Things to do, people to see

The past couple of years I’d started to go out more and went to SuperMondays at first - just one event a month, then when NEBytes started I went to that too, it was only two years ago I went to my first paid conference which was DIBI and really enjoyed it which I attended the following year and will attend this year.

I’d also in the past few months gone to more events such as Ignite100, and Codeworks ones I’ve mentioned before and at one point before Christmas I went out every day in a week (except the Tuesday was a bit ill from the Monday) and I really enjoy catching up with the regulars there and they were the only people I’d get to meet outside of work, so it has been a great chance to meet new people that I sometimes forget I didn’t have before I started to go out more.

I’ve got to the point now when I really like going out - I used to be the total opposite and despite a few issues recently this hasn’t changed, in fact I’m all the more determined to get out more, even if I’m not entirely sure how I can do this beyond what I’d already been doing the previous years, but nothing will change if I don’t change and I’ve said I will do so this year - I don’t like the way I was before and when I’m in now I don’t want to be.

There are things to do, people to see and that’s a good thing - this is another issue though that I hadn’t gone out for so long I didn’t know how to anymore, it isn’t that difficult for me to go out to any event, even if it is where I might not know anyone - been to Manchester, London, Birmingham etc to events on my own no problem but can’t just pop to the pub round the corner on my own - unstructured events still are a big barrier for me, that’s why I’ve been asking for what I can do and where to go as I’m comfortable with that, but I would go out just don’t know where and even a few ideas and suggestions rather than a specific motivation might be all I need to go and try something new.

I was so shy in the past and hated speaking to new people and got nervous around others - but I’ve not really been like that for years and I can still suprise myself and others how far I can go, but I’ve made a few mistakes recently that have knocked my confidence a little but I still want to push and just need that extra motivation if it’s just going out for drinks or whatever I’m up for it so if you don’t mind me coming then let me know and if I’m available (which is very likely) I’ll come along - that’s what I need more than anything else at the moment.