Breathe Again
Since Thursdays are effectively the end of my week for me, as Fridays are just filled with the satisfactory quietness of an MP not being around, I can now breathe easy. Though this week had more reasons than most for being one I was particularly looking forward to seeing the end of...
For a start there was the small problem of the fact that my MP was back off holiday to disturb the peace with his incessant wailing and demands to be taken seriously. Then there was the fact that on Tuesday there was going to be a large number of visitors that everyone in our office was going to have to give a tour to, because our MP had opened his big mouth and made a promise he couldn't keep - mainly because there were no tour guides available that day.
Then there was the fact that one of my MP's slimy friends had invited all of our office for lunch on Tuesday. A Very Bad Thing.
And finally I had volunteered myself to talk to some sixth form students about the degree course I'm doing. Which was something I knew I could handle, but it still isn't without some nerves.
In the event, it's all gone away very nicely. I did two very small talks of about 10 minutes each today. I am always wary that I'm talking extremely negatively about things, but it's often the way I feel like I get the most laughs. And, while I'm no comedy genius, I do pride myself on the fact that I always try to get at least three, four, five laughs in every speech or talk I do. All of mine were very critical observations about what I've seen here, or anecdotes of bizarre situations I've been in.
So I tried my best to be positive as well. I know I moan a lot about things, but I'm not 100% negative about everything that's going on. For example, the points I made about it simply being a privilege to witness the political process at this close proximity, even if I don't like what is going on or how it happens, is something I probably don't say enough. Hopefully that message resonated with the audience today though - after all, they should be interested in politics too, or they shouldn't be there.
I also made the point that there was a lot of responsibility and so many things to do depending on how much you were prepared to put into it. I also think that even the cynical anecdotes can encourage people too... since they are a demonstration of the kind of amusing things you can get up to. Plus they can capture people's attention before you deliver the positive message.
Though there's no way to ever find out what they thought. They seemed to enjoy it, they seemed to be paying attention when I was talking... I can't ask for much more. As long as they listened and took away the message that it's a very worthwhile use of your time if you're fascinated by politics, then I've done my job. I've no doubt that the skills I have, and the CV I now have, will be treasured by employers somewhere who operate in this field. The only problem is that I am not remotely interested in their jobs, as they just don't offer me the opportunity to do all that I want to in life with regards to trying to Make A Difference. The actual process of policy change in this country is all about tinkering at the edges, and worse, it's going in the opposite direction I'd like it to. There is no way one person can make a difference in politics, and I appear to be a lone voice. So why bother?
Unfortunately, my speech was full of a little misery like that, though much more coded. But still with lots of plus points. Much more dedicated people than me will
I can feel my life beginning to move on at this moment in time. I can see the end closing in. I'm listening to Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis. While I'm not crying, I can sort of see the relevance to my life. Take what you need, and be on your way. I've had it with this part of my life. It literally is time to make progress in my new direction.
This is also reflected in my woes with my housemate. Today, for the first time, I confided in another friend about the situation. I had to explain why things were a little awkward between me and him at the moment, and when she asked the question last week "Where are you living next year?" and he was sitting next to me, I had to tell her the truth that we were going to live in different houses. She seemed very surprised... but I think she needed to hear the full story. So she did. It was nice to share the problem, but it doesn't move us any closer to the solution. Simply because there is no solution anyone can offer but my housemate. Which is why I have started to ignore the problem. I have to live my life too.
So it's been an interesting few days to say the least. Even though not that much has happened really, I kinda see it as a very important signpost on the road to my goal in life, whatever that may be. If I can make up my mind what that is.
For a start there was the small problem of the fact that my MP was back off holiday to disturb the peace with his incessant wailing and demands to be taken seriously. Then there was the fact that on Tuesday there was going to be a large number of visitors that everyone in our office was going to have to give a tour to, because our MP had opened his big mouth and made a promise he couldn't keep - mainly because there were no tour guides available that day.
Then there was the fact that one of my MP's slimy friends had invited all of our office for lunch on Tuesday. A Very Bad Thing.
And finally I had volunteered myself to talk to some sixth form students about the degree course I'm doing. Which was something I knew I could handle, but it still isn't without some nerves.
In the event, it's all gone away very nicely. I did two very small talks of about 10 minutes each today. I am always wary that I'm talking extremely negatively about things, but it's often the way I feel like I get the most laughs. And, while I'm no comedy genius, I do pride myself on the fact that I always try to get at least three, four, five laughs in every speech or talk I do. All of mine were very critical observations about what I've seen here, or anecdotes of bizarre situations I've been in.
So I tried my best to be positive as well. I know I moan a lot about things, but I'm not 100% negative about everything that's going on. For example, the points I made about it simply being a privilege to witness the political process at this close proximity, even if I don't like what is going on or how it happens, is something I probably don't say enough. Hopefully that message resonated with the audience today though - after all, they should be interested in politics too, or they shouldn't be there.
I also made the point that there was a lot of responsibility and so many things to do depending on how much you were prepared to put into it. I also think that even the cynical anecdotes can encourage people too... since they are a demonstration of the kind of amusing things you can get up to. Plus they can capture people's attention before you deliver the positive message.
Though there's no way to ever find out what they thought. They seemed to enjoy it, they seemed to be paying attention when I was talking... I can't ask for much more. As long as they listened and took away the message that it's a very worthwhile use of your time if you're fascinated by politics, then I've done my job. I've no doubt that the skills I have, and the CV I now have, will be treasured by employers somewhere who operate in this field. The only problem is that I am not remotely interested in their jobs, as they just don't offer me the opportunity to do all that I want to in life with regards to trying to Make A Difference. The actual process of policy change in this country is all about tinkering at the edges, and worse, it's going in the opposite direction I'd like it to. There is no way one person can make a difference in politics, and I appear to be a lone voice. So why bother?
Unfortunately, my speech was full of a little misery like that, though much more coded. But still with lots of plus points. Much more dedicated people than me will
I can feel my life beginning to move on at this moment in time. I can see the end closing in. I'm listening to Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis. While I'm not crying, I can sort of see the relevance to my life. Take what you need, and be on your way. I've had it with this part of my life. It literally is time to make progress in my new direction.
This is also reflected in my woes with my housemate. Today, for the first time, I confided in another friend about the situation. I had to explain why things were a little awkward between me and him at the moment, and when she asked the question last week "Where are you living next year?" and he was sitting next to me, I had to tell her the truth that we were going to live in different houses. She seemed very surprised... but I think she needed to hear the full story. So she did. It was nice to share the problem, but it doesn't move us any closer to the solution. Simply because there is no solution anyone can offer but my housemate. Which is why I have started to ignore the problem. I have to live my life too.
So it's been an interesting few days to say the least. Even though not that much has happened really, I kinda see it as a very important signpost on the road to my goal in life, whatever that may be. If I can make up my mind what that is.
posted by Matt at
8:25 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home