You’re already there, and always have been

This is not about birthday parties. Or about any type of party at all, really. But the word is in the subtitle, and I’ve been meaning to share these photos, so interrupting the flow of my writing you’ll find some of my favourite party pics I’ve taken in the past months. Taking a point and shoot camera on a night out leads to some fantastic, weird, embarrassing results. There’s many more to share but I’m afraid my grandmother reads this, and I’m not sure she’s ready for that level of documentation.

In the ideal, platonic, perfect Mateo world, what does Mateo spend his time doing? I’ve asked myself this often, and it’s a recurring topic of conversation with my mom. If we win the professional lottery and have our dream jobs/lives, what does that look like?

My answer is relatively clear to me. I’d have a beautiful spot where I regularly cook for fun people, do interesting photography/writing projects, do a bunch of different sports and perhaps there’d be some sort of musical element.

Great. There’s a goal, which every self help book informs us is an important step. Now what? How do I get to the ideal Mateo life?

Cue the birthday party. A while ago I was talking to a friend who’s birthday was coming up. I asked her what her plans were, and her eyes lit up. She told me all about the cake she ordered for the party, the friend she asked to DJ, the themed invitation she’d sent out to all her friends, the decorations she’d bought. She was really going all out.

When I saw her at the party, living large and having the best time, I couldn’t help but admire her attitude towards this whole thing. She clearly loves her birthday, and loves organizing parties, so she just went ahead and fucking did it.

She didn’t wait for a friend to read her mind about wanting a party, or her DJ friend to offer to play, or her mom to ask her what exact type of chocolate cake she wanted. She just went ahead and did it herself, and had the best birthday anyone could have planned for her. Is it possible for me to to build my dream life with the attitude of someone planning their own birthday party?

I know I want some kind of food event/brand. What’s stopping me from just running a recurring supper club out of my apartment every couple of weeks?
Absolutely nothing.

What’s stopping me from self-assigning photography projects I find interesting, and going out and shooting them?
Absolutely nothing.

What’s stopping me from borrowing my friend’s speakers and throwing a massive party where I can DJ in front of a huge crowd, without needing anyone’s permission?
Absolutely nothing.

And it goes on. In reality there’s not much stopping me from spending my time doing what I say is my “dream”. Especially since I like all these things in moderation. I love cooking, but I get tired if I have to do it more than a few times a week. Same for photos, same for sport.

We all have the space in our lives to dedicate a few hours every week to do the things that we love, with the ones we love. Life becomes easier to enjoy when we realize that so much of what gives us happiness is doing, not having done.

Hope you enjoyed the photos, and I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. You can get me next time.