Perspectives and adult education

I had an email about my blog the other day, one of the only email's I've ever had. In fact I could be brutally honest and admit its the first time that someone other than someone I know has actually looked at my blog. Which prompted me to look at my blog again.

Now the more observant of you will notice that a year (well more or less) has gone by since I last wrote. I was surprised to see how long it had been, but then again much has happened in the last year.

Just to catch up, last August I enthusiastically signed up for a couple of adult education classes in an effort to do something I would enjoy just because I would enjoy it, not for the children, not for the partner or for anyone else or cause I should do so, but just cause I liked the idea of it.
Now in the past when I've thought about doing such things there has been a set pattern...1) I look at the course directory and get all excited 2) I think about what course I would like to do 3) I try and work out how I can afford it 4) I decide I'm not worth spending the money on 5) I procrastinate about filling in the form ..... and before you know it, the course has started and I'm not signed up and I don't do it.

Usually too I opt for something academic, "proper studying" needing pen and paper and text books and essays to write and the like. This time I decided to let rip with my creative side and actually signed up for two courses 1) Asian dressmaking (well actually in the prospectus it was just dressmaking, but the principles are the same so I stayed) 2) Fashion design and Make.
It was this second course that I was more uncertain about. I'm not a fashion junkie, I don't fit most of it. I never wanted to be a fashion designer as a child. I can never find what I want to wear in the colour and style I want in shops, so tend not to bother with the whole trendy scene. But I love the course. We've got past the design stage and onto the pattern making and I've found a whole new thing that I love doing and to cap it off too, it would seem that I'm good at it too.

At the same time as all this I've got back into my knitting and have done several bits and pieces, even tackling "complicated" aran cable patterns. I've been a governor at school for nearly 18 months now, I've been the treasurer of the out of school kids club for a year and I sing in the church choir too.

Stepping back for a moment I can see what a huge change has happened to me. Yes, I still live in the grotty house that I hate, yes, I'm still overweight and yes the much beloved still works away from home. But I finally feel like I've grown as a person. I might not have reached the desired end, but at least I now feel like I'm on the path there and its not leading down a dead end all the time.

Is this all due to adult education? perhaps not, but I do feel that its been an important part of my improved self image. Its given me the confidence to go out and meet like minded people and learn something new.

So where does this link into the beginning of the post? It doesn't I suppose, only I wanted to say thank-you to the lady who read my blog and mailed me about it. Its been good to come back here, read how I was and look at where I am now.... and you never know, I may try harder this year to keep more up to date with my blog :)