Halfway Through a Momentous Year

The first half of 2015 is nearly complete. The next six months promises much but it's already been a momentous year for the Auld Reekie Ranter.

My wedding to Marion on Valentine's Day was one of the happiest days of my life. Marion has transformed my life and made me happy once again and for that I shall always be grateful. Although I jest about how lucky she is to have me as her husband (I'm sure she gives thanks every day...) I know that I am the lucky one to have such a wonderful, beautiful and talented lady as her - she is the rock in my life.

At the beginning of this year I made the decision to quit my job with a housing association, a job I had held for more than seven years. With echoes of a similar life-changing decision I made in 1990, I didn't have another job to go to. However, I am training to become a Hypnotherapist and Counsellor. It's a three year course and the first year is concentrating on hypnotherapy. It's a subject which fascinates me and I am thoroughly enjoying the course. If all goes to plan, I should qualify as a hypnotherapist by the end of this year and I'm already planning to set up my own hypnotherapy practice in early 2016 (book now to avoid disappointment!)

I was no longer enjoying my work and the continuous high pressure and the demands of the job were beginning to affect my health to the extent I was off work this time last year. At that time I underwent counselling and found it beneficial, not only at the time, but as something I thought I could make a career out of. Hence my decision to undertake my training. I left my job in April and the break from the daily grind has benefited me hugely.

Of course, bills still need paying and I have now secured a position with Napier University in the Human Resources Team for a year which will take me to next summer. I start this job on 6 July and, for the first time in years, I'm genuinely looking forward to it. The year's contract will give me more than enough time to set up my own business next year and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

Daughters Laura and Michaela continue to make me proud. Laura has just been offered a managerial post and is mulling it over against the backdrop of family commitments. I always knew she was managerial material. Michaela is already a manager and she gave a presentation to senior managers yesterday, who have already been impressed by her managerial skills and aptitude. Michaela is getting married next May and this will be another momentous occasion. She is marrying a fella of the Hibernian persuasion but, despite this, he seems a decent chap...

My four grandchildren continue to bring unbridled joy to my life. Their unconditional love brings a tear to my eye. I love being with them and I want them to stay as children for ever. Sadly, of course, they will become adults before long - Jack is now 10 years old and Ava starts school in August - but I hope they retain their kind, loving nature which does them and mum Laura huge credit.

At the other end of the family, my mother is always there to provide support and it was great to see her looking so happy at our wedding. She thinks the world of Marion and sees her as the daughter she never had. Of course, I am her only child - understandable, as how can you top perfection?!

2015 has already been a great year. In recent years, I have been in the depths of depression and didn't know what lay ahead. Now the future is clearer and infinitely brighter. A new career. A new business. Loving wife (that's you, Marion). Maturing daughters. Wonderful grandchildren. And I can't let the feel-good factor pass without mentioning my football team. Hearts are now back in the top flight of Scottish football. I'll be taking Jack to Tynecastle this season as a season ticket holder. While I'll no longer be contributing to the Hearts matchday programme, my musings on Hearts  - and other ramblings on life in general - will still be posted on The Edinburgh Reporter.

Self-hypnosis has helped me to evaluate my life. I am more confident, more positive and happier than I've been for many years. Sure, there will be setbacks - everyone has setbacks - but I'm now able to overcome these with the knowledge that my life is moving onwards and upwards.

Some people thought I was crazy when I gave up my job, house and life in Aberdeen in 1990. But it was the right decision, as my life in Edinburgh has proved. And there have been some people, a quarter of  a century later, who questioned my sanity when I quit my job in April - although, it has to be said, there have been some who have given me huge encouragement and for this I am truly grateful.

My philosophy is that it doesn't matter if it's a job, relationship or lifestyle - if it doesn't make you happy, let it go. Let yourself move to the next chapter in your life when the time comes you feel are stuck on the same page. You will soon realise there is so much more to the book of life than the page you're stuck on.

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time...