’re celebrating? We live in a secular society and I’ve often felt that a version of Thanksgiving might feel more relatable. I think the tradition of Christmas has become something unrecognisable and in many ways destructive.
The majority of households will experience some measure of debt each December. There’ll be an escalation in alcohol related illness, domestic violence, depression and suicide. Inevitable perhaps, given that Christmas so efficiently highlights the differences between the haves and have-nots and whatever rifts might exist in the average family. People who would otherwise rarely feel lonely are likely to feel lonely now. Christmas is a period when we’re force-fed the notion that if we don’t have the bosom of a loving family on Christmas Day then we’re somehow a failure or an object of sympathy. I feel that is the worst legacy of Christmas. I have friends who work in the health services and this is always a difficult and pressured time of year for them. If only Christmas could be more optional, or just one day in November without the long blank coalescence into New Year.
My view is that if it’s the only time of the year when we’re likely to see our relatives then perhaps those relationships are more obligatory than real. I also struggle with gatherings and parties when they feel prescribed and enforced, often impersonal and even uncomfortable. Perhaps that’s my introverted side talking - I want there to be a purpose to my social interactions. I would also rather have time off when I choose to, when the weather is warmer and the days are longer. So for me, the holiday period needs to be productive in some way. This is the time when I clear out my cupboards, do my spring cleaning, and run through my business operating procedures to ensure everything is as efficient as it can be going into the New Year.
An Ongoing Personal Project – my long Relationship with Porsche
Moving on from my gripes about the holiday season, I have some recreational goals which have been drawn out and at times frustrating. I’ve always been a car enthusiast and I always have car related tasks to deal with. I also do quite a lot of automotive photography and I find the performance car world utterly fascinating. I’ve always owned German cars and Porsches are beautifully engineered – and reliable. With few exceptions they’re timeless in their looks, and they attract a down-to-earth mature crowd who I find much less judgemental than other supercar owners.
After several years of underusage thanks to a hot start problem, I’ve been working through a list of small but fiddly jobs on a classic Porsche I’ve owned for more years than I can count. My car is in near perfect condition, but there’s always something which could be improved. Kudos to Jez at Carrera Performance in West Sussex for sorting the hot start out, when nobody else could. These cars are solid but they do require expert care.
I’m so pleased I decided to keep Bambi, when in past years I sometimes come close to trading her in for a much newer version. What a mistake that would have been. It seems I’m a purist at heart - there is no other drive quite like an early mid-engine Porsche. My rare 986Z is as pared back as it gets. A gearstick, steering wheel, and three pedals. An analogue driving experience, a chassis which flexes with every turn, and a sleek nimble lightweight little body.
Bambi has a sister in the form of a 987.2 PDK Cayman. A little more refined and a little easier as a daily driver - and a sound investment. I took this picture of ‘Ashleigh’ recently:
There’s been a resurgence of interest in these early models and a notable gain in respect. Prices are climbing, so now is the time to get one - there really is no better way to soothe a midlife crisis.
One of the reasons I bought the car all those years ago (would you believe Bambi is 23 years old now!) was to break the workaholic cycle I often find myself in. Joining car enthusiast groups is a fantastic way of boosting your friendship circle. Even if you don’t know anybody, attending a meet means you’ll never be short of like-minded and interesting people to chat to. For me, that’s where the value in my car lies.
If you’re into car photography I’ve put some hints in this blog post: west sussex car photography tips
I feel the last two years in a world-wide pandemic has changed me to a degree - but hopefully in some good ways. I have a renewed appreciation for everything I have and for those I know and care for. I value my time more. I also have to accept that there are countless things I can’t control. Acceptance is a hard lesson to learn but is often liberating. As the years pass our self-confidence is often something which will ebb and flow, no matter how successful we might be. Taking control of the things which drag us down and accepting those we can’t influence is everything when it comes to our self-worth. Surprisingly, the simplest and smallest changes can often bring the greatest rewards.
On that note I’ll wish my clients and readers the very best for 2022, whatever direction life takes.