So it's really been a while this time... 2010 The new year started alot like many others - however a slight bit less intoxicated for me, never the less, full of expectations, good times and bold resolutions. Alot has changed in this first month - alot more than I expected. I've now left Katarzyna, after 4 years of being a lighting guy for the assorted Bickle venues - I literally walked out. That's the line in the sand. It's over - and I'm not particularly upset about it either. It was like a relationship of mine that crashed and burned just before the new year, and I think what I learnt from that was - if you can see the end - it exists. So why bother putting it off? It is a little strange, leaving what was once a huge part of the identity and the professional career I thought I was building. It was a gradual process though, I slowly fell out of love with my job... and although I'm still passionately interested in that area, it's interesting to see how it's fitting into a bigger picture. It's got nothing at all to do with the job I'm doing now, but the direction I'm going in has some opportunities that I'm really excited about. I'm now full-time at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) in Brisbane, working on the project management end of putting together a new program for the Bachelors of Creative Industries degree - Entertainment Industries. It's an incredible program and the first of its kind in Australia to offer training from Business, Creative Industries AND Law faculties in one package (TRI-FAC!!). Before I turn this into a marketing exercise for QUT (email me on benjamin.hamley@qut.edu.au if you want more info).... i'll get back to my point.

What the hell am I doing here...

Hello Sunday Morning - for me anyway - was once about not drinking...

• Then it became about using that decision to go sober to shake my frame of mind into a new way of approaching challenges...
• Then it was about finding new challenges and starting to make some changes...
• Now that some of these changes are happening - I'm at another point where I constantly find myself reassessing what I'm doing - and if I'm getting what I signed up for (so to speak)

So I've got a new outlook - a new job - a new focus - a new love - and a new purpose - almost everything on the list of 'things I need to feel fullfilled' is ticked - first time in a LONG time. So far this month - which I think we affectionately dubbed 'HELLO SUNDAY MORNING MONTH' I've:

• Jumped off a waterfall - which might sound lame to some - but in practise - AWESOME
• Learnt to surf
• Gone on a bushwalk with some good friends, and met some new ones in the process - something I've NEVER done before
• Taken a giant Havaiana out to practise my newfound surfing skills at Mooloolaba (with 1019 other people)

Alot of awesome stuff - that I've previously never had to drive to just get out and do - has just - almost without even trying - been done. And I owe this to HSM and the amazing people that I've been working on it with. So what's left of my Hello Sunday Morning (up until the start of May this year) is going to be a little different... If you haven't already - read Chriso's post on EXCELLENCE It's definitely something I'm aspiring to - and by doing so - I've started looking for it, which seems to be in my experience, a big barrier to most people achieving what it is they say their dreams are... they forget to start looking for them... dreams don't just happen (unless your asleep). It took me a while to realise that. So my HSM blog - is going to be less about my introspective hyperanalysis of contextually applied theories in maladapted constructs of alcohol consumption in the 18-25 demographic. And more about - finding - doing - talking about - or just falling into - cool shit - really cool shit - shit that will make a difference in your life - or at least make you think about it differently. If I could be so lucky - will inspire you to help it make a difference in someone else's too. So stay tuned for cool shit - every week - I need to say that - because I intend to make this a regular thing - and I need to feel like I've set it as a responsibility - no more 'what I don't say won't hurt" Some of the stuff I say hurts - sometimes it doesn't fit. But I think that's the point - for me anyway. Start today - find something that matters to you - and tell us about it!! X Benny