A New Year

I've just turned 25. Screw new year resolutions and celebrations, I'm all about personal new years and life anniversaries. In my opinion, people aren't good at celebrating birthdays. We give presents, usually eat food and that's about it (not that I'm against these things). It's my belief that birthdays should be a time to reflect on what you've experienced, what you've achieved and what you've failed; what's gone into making the version of yourself you are on this particular day.

When I was a teenager each year on my birthday I would write a letter to my future self. The letters were usually filled with dreams, desires to be with whomever the cute boy I had a crush on at that time was, and hopes that on my birthday next year I would be a happier more confident version of myself. I guess some things never change.

I've had a big year. I wrote a thesis, I painfully fell out of love, I changed jobs, I moved home, I had surgery, I experienced confusion like I never had before, I learnt how to keep secrets, and I missed my ex-boyfriends. A lot. It's generally been pretty rough.

I had a wonderful talk to my grandmother tonight. We mused on potential life choices and the end of my recent relationship. She wisely reminded me that things happen for a reason, and that life is good provided you're able to find joy in what you're doing. She described wild tales of her debaucherous youth and her tendency to run from cute boys when they started to get serious. After her stories she set me straight, she said, "Jaimie, you'll find the right one and you'll stop running. You will just know and it will be everything you've ever wanted and never realised". She's been married to my grandfather for 54 years.

I guess you could say I'm pretty lost at the moment, though her kind words reminded me that as long as I'm enjoying what I can about my situation and where I'm at with life, I am still able to grow.

I fucked a lot of things up this year. But all my fuck ups, all my confusion, all my fear and all my joy has lead me to be who I am now and that's kind of worth celebrating.

So yeah, birthday's are kind of a big deal to me. I really hope they are to you too. If they're not, do me a favour and reflect on why you are awesome and what lead you to be as awesome as you are. Because you are amazing. Even if it's only because you've read to the end of this post.

Xx

Why you so hot?

Current babes in my life:

Why hello, Cardinal Borgia.

The Borgias is a weird show, I think I like it, but I think that is only because of this babe. Seriously, he is ridiculous.

Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. So broody and furrowed of brow. I love my babes to be always concerned.
Also, bonus. With this picture you get a future babe. Obviously too creepy right now.

I find this very funny, you may not.
Despite a preference for turtlenecks in this movie, FASSBENDER is a new babe. Except when he smiles, that shit is scary.

See?

in Canberra & in miniature

Currently on exhibition at Bilk Gallery in Manuka, in Canberra & in Miniature. Bilk Gallery in Manuka is a contemporary metal and glass gallery, an extension of Workshop Bilk in Queanbeyan. They are primarily a jewelery gallery, but also occassionally do exhibitions focusing on other aspects of metal and glass.

Mel George, The Gift, 2011

For in Canberra & in Miniature, some of Canberra’s most established glass artists have created exquisite miniatures of their larger works specifically for this exhibition.

Scott Chaseling, Matt Curtis, Mel George, Jacqueline Knight, Brian Corr and Mikki Trail have produced beautiful, delicate, alluring miniatures, which can be seen now at Bilk Gallery.

I started working for Bilk a couple of months ago and I'm really loving it, drop on by to see some incrediably beautiful and innovative design. You should have a look at our fabulous new blog as well!

Set yourself a goal

At some point in the last year, I became a writer. I have no idea how this happened, I have never thought of myself as a very good writer despite having completed 4 years of an arts degree. I have also never thought that writing would be a huge part of my life once I finished uni, but that has definitely changed. Writing is by no means everything I do and I certainly still have a lot to learn, but I am really excited about doing so.

To set myself a challenge and help improve my writing skills, I have signed up for National Young Writers Month. To register for NYWM you have to set yourself a writing goal for the month of June, then with the support and encouragement of Express Media you will be able to achieve your goal.

My writing goals are:

~ Write 5 blog posts per week (considering I haven't done even one post for quite sometime will make this goal very interesting...prepare to be bombarded!)
~ Submit one journal article
~ Write reviews/thoughts etc about every exhibition I attend during June

What I love about this idea is that the scope of who qualifies as a "writer" is so broad and inclusive. You can be a novelist, journalist, poet, blogger, government policy writer, editor, playwright, scriptwriter for film or TV, copywriter and I'm sure I've missed some out. It is a great incentive to challenge yourself and accomplish some goals you may have been putting off for awhile.

Hopefully by posting this I will feel even more bound to achieve my goals, since I have expressed them into the ether. Good luck to everyone and if you haven't already, sign up for NYWM here.