Idle Hands
June 26, 2023
Well, it’s been a few months since my last post and perhaps the title of this one might suggest that nothing has been happening. In one sense that’s true, but in another, everything has changed. Let me explain.
I mentioned in my last blog post that I’d be trading my job in the rat race for something a bit slower, and that’s what I’ve now done. I left that job at the end of May and am now a few weeks into the “idle hands” period, where I don’t have to worry about the 60-mile commute, the numbers in a spreadsheet or whether someone living their best life as an expat in some far-flung place really needs any further help with their luxury lifestyle (answer: no!).
After a couple of weeks working on the garden and adjusting to having no apparent purpose, I’m now beginning to devote some proper time to my photography, which was always the aim. Of course, I’ve picked the worst time of year in photography terms to be doing this (early sunrises, harsh light, washed-out colours…), but I’m not complaining (ok, not much). Over the last week I’ve managed time up in North Yorkshire, photographing a favourite set of waterfalls between Beck Hole and Goathland, plus some time at the coast at sunset, and my plan now is to scout some parts of the Yorkshire Wolds that I’ve never visited. I also hope to add over time to my Dark Waters series, which is very much “me” in terms of tone and style.
The serious side to all this really relates to mental health and the toll that years on the treadmill can take. I’m very fortunate in being able to take a step back from some of the things that have contributed to some very troubled times. Clearly, this isn’t a luxury that everyone can afford in similar circumstances, so I know I’m lucky in that sense. I also know that at some point I will have to get back on the proverbial bike and probably return to those spreadsheets at the very least, if not the 60-mile commute. My hope is that I can do that in a way that doesn’t return me to square one and that, in the meantime, I can spend as much time as possible doing the thing I enjoy the most. And you know what that is!
Finally, if this post strikes a chord and you need a bit of help yourself, take a look at these links.