I’m Happy With These!

I tend to be very self critical, but below are five things I believe I am good at.

Writing – I am actually getting better at this because these prompts are encouraging me to be less ‘curated’. By that, I mean that I am being more instinctive with my writing, giving a freedom and a life that seems to be a step up.

Teaching – I may not be a full time teacher anymore, but when I do teach I am pretty good at it. The students have changed so much over the years and I have changed with them. The last couple of years of full time teaching were very difficult and I thought I had lost my ability to connect with a class, but the summer proved that I still have it. My strength as a teacher is that I keep on learning.

Sharing – Whether it’s music, books, TV, Films, Plays or Concerts I love to share my passions with other people. I don’t do it in a ‘you need to do or see X’ but through enthusiasm for the piece of art in front of me. I have always done it and I always will.

Cooking – This is my real life passion in a manner of speaking. Cooking is entirely tactile and it inspires me and challenges me. I am never happier than when I am making food for others. I really look forward to cooking Christmas Dinner because my family enjoy it so much. This year will be the 36th in a row after I promised my wife she would never have to cook on Christmas Day! That very neatly leads me on to

Christmas – I pride myself on knowing about and trying to keep the spirit of Christmas. My enthusiasm and energy for the Christmas period may wax and wane according to what is happening around me, but I love Christmas and want others to love it too. When I was working I was always trying to get people involved in the festive season because it’s such a necessary break from our arduous jobs. I ran Secret Santa at three of my jobs and I know it added to the joy that people took from the festival. I may no longer be Santa at work, but inside my heart I will always keep Christmas and help others to do so.